Morocco home minister meets group of French representatives
Morocco-France, Politics, 2/27/1999

Moroccan Home Minister Driss Basri in Rabat Friday with a group of French representatives currently visiting Morocco.

The minister surveyed before the French representatives issues related to the French policy of immigration, Islamic fundamentalism in Morocco, the UN-projected referendum in the Sahara and the Moroccan political experience, marked by the appointment one year ago of a former socialist opposition leader as head of a coalition government.

Regarding immigration policy, the minister stressed that Morocco and France are cooperating closely on this issue and policies are developed after consultation and exchange of viewpoints between the two countries.

He explained that Moroccan officials believe that the emigration issue has three dimensions. First of all there is a concern to protect the identity and dignity of its community settled abroad. Second, he went on, Morocco adheres to the principle of free movement between the two countries, and this freedom is consolidated by old friendship relations. He called for promoting legal emigration and lifting all obstacles hindering the legal flow of emigrants.

He added that Morocco insists on the need to carry on Moroccan-French cooperation in the struggle against illegal emigration. He specified that at the Moroccan level, illegal emigration has currently reached the zero level thanks to great efforts made to end the phenomenon and its willingness to study and enforce any solution likely to prevent this type of emigration.

It is part of these efforts, he explained, that the Moroccan city of Fes will host a week-long debate on migration flows with European countries hosting a large Moroccan community. He added that the goal of these efforts is to contribute to European policy, following the creation of the Shengen space.

Turning to fundamentalism in Morocco, the minister said a tendency of this current is, since the last legislative elections, integrated in Morocco political life and holds nine seats at the parliament. He went on that within the banned association "Al Adl Wal Ihssane," which preaches non-participation in politics, there is currently another current that is no longer rejecting participation in Moroccan politics.

Regarding the Sahara issue, Basri underlined that there is total unanimity in all Moroccan political parties and government over this issue, and that all the components of the Moroccan society are upholding the orientations of King Hassan II in this regard.

He further explained to the French representatives that Morocco is not seeking any solution other than the UN settlement plan that provides for the holding of a referendum in the former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975.

Previous Stories:
  French MP group will visit southern Moroccan provinces   (2/12/1999)
  Moroccan, French Senates agree to step up cooperation   (2/11/1999)
  Morocco and France Senates sign cooperation accord   (2/10/1999)

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