King Hassan II and President Ben Ali Upbeat over Future of Arab Maghreb Union
Morocco-Tunisia, Politics, 3/16/1999

King Hassan II of Morocco and President Ben Ali of Tunisia have voiced optimism over the future of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) and called for activating Maghreban institutions.

This came in an exchange of speeches during a dinner banquet hosted by King Hassan II on Monday evening in Marrakesh in honor of President Ben Ali, who arrived in Morocco earlier in the day, on an official visit meant to consolidate bilateral relations and boost the Maghreban union

"We are confident that in the coming months the Arab Maghreb Union will overcome the difficulties that have so far hampered its construction," King Hassan II said, while the President Ben Ali expressed wish that "UMA will start, with the beginning of the next century, an operational phase of progress (...) so that our peoples achieve integration into a strong regional grouping."

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.

King Hassan II stressed that Morocco "will remain faithful" to the spirit of the Marrakesh Treaty, that set up the Maghreban Union.

President Ben Ali, who hailed King Hassan II as an "exceptional statesman and a far-sighted leader," renewed his country's attachment to UMA as a strategic option, pointing out that his country understands the "juncture" reasons that have so far hampered Maghreban integration.

Tunisia will spare no effort to consolidate Unity within the region, the Tunisian President said. King Hassan II and President Ben Ali of Tunisia on Monday stressed the need to foster Moroccan-Tunisian cooperation in all fields.

"The level of cooperation and trade exchanges reached so far should be improved and intensified," King Hassan II said at an exchange of speeches during a dinner banquet hosted in Ben Ali's honor.

Bilateral trade are in favor of Morocco with a total amount of $ 103 million in 1998 against 90 million in 1997.

King Hassan II noted that the conclusion of a bilateral free exchange accord, that has been finalized lately, "will significantly contribute to the materialization of our aspirations." He stressed the need "to lay down the foundations of joint cooperation in economic and commercial fields in such a way to help the Arab Nation form a complementary regional economic grouping and to prepare it to won the challenges of the future."

For his part, the President Ben Ali, said the integration of Tunisia and Morocco in the association mechanisms with the European Union requires that the two states double efforts at the bilateral level with a view to establishing a free exchange area.

Morocco and Tunisia are bound to the European Union by separate association accords that provide, inter alia, for the creation of free exchange areas in the coming decade.

Ben Ali urged Morocco and Tunisia to harmonize bilateral positions to rationalize their relations with their European neighbors and to reinforce their role within the Mediterranean process ushered in by the Barcelona Declaration.

Meanwhile, President Ben Ali also met with Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi, and the speakers of the Moroccan house of representatives (lower house) and of the chamber of advisors (upper house).

The Tunisian President flew this Tuesday to the Capital city of Rabat, where he is to deliver a speech before the Moroccan bicameral parliament.

Previous Stories:
  Tunisian president expected today in Morocco for first official visit   (3/15/1999)
  President Ben Ali starts first official visit to Morocco   (3/13/1999)
  Morocco and Tunisia to step up higher education cooperation   (11/25/1998)

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