Algerian president receives Maghreban union chief
Algeria-Maghreb, Politics, 4/21/1999

President Liamine Zeroual of Algeria received on Tuesday here Mohamed Amamou, secretary-general of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), who is visiting Algeria to reactivate the union's structures.

Amamou told the press he presented to President Zeroual a report on an advisory meeting, held by UMA foreign ministers on the fringes of the third Euro-Mediterranean conference last week in Stuttgart (Germany).

Amamou said President Zeroual backed the decision to hold shortly a meeting of the Maghreban union's follow-up committee to examine the situation of the union institutions and devise a time-table for technical meetings.

The UMA chief said the meeting may also examine the possibility to hold an extraordinary meeting of Maghreban foreign ministers that will prepare for the 6th session of the union's presidency council, scheduled to be convened before the end of the year in Algeria.

UMA that was set up in Marrakesh in 1989 by Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, has been paralyzed since 1994 due to strained relations between Morocco and Algeria over Algiers' direct involvement in the Sahara issue and due to Libya's criticism of the other UMA members' attitude in the Lockerbie crisis opposing Tripoli to some western countries.

The latest developments in the region will undoubtedly have a positive incidence on the reactivation of the Maghreban process.

As put by Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali last week, there are clear signs heralding the reactivation of the UMA and the overcoming of the inaction phase that marked the union.

He said since the official visit he paid to Morocco last March 15-16, there are clear signs for the reactivation of the UMA, adding that Libya's success in settling the dispute opposing it to some western countries and the leadership stemming from the Algerian people's will at the early presidential elections in Algeria, kindle optimism as to the revival of the Maghreban Union and shall surely contribute to the efforts made to construct the Maghreb and foster brotherhood, cooperation and solidarity among Maghreban peoples.

Previous Stories:
  Maghreban union secretary general in Algeria   (4/19/1999)
  Egyptian president congratulates Algerian president-elect on winning election   (4/19/1999)
  New Algerian president-elect says settlement of Sahara issue must conform to U.N plan   (4/17/1999)

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