Filali: Morocco -Algeria relations should wait until after Algerian elections
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/29/1998

Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi deplored Algeria's attachment to handling Moroccan-Algerian relations "in a global approach" in response to Rabat's offer to open the closed borders between the two Maghreban countries.

The closure of borders between Morocco and Algeria "has tragic consequences on the population living in eastern Morocco and western Algeria," the Prime Minister told a delegation of the International Union of French-Speaking Press.

"These regions have become a disaster-stricken area," Youssoufi said, hinting at economic difficulties engendered by the closure of borders and the halt of the once-flourishing trade exchange in the area.

However, Map reported that Morocco's minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Abdellatif Filali, sounded a cautious note on Moroccan - Algerian relations.

Regarding the call launched by Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, to Algerian authorities to settle the pending problems between the two countries, Filali stated, "Our Algerian brothers are poised to hold presidential elections, and the present time is not appropriate to open this issue because their priority is to handle domestic problems."

Youssoufi said he will spare no effort and multiply initiatives to solve the problem. "We will continue to take all the possible initiatives to improve the situation," he said.

Youssoufi's government has repeatedly stressed it will to normalize relations between Morocco and Algeria through reopening the land borders, closed in 1994.

Relations between the two Maghreban countries strained due to Algeria's direct involvement in the Sahara and after Algerian-born French nationals perpetrated in 1994 a terrorist attack against a hotel in Marrakesh (Southern Morocco), killing two Spanish tourists.

Subsequently, Morocco imposed entry visas for Algerians wishing to visit the Kingdom, while Algeria retaliated by closing land borders with Morocco.

However, the initiatives launched by the Moroccan government were met with an Algerian adherence to addressing bilateral relations in a "global approach."

Previous Stories:
  Algeria wants to handle ties with Morocco within global approach   (9/21/1998)
  Normalization of Moroccan - Algerian ties a strategic option for Morocco   (9/18/1998)
  Algeria has no evidence of Morocco's involvement in arms smuggling   (8/28/1998)

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