No Islamic extremism threat looms on Morocco, prime minister
Morocco, Politics, 6/17/2003

Moroccan Premier, Driss Jettou, said Monday Morocco, which embraced Islam 14 centuries ago, is not facing any threat of "Islamic extremism."

"No (such) danger is looming on Morocco," Jettou told the press after a meeting with French peer, Jean Pierre Raffarin.

Extremist movements are found everywhere in the World. This is an international phenomenon that should be dealt with through joining forces of the world community as a whole, he said, adding "no country is spared."

The Prime Minister was alluding to the terrorist attacks that hit Casablanca last May 16, killing 43 people.

"What happened in Casablanca can happen anywhere," he said, adding Morocco is handling the situation "with determination." Jettou lauded, this connection, cooperation between Moroccan and French services.

Jettou said he raised with Raffarin the Moroccan Sahara issue in light of the latest proposals floated by James Baker, personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for the Sahara. "I informed my French peer that the political solution is the only way out Morocco would accept, as it guarantees the Kingdom's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.

Jettou, who was received on the same day by French President Jacques Chirac, lauded the convergence of views between Paris and Rabat on all issues tackled and commended France's backing to Morocco.

Questions of economic and trade exchanges between the two countries were also raised, he said.

Morocco and France will hold next July 24-25 in Rabat a meeting of their Grand Joint Commission, to be co-chaired by Jettou and Raffarin.

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