Morocco urges Algeria to positively respond to Rabat reconciliation calls
Morocco-Maghreb, Politics, 7/17/1998

Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi urged Algeria to positively respond to the proposals to open the closed borders with Morocco.

Youssoufi said at a news conference at the end of the sixth session of the Moroccan-Tunisian high joint commission, "We have not ceased to multiply initiatives to open borders with Algeria and suppress visa requirements."

Relations between Algeria and Morocco soured in 1994 after Algerian-born French nationals perpetrated a terrorist attack against a luxury hotel in Marrakesh which claimed the lives of two Spanish tourists. Morocco subsequently imposed a visa requirement for Algerians, and Algeria retaliated by closing their land border with Morocco.

Youssoufi said Algeria only made indirect responses to the Moroccan proposals.

"We have so far received only indirect reactions calling for a global discussion of all the suspended issues," he said, before stating that the Moroccan and Algerian approaches are not contradictory.

The Moroccan Prime Minister said that efforts will be continued to settle the problems between the two countries which automatically led to the freezing of the Arab Maghreb Union, grouping Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania.

He voiced hope that "this state of paralysis that negatively impacts on relations between Rabat and Algiers will be ended."

Touching on the situation in the Maghreb, Youssoufi said the way Moroccan - Tunisian and Moroccan - Libyan relations are handled will positively influence the union's progress.

The Moroccan Premier added that Morocco will continue working with Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania "to put an end to the paralysis of the Maghreb."

Morocco "will spare no effort to cooperate with goodwill in Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania to put an end to the present state of paralysis in the Maghreb," he said, Map reported.

Youssoufi co-chaired with his Tunisian peer Hamed Karoui the sixth session of the Moroccan - Tunisian high joint commission, which was crowned with the conclusion of a package of accords for the promotion of economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries.

Trade between the two countries totaled $90 million in 1997, decreasing by $10 million over 1996.

Youssoufi returned to Morocco on Thursday after handing Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali a message from King Hassan II.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco - Tunisia bilateral cooperation assessed   (7/6/1998)
  Morocco and Libya sign a series of cooperation accords   (7/3/1998)
  Moroccan - Libyan joint high cooperation commission meets   (7/2/1998)

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