Libyan leader calls Maghreban political parties to reactivate UMA
Libya-North Africa, Politics, 6/12/1998

Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi called Maghreban political parties to shoulder their responsibility in activating the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA).

Opening a two-day congress of Maghreban political parties in Tripoli on Wednesday, the Libyan head of state said the present stalemate in the UMA is unworthy of Maghreban peoples.

The encounter, attended by delegates of 37 political parties, is being held to mark the 40th anniversary of the Tangiers Conference and the 10th anniversary of the Zeralda meeting in Algeria, MAP reported.

Gaddafi recalled that the Tangiers conference, which brought together political parties from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, was the first step in the materialization of the joint will to build the Maghreban Union.

He further stated that the human and cultural resources in this region open the way for Maghreban unity and deplored the delay in achieving this unity while Europeans are moving steadily towards total integration despite differences of race, language and creed.

He wondered about the reason why the UMA countries did not join the grouping of Saharan and sub-Saharan countries gathering Libya, Sudan, Chad, Niger and Mali, which boast enormous potentials.

In his speech, Gaddafi urged Maghreban political and popular organizations to lay the bridges for cooperation with sub-Saharan countries which are "a paradise... with their waters, rivers, lakes, fertile lands and mineral wealth."

The congress' preparatory commission insisted on the need to lift the unfair embargo enforced against Libya, help the Algerian people by all means to settle its current problems and create a Maghreban front able to face the challenges of globalization and of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership process.

The commission also underlined the need to support democracy and establish the rule of law and an integrated development of the Maghreban space.

The Arab Maghreb Union, set up in 1989 in Marrakesh (Morocco) includes Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. However, the Union's integration process was hampered by the direct Algerian involvement in the Sahara issue, the Algerian extremist violence and the Lockerbie issue, involving Libya and the USA, France and Britain.

Previous Stories:
  Gaddafi suggests forming African force to solve Ethiopia - Eritrea dispute   (6/3/1998)
  Libya condemns Maritn Indyk's tour of Morocco   (3/17/1998)

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