US ambassador: Morocco will remain strategic partner for USA
Morocco-USA, Politics, 7/5/2003

Morocco will remain "a strategic partner" for the USA, said Margaret Tutwiller, US ambassador in Morocco in an interview published this Friday by Moroccan dailies "Le Matin du Sahara et Du Magrheb" and "Assahra Al Maghribya."

After she pointed to "considerable progress" in negotiations between the two countries for a free-trade agreement, the US diplomat said Morocco will become a model to be followed for other countries that will seek to learn from its experience and from the working method of its negotiators, mainly as regards drafting laws associated with the agreement.

She went on that two weeks ahead of the fourth round of negotiations, slated in Washington, the two negotiating teams -divided into 11 working commissions- have already lowered several constraints. After she acknowledged that the agriculture aspect is "sensitive and complex," the US diplomat insisted that the agreement advantages will be more numerous than its handicaps, underscoring the two countries' leaders will to conclude the agreement the soonest.

She also noted that Morocco ranks top among the US friend countries that successfully embarked on the path of reforms, modernization and economic liberalization.

Morocco and the USA enjoy more than two centuries of friendship and have not waited for the 9/11 events to consolidate their relations, said Tutwiller who also renewed the US administration's commitment to develop its multi-sector support to Morocco.

There are several indications that since September 11, there is an increased US interest for Morocco, she went on, citing as an example efforts to conclude a Morocco-US free trade agreement and bilateral cooperation in parliamentary and military fields.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan minister meets US under secretary for political affairs   (6/28/2003)
  King Mohammed receives message from US president   (6/12/2003)
  US under secretary for political affairs meets Moroccan officials   (6/6/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search