Morocco, Algeria agree to set up security cooperation task group
Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 7/22/2004

Moroccan and Algerian interior ministers, respectively Al Mostafa Sahel and Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni, agreed Wednesday to set up a task group in charge of bilateral security cooperation.

According to a joint communique released following the 2-day visit in Algeria of the Moroccan minister, the task group will be set up as of the 4th trimester of this year, upon directives of King Mohammed VI of Morocco and Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

The group will be charged of establishing efficient security coordination mechanisms, especially in fighting terrorism, illegal immigration and all forms of trafficking.

"In the same drive, the statement goes, the two ministers have agreed to give fresh impetus to cooperation in the field of local communities by encouraging initiatives likely to promote local development."

"Concerning locust-fighting cooperation, the two ministers voiced commitment to work in coordination with other concerned departments to dam up the proliferation of this plague."

The two officials also expressed "the two countries' will to work for the construction of a united Arab Maghreb that meets aspirations of our two people and contributes to the development of our nations."

An effective activation of the Maghreb Union, mustering Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya, is marred by Algeria's support to the Polisario separatist movement which claims secession of Morocco's southern provinces, known as the Sahara. This former Spanish colony was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid tripartite accords.

Discussions, the two parties said, took place in an atmosphere of friendship, cordiality and mutual respect and enabled to examine questions of common interest.

Sahel, who left Algiers Wednesday morning, attended with his Algerian counterpart, the graduation ceremony of three senior police officers cohorts, held at the offices of the Algiers police academy.

Addressing Algerian journalists, Al Mostafa Sahel stressed that cooperation between the two countries is doing well and that it will be further reinforced, within a few weeks, thanks to the set up of security coordination mechanisms.

Previous Stories:
  Press highlights intense diplomatic moves on Sahara issue   (7/21/2004)
  Interior Minister convinced Morocco, Algeria can work 'hand in hand'   (7/21/2004)
  New family visit exchange between Southern Morocco and Tindouf camps (Algeria)   (7/17/2004)

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