Canadian delegation meets elected representatives, civil society in southern Laayoune
Morocco-Canada, Politics, 1/24/2003

A Canadian Parliamentary delegation currently on a visit to Morocco, met in Laayoun Wednesday local elected representatives and NGOs, and visited several projects in the southern city.

Governor of Laayoune province, Mohammed Gherrabi, briefed the Canadian deputies on the development breakthroughs accomplished in the province and the investment opportunities it offers. "Public projects carried out in the region for the 28 past years are valued at some 8 billion Dirhams (US$ 762 million), 61 percent of which went to infrastructure, 29% to production sectors and 10% to social projects," he said.

In their meeting with the Canadian legislators, civil society representatives voiced deep concern over the tragic situation of the Moroccan sequestered in the camps of Tindouf (Algeria), and called them to intervene for their release.

Head of the Canadian delegation, Bernard Patry, deemed "inadmissible, and it is an official stand of Canada," that Moroccans be still detained on Algerian soil, recalling his country's support to the UN secretary general's efforts to find a political solution to the Sahara issue.

The Sahara is a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the tripartite accords with Spain and Mauritania. An Algerian-backed separatist group, the Polisario, claims independence of these Moroccan southern provinces.

The Canadian law-makers visited several tourism and industrial sites and projects, including Laayoune commercial port.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan and Canadian MPS Call for Free Trade Zone   (1/22/2003)
  Over 20 canadian legislators visit Morocco   (1/21/2003)
  Quebec Says Sahara Issue is a Moroccan-Algerian Problem   (5/16/2002)

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