Morocco, Chile sign cooperation agreements
Morocco-Chile, Politics, 12/4/2004

Visiting King Mohammed VI of Morocco and the president of Chile chaired, in Santiago Thursday, the signing ceremony of a framework agreement in culture and three memos of understanding on cooperation in agriculture, forests, animal and plants health, fisheries and aquaculture.

The framework agreement on culture is meant to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge on Moroccan and Chilean cultures through the organization of conferences, concerts, expos in both countries, the exchange of radio and TV programs and the promotion of studies on their languages, histories and literatures.

The two sides also pledged to boost cooperation between cultural, artistic and educational institutions.

On the other hand, Morocco and Chile decided to promote cooperation in fields related to agricultural products quality control, production and marketing through a memo of understanding on cooperation in agriculture and forests. They will also cooperate in the sector of breeding via the exchange of information and genetic material concerning animals.

Cooperation on forests will focus on support of research and re-forestation programs, exchange of new technologies of irrigation, and vegetable production.

The two parties agreed on the need to encourage the private sector for the implementation of common projects in agriculture.

The second memo of understanding concerns animal and plant health. It is aimed at strengthening coordination in the protection of plants and animal health and food innocuousness.

Cooperation in fisheries and aquaculture will also be consolidated under a third memo signed between the two countries, providing for the promotion of technical and scientific cooperation in fisheries, aquaculture and fisheries products processing industry.

The two sides committed to create a joint committee to secure the implementation of the memo. (MAP)OB/

Visit to Chile opens fresh page in history of bilateral relations, King

Santiago, Dec. 03 (MAP)- Visiting King Mohammed VI said, in Santiago on Thursday, his State visit to Chile opens a "fresh page in the history of our bilateral relations."

The past that Morocco and Chile share incites the two countries to prospect new horizons for bilateral relations, and to work for their reinforcement and diversification, said the king in a speech delivered at a dinner hosted, on his honor, by Chilean president, Ricardo Lagos Escobar.

Morocco and the Arab states in general are bound to Chile by historical ties, that are the result of common Andalusian heritage, said the king who started on Wednesday a visit to Chile, the fourth leg of a five-nation Latin American tour.

The Moroccan sovereign hailed Morocco and Chile's identical stances as to the need to establish a more equitable and balanced world order.

Morocco, he said, "similarly to your country, aspires to a more equitable and prosperous world" wherein "prevails peace, tolerance and human rights respect." The kingdom, he went on, like Chile, is keen to opening its economy on the world through the conclusion of partnership and free trade accords.

King Mohammed VI said his country believes in the advantages of regional integration and its positive impact on sustainable development in countries of the South.

"For Morocco, the building of the Maghreb Arab Union (UMA) is a strategic choice that meets the legitimate aspirations of peoples in the region. However, this goal can only be reached by overcoming artificial conflicts, as the one concerning our country's territorial integrity," said the king, referring to the Sahara conflict that long hindered the completion of the North African regional grouping (UMA- mustering Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia), mainly because of Algeria's backing to the Polisario separatists who claim the separation of Morocco's southern provinces from the rest of the country.

"I would like to reaffirm the kingdom of Morocco's constant attachment to international legality and its disposal to cooperate with all concerned parties and neighbouring States in order to reach a negotiated political and final solution to the Sahara question," he said.

The king also raised in his speech other international issues, in particular the "worrying" situation in the Middle East and Iraq.

The Moroccan sovereign, who started his south American tour on November 23, has already visited Mexico, Brazil and Peru. After Chile, he will head for Argentina, last leg of the tour.

Previous Stories:
  King Mohammed VI holds talks with Chilean president   (12/3/2004)
  Chile supports political solution to Sahara issue, diplomat   (12/2/2004)
  Morocco hails Chile's stance on Sahara issue   (10/23/2004)

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