Moroccan-Algerian work groups to meet next week
Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 2/10/2003

Algeria's Foreign Affairs minister, Abdelaziz Blekhadem, who paid a two-day visit to the Kingdom (Feb.6-7), announced in Rabat on Friday, that Moroccan-Algerian joint work groups will meet as of next week.

"The groups will have to endeavour as of next week to craft solutions to different bilateral issues, including the re-opening of borders," said the head of Algeria's diplomacy during a press conference. Land borders between the two North African states were closed in 1994, after evidence showed the involvement of Algerian born nationals in the killing of two Spanish tourists.

Belkhadem expressed satisfaction that "bilateral relations are having a new start," stressing that the two states share the same will to energize partnership and cooperation.

Addressing a question on borders' reopening, he noted that "this issue has been given a greater dimension," insisting that joint work groups will only have to meet and submit proposals on issues related to some pending issues, such as drug trafficking.

"Reopening borders will thus be a logical consequence of the proposed solutions," he said.

The groups' proposals will be submitted to Morocco's Premier, Driss Jettou and Algerian peer or to the upcoming summit of King Mohammed VI and Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algeria's diplomacy chief said.

The two heads of state will meet soon, and an agenda will be worked out accordingly to "transcend the misunderstandings between Rabat and Algiers," he went on.

"I had a long conversation with King Mohammed VI and found many similarities in the two states' positions on several issues," he added.

Touching on the Sahara issue, he voiced his country's stance in favour of "any political solution blessed by all parties according to the international legality."

Previous Stories:
  Algerian FM: upcoming meeting between King Mohammed and President Bouteflika   (2/8/2003)
  Algeria's foreign minister in Morocco to solve problems   (2/7/2003)
  Assabah: Sahara issue was fabricated by Algerian generals hostile to the union of the Maghreb   (1/29/2003)

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