Morocco's FM visits Ireland
Morocco-Ireland, Politics, 1/28/2002

Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, paid a visit to Ireland this January 27-28, at the invitation of his Irish peer, Brian Cowen.

The visit, the first ever by a Moroccan foreign minister to Ireland, is meant to enhance bilateral relations, a statement by the Moroccan foreign department said, recalling that Irish Premier, Bertie Ahern, had paid a visit to Morocco in January 2001.

During the Benaissa-Cowen talks, the Irish foreign minister voiced admiration for the political, economic and social reforms ushered in by Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, mainly the reforms meant to consolidate the rule of the law and democracy. He also hailed reforms giving incentives to investments, laying emphasis on the latest measures made by the sovereign regarding the setting up of regional investment centers.

The two men exchanged viewpoints on the evolution of the Euro-Mediterranean process, Morocco's relations with the European Union and the evolution of the world situation following the terror attacks of September 11. The two sides also discussed the situation in Africa and in the Maghreb.

Benaissa expressed hope that Irlande, as non-permanent member of the Security Council, would play an active part in the release of the Moroccan prisoners still detained in Algeria by the Polisario, the statement said.

Benaissa and Cowen equally explored concrete opportunities to promote economic partnership between the two countries and hailed the coming visit a delegation of Moroccan economic operators is to pay shortly to Dublin.

The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of visits and sectoral meetings and to intensify political consultations.

The Irish minister in charge of maritime and natural resources will visit Morocco next February 9-12.

Benaissa also conferred with chairman of the foreign affairs committee at the Irish Parliament, Desmond O'malley, on regional and international issues of mutual concern, and on ways of consolidating relations between the two countries' legislative bodies.

Previous Stories:
  King Mohammed meets Irish premier   (1/11/2001)
  Irish parliamentarians meet Moroccan officials   (5/17/2000)
  Irish parliamentarians meet speaker of Moroccan upper house   (5/16/2000)

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