Maghreban union follow-up committee meets in Rabat
Maghreb, Politics, 3/1/2002

The ministerial follow-up committee of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) opened its 39th session in Rabat Thursday to assess the regional integration process.

The meeting, held at the level of the secretaries of state in charge of Maghreban affairs of the five member-countries of the union, and in the presence of the UMA new secretary general Habib Boulares, is discussing the situation of the Union and means of revising its structures to improve their performance.

UMA was set up in Marrakesh in 1989 by Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. Its structures are however paralyzed due to strained relations between some member countries and especially between Morocco and Algeria over Algiers' direct involvement in the Sahara issue.

Taking the floor at the opening session, Moroccan secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taib Fassi Fihri, said the session, which will discuss organizational and procedure issues is "a stride on the right path for the emergence of a Maghreban homogeneous space, based on sound foundations and on trust and credibility, without any contradiction and any attempt to the dignity, patriotic feelings and supreme interests of the member countries."

He deemed it necessary that the Union's institutions match the Maghreban action requirements and called for rationalizing the meetings and for identifying priorities through a clear-cut strategy.

The Algerian delegate, minister in charge of Algerian expatriates and regional coordination, Abdelaziz Ziari, said his country deems Maghreban integration a strategic, necessary project, a gain and an implement for stability, complementarity and development.

The UMA has not reached its goals in view of the improvisation that marked its action, he deplored, calling on member countries to introduce the necessary reforms that are likely to reactivate Maghreban construction, to standardize economic, monetary, financial policies as well as trade and customs systems and to enhance economic exchanges.

Heads of the Libyan delegation, Taher Hamouda Siala, of the Tunisian delegation, Sadok Fayala, and of the Mauritanian delegation, Hamma Ould Souilem, also called for reviewing the texts setting up the UMA and for granting more prerogatives to the Secretariat General (based in Rabat). They stressed the need to carry out concrete projects having an impact on the citizens' life and guaranteeing them freedom of movement, residence and work in the Maghreban space. The Libyan delegate also insisted on the need to complete the setting up of other Maghreban institutions such as the Maghreban trade and investment bank, the Maghreban University and the Maghreban Academy of Sciences.

Meanwhile, Algiers hosted Thursday the meeting of the political committee of the Maghreban consultative council (parliamentary body of the Arab Maghreb Union/UMA), while Nouakchott hosted the meeting of the basic infrastructure committee.

Both meetings called for further efforts to push forward the Maghreb construction process.

Moroccan delegations participated in the two meetings.

Previous Stories:
  Maghreban consultative council committees hold meetings in Algiers, Nouakchott   (2/28/2002)
  Outgoing secretary general of Maghreb union awarded Moroccan distinction   (2/28/2002)
  Maghreban union follow-up committee meets   (2/26/2002)

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