Forum for the Future Focus of talks between Morocco and US officials
Morocco-USA, Politics, 10/23/2004

Moroccan Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, evoked, in Rabat Thursday, with US Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East, William Burns, Morocco's organization of the Forum for the Future at the beginning of December.

This first edition of the Forum will be attended by Foreign ministers of the G8, Middle East and North African countries.

Jettou hailed at the meeting the organizers' decision to include the departments in charge of education in this gathering, the prime minister's department said in a release.

The Moroccan premier also highlighted the importance of the themes to be discussed in the meeting, saying it is important to mobilize for the success of this first edition and to make the forum a regular rendezvous for partnership and development.

Besides, the minister noted that Morocco-US relations are constantly consolidated, recalling the signing of a free trade agreement between the two countries and US designation of Morocco as a major non-Nato ally.

This, he said, evidences the resolve of the American administration and president Bush to accompany Morocco in its process of political, economic, and social reforms.

The release noted that Jettou reiterated at the meeting Morocco's position in favor of a political solution that preserves its sovereignty over its territories. He also reiterated the country's attachment to peace and stability in the region and concern to preserve good relations with Maghreban countries.

On his part, Burns reiterated Washington's commitment to a political solution to the Sahara dispute that opposes Morocco to the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists who are claiming the secession of Morocco's southern provinces, known as the Sahara.

The American official added that his country will continue to support the efforts of UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, and his representative, to reach a solution to this question.

Washington encourages Morocco and Algeria to improve relations, he noted, hailing Morocco's decision to lift visa requirements on Algerian citizens.

On the international level, the two officials evoked the situation in Iraq and the Middle East.

Previous Stories:
  Burns: Washington committed to political solution for Sahara conflict   (10/22/2004)
  U.S. NGO denounces illegal detention of Moroccan POWs in Tindouf   (10/7/2004)
  U.S. will continue to back reforms in Morocco, official   (10/6/2004)

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