Morocco, Tunisia pledge to carry on maghreban union construction
Morocco-Tunisia, Politics, 9/21/1999

Morocco and Tunisia have pledged to carry on the construction of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) that they described as an "inevitable strategic choice" for the two states.

The pledge was made by the two countries' prime ministers, Abderrahmane Youssoufi and Hamed Karoui, at a news conference held Monday evening at the end of the 7th session of the Moroccan-Tunisian high joint commission convened in Rabat.

The two officials underlined that the session marked a noteworthy progress in bilateral relations, a fact that would undoubtedly contribute to reactivating the UMA structures.

In earlier statements, the two prime ministers stressed the importance of the union at the turn of the century in view of the various challenges thrown at the region and the need to join efforts to push forward the establishment of a Maghreb, based on solidarity, economic cooperation, neighborliness and noninterference in each other's affairs.

UMA was set up in Marrakesh in 1989 by Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

Morocco and Tunisia have repeatedly voiced determination to revive UMA and to reactivate its action as it is an irreversible strategic option, a historic gain, and a civilizational project laying the bases for a common future.

"Morocco makes of the Maghreb construction a strategic option, that is likely to enable us to form strongly-bound partners in the Euro-Mediterranean space and to play our role in favor of peace, stability, and prosperity of our region and its peoples," Youssoufi said in an exchange of toasts Sunday evening in Rabat during a dinner banquet hosted in honor of Tunisian premier Hamed Karoui.

The Maghreban regional integration is a prelude to the integration of Maghreban economies in world economy, Youssoufi said.

In the same vein, Karoui called for the consolidation of the union to enable it take up the challenges at a time regional groupings are proliferating and to consolidate the Maghreb's stand in the partnership negotiations with the European Union.

The Moroccan media, which largely commented on the works of the Moroccan-Tunisian high joint commission called on the five Maghreban countries to work out a plan on economic and social recovery, to consolidate the existing structures and to push forward the setting up of a Maghreban market to enable the countries face up the changes sweeping on the world.

The construction of a Maghreban community is more than ever necessary for a better regional integration, the Moroccan media said.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco, Tunisia call for consolidation of Maghreban union   (9/20/1999)
  Moroccan - Tunisian high joint commission convenes in Rabat next Sunday   (9/14/1999)
  King Mohammed sends written message to Tunisian president   (9/14/1999)

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