Morocco, Algeria study means for deeper anti-terrorism cooperation, moroccan minister
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 6/19/2003

Morocco and Algeria are studying means for "deeper anti-terrorism cooperation," Moroccan Communication minister, Nabil Benabdellah, said here on Wednesday.

Benabdellah told a press conference at the foreign press center in Paris that Morocco and Algeria are doomed to act together against terrorism and find means to eradicate the phenomenon.

"Since the beginning, Morocco has shown will to collaborate with our Algerian brothers and this collaboration is currently under way," the minister said, underlining that investigations are going on to prove that an international terrorist network is involved in May 16 terrorist attacks in Casablanca.

Asked about a possible meeting between King Mohammed VI and Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Moroccan minister said the meeting can be held when it is of utmost importance concerning the progress of relations between the two countries. "It is not on the agenda but it cannot be excluded," he said.

"It is clear that the improvement of relations will open better perspectives to build a large Maghreb to which we have been aspiring for so long," he said.

Benabdellah believes that boosting the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA, mustering Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia) cannot be materialized if there is no serious improvement in Moroccan-Algerian relations within a mutual respect of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Evoking the impacts of Casablanca attacks on the democratization process, the minister said the end of laxity does not mean a halt in the democratization process in Morocco.


On the contrary, he said, it is evident for us in Morocco that democracy can only develop in a strong but democratic State,"

"We cannot perceive a continuously irreversible democracy in our country in addition to laxity toward a bunch of networks and cells that try to undermine the security and stability in the country," he added.

In his latest speech, King Mohammed VI talked about the end of laxity in the country, but he also expressed his deep attachment to the continuity of building a modern and democratic society, he added.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan FM underscores political will to re-open Moroccan-Algerian land borders   (6/17/2003)
  Algeria: No insurmountable problem in Morocco-Algeria relations   (6/17/2003)
  Morocco, Algeria agree to create three committees to reinforce cooperation   (6/17/2003)

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