Internal Maghreban problems weigh on Maghreban Union march, Moroccan diplomat says
Maghreb, Politics, 2/22/1999

The Moroccan ambassador to Tunisia deplored the fact that internal problems have weighed on the march of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), which has been paralyzed since 1994 because of political differences.

"Internal problems in each Maghreban country have gotten over the union's dynamism," Abdelkader Benslimane told Tunisian "L'Economiste Maghrebin" bi-monthly.

The UMA that was set up in Marrakesh in 1989 and that musters Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and tunisia, is paralyzed due to strained relations between Morocco and Algeria over Algiers' direct involvement in the Sahara issue and due to Libya's criticism of the attitude adopted by the other UMA members in the Lockerbie crisis opposing Tripoli to western countries.

The Moroccan diplomat regretted the paralysis of the union as this paralysis adversely impacts on the interests of the states of the region.

"Our means put together and our political determination would have allowed, among other things, a better and larger association with Europe," Benslimane said.

The European Union concluded in the past few years separate association accords with Morocco and Tunisia. The accords provide, inter alia, for the establishment of free trade areas.

Relatedly, Maghreban experts, who met over the weekend in Tunis at a seminar on the occasion of the union's 10th anniversary, called for the promotion of an atmosphere of entente and dialogue in the Maghreb.

Participants also stressed the "leading role" that the civil society can play in boosting the Maghreban project and fostering the public opinion's awareness on this "inevitable strategic" integration.

Previous Stories:
  Maghreban Unionists call for reactivating regional union   (2/17/1999)
  Morocco, Algeria optimistic as to Maghreban Union's future   (2/16/1999)
  Spanish defense minister urges Maghreban countries to diversify cooperation with spain   (1/26/1999)

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