King Hassan II wants U.S to push Mideast peace process forward, Cohen says
Morocco-USA, Politics, 9/29/1998

U.S Defense Secretary, William Cohen, said Monday that King Hassan II wants the United States to use all its weight to push the stalled Mideast peace process forward.

The U.S official told the press in Rabat that Morocco is as interested as the United States in achieving a progress in the Middle East peace process, which has been in a comatose state since Israeli Likud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assumed power.

Cohen said he examined with King Hassan II means of giving the peoples of the region (the Middle East) the opportunity to achieve their dreams to live in peace and prosperity.

He also recalled President Bill Clinton's decision to dispatch next month to the Middle East Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Mideast envoy Denis Ross in a bid to reach a breakthrough in the stumbling negotiations.

The projected tour will pave the way for a new meeting in Washington between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Cohen added.

Cohen lauded the leadership of Morocco's King Hassan II and paid tribute to the king's constant contribution to peace and stability in the world.

"I handed King Hassan II a letter from President Bill Clinton, thanking the king for his efforts in favor of peace and stability in the world," Cohen told the press in Rabat.

The U.S official, who visited Morocco on Monday, was received by King Hassan II and conferred with Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi on ways to enhance relations between Morocco and the USA.

William Cohen underlined that Morocco and the USA will continue to work together for the preservation of peace and security in the world. He recalled in this regard, Morocco's contribution to peacekeeping operations in Somalia and currently in Bosnia.

He added that he discussed with King Hassan II ways to enhance cooperation between Morocco and the USA, with a special emphasis on the recent initiative of the U.S Commerce undersecretary, Stuart Eizenstat, aimed at developing trade among Maghreban countries (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) on the one hand and between these countries and the USA on the other.

Previous Stories:
  Algeria, Morocco, Washington back Baker's efforts on Sahara referendum   (9/29/1998)
  US president speaks of Morocco-US partnership and Morocco's regional example   (9/7/1998)
  Moroccan party calls on U.S. to admit error in striking Sudan and Afghanistan   (9/5/1998)

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