Russia's fm starts visit to Morocco
Morocco-Russia, Politics, 4/3/2002

Russian foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, arrived this Wednesday in Rabat on 24-hour work visit to Morocco at the invitation of his Moroccan peer, Mohamed Benaissa.

Ivanov told reporters upon arrival his talks with Moroccan officials will focus on the serious developments of the situation in the Middle East, the Sahara issue and bilateral cooperation in fisheries. Ivanov said his visit is meant to explore new cooperation prospects and strengthen the legal basis of this cooperation. Morocco and Russia, he said, are poised to sign a new framework agreement on fisheries.

He stated further that Moscow backs the Arab peace initiative adopted by the Beirut Arab summit, held March 27-28. After his trip to Morocco, Ivanov will pay a similar visit to Tunisia. In Moscow, the spokesman for the foreign department, Alexander Yekovenko, said Morocco is a reliable and promising partner on the international scene thanks to the great weight and prestige it enjoys in the Arab and Islamic world.

Political dialogue between Russia and Morocco is intense and the two countries have identical approaches with regard to international issues, such as struggle against terrorism, the strengthening of the United Nations' role, the setting up of a multi-polar world and the promotion of security in the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East, the spokesman said.

The spokesman who voiced Russia's satisfaction over the fruitful economic and commercial cooperation existing with Morocco, one of its major trade partners in Africa, said relations which were so far limited to the public sector will be enlarged to the private operators to give a new momentum to Moroccan-Russian partnership. In 2001, bilateral trade exchanges reached US$ 380 million, he said, adding that the two countries are to sign shortly new accords on encouragement and reciprocal protection of investments, on cultural cooperation and on cooperation in the sectors of transport and tourism.

Previous Stories:
  Russian fm: Russia supports political settlement to Sahara issue   (4/2/2002)
  King Mohammed sends message to Russia's Vladimir Putin   (3/26/2002)
  Russian Foreign Minister in Morocco Next Month   (3/23/2002)

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