Algerian president: We have to end all problems with Morocco
Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 7/15/1999

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said on Wednesday that relations between Morocco and Algeria "were not very brillant in the past years" and stressed that "things cannot remain as they are."

"We have to sit one day and settle all our problems," Bouteflika said at a press conference at the end of the 35th summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), hosted by Algeria.

"Moroccan-Algerian relations witnessed a tangible improvement," Bouteflika said, before adding that such a positive evolution will pave the way for holding a summit of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) at the end of next November or before the end of the year at the latest.

After years of tension, relations between Morocco and Algeria started to improve since the election last April of Bouteflika who exchanged with King Hassan II warm messages underlining the two sides' will to put bilateral relations back on track.

Last week, Bouteflika announced that he will meet King Hassan II on the borders between Morocco and Algeria, before the UMA summit.

Touching on the Sahara issue, President Bouteflika said his country backs the rapid implementation of the United Nations resolutions and the Houston Accords.

He also underlined that "Algeria will respect the results of the referendum."

The vote to decide whether the Sahara -- a former Spanish colony, retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords -- sets up on its own or remains part of Morocco, is set to be held in July, 2000.

The Algerian President also noted that Morocco's return to the OAU was not tackled during the Algiers Conference.

Morocco quit the OAU during the 1984 summit to protest the admission of the Sahrawi republic (SADR, self-proclaimed by the Polisario), which it sees as illegal.

Meanwhile, Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa said that relations between Morocco and Algeria are developing and borders between them will soon opened.

Previous Stories:
  Algeria determined to materialize cooperation ties with Morocco, Algerian diplomat   (7/14/1999)
  Algerian-Moroccan relations are well taken care of by two countries' heads of state   (7/13/1999)
  Bouteflika announces summit with King Hassan II   (7/12/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search