Morocco denies projects to build nuclear plant
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/30/2002

Official spokesman of the royal palace, Hassan Aourid, flatly denied any Moroccan projects to build a nuclear plant and develop an anti-Algerian ballistic force.

In a clarification to a story published by Arab magazine "Al Watan Al Arabi" on March 8, the spokesman said Morocco was among the first countries to sign and ratify the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and has even rejected, for ecological considerations, a water-desalination plant using nuclear energy.

In his clarification to be published this Saturday by the magazine, the royal palace spokesman insists that Morocco refuses arms race and favors peaceful means to settle conflicts. The kingdom also opposes any escalation that will not serve neither the Maghreb region nor the Arab nation which is going through a difficult period and needs to unite its ranks and bring support to Palestinians who are facing the worst forms of massacre.

Aourid, who said he was astonished by the article, says Morocco's real battle, under the leadership of king Mohammed VI, is against poverty, ignorance and all causes of under-development. This is a battle that no one in the region can win alone, he stressed.

"The deep ties uniting the Moroccan and Algerian peoples, which have been constantly consolidated throughout history, are undoubtedly an asset that is likely to help the region face up the challenges, provided that good intentions and earnest will exist," he writes insisting "these conditions will be gathered sooner or later because this is part of the logic of history."

He further explained that the Sahara partition option, contained in the UN secretary general's latest report, was a proposal put forward by Algeria, as the secretary general's personal envoy, James Baker, himself told the security council. Aourid said all Moroccans are opposing this "humiliating" proposal that authorizes the division of families and is reminiscent of an ugly past when colonial authorities used to partition territories, in total despise of social and historical bonds and disregarding the negative effects on both the states and societies.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco officially asks Switzerland and Geneva convention signatories to act for release of 1,362 Moroccan POW's   (3/29/2002)
  Morocco confirms Algeria's covetousness in Sahara   (3/22/2002)
  Morocco's early ratification of nuclear treaty, proof of good-will, says fm   (11/12/2001)
  Morocco and US sign agreement on peaceful use of nuclear techniques   (9/21/2001)
  US president gives green light to implement US-Morocco agreement for cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy   (9/3/2001)
  Moroccan network of life and nuclear techniques is born   (3/16/2000)
  Beijing ready to cooperate with Morocco in water desalination   (10/29/1999)
  Morocco calls for a nuclear weapons free Mideast   (9/29/1999)
  IAEA chief backs Morocco's efforts to use nuclear energy for peaceful ends   (5/12/1999)

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