Morocco's democratization process unique in Arab world, D'alema says
Morocco-Italy, Politics, 4/22/2003

Former Italian premier and chairman of the Democratic Party of the left termed Morocco's democratization process as a "unique" example in the Arab arena.

D'Alema, who paid a three-day visit to Morocco (April 17-19) at the invitation of Abderrahman Youssoufi, Former Prime minister and First Secretary of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), told MAP that no country has witnessed "an equally significant progress" in political pluralism and parliamentary system as Morocco.

He noted that he came to develop such a "positive judgement" on the Kingdom's democratization process, following meetings, all through the past years, with political leaders, members of the ruling class and representatives of the Moroccan employers' union (CGEM).

"Abderrahman Youssoufi's government (1998-2002) was seen by the International Socialist as a strong signal of change, made even stronger by Youssoufi's stature as an outstanding opposition figure and great human rights militant," stressed D'Alema.

"The European left has sensed the need to support this process and during my tenure as President of the Italian ministers' council, I signed an accord providing for the swapping of Morocco's debt to Italy into investments in the Kingdom," he recalled, inviting other European governments to follow suit and support Morocco's development endeavours.

Touching on the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, he highlighted the need to give more impetus to this cooperation through a political partnership in order to accompany the Barcelona process.

While stressing that the European Union membership extension is a commitment and an irreversible historical process, D'Alema said that this enlargement must not be done at the detriment of the southern bank of the Mediterranean Sea.

During his visit, D'Alema met with the Speaker of House of Representatives, Abdelaouahed Radi, Finance and Privatisation minister Fathallah Oulalou, Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa and Territory development, Water and Environment minister Mohamed Yazghi.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan-Italian talks in Rabat   (4/19/2003)
  Former Italian speaker visits Morocco   (4/17/2003)
  Visiting Italian president meets Moroccan officials   (5/17/2002)

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