Istiqlal Party calls Algerian leaders to adopt new policy for better relations with Morocco
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 10/7/1999

The Moroccan Istiqlal Party has called on the Algerian leaders to adopt a new policy for better relations between Morocco and Algeria and to endeavor for the construction of a united Arab Maghreb.

This came in a statement released on Wednesday at the end of the weekly meeting of the party's executive committee. The meeting was devoted to discussing the political situation in the Arab Maghreb in light of the recent statements made by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in Algeria and in New York.

The Istiqlal party -- which is participating in the center-left coalition government -- denounced the Algerian charges, which, the statement said, "harm our country, the symbol of our sovereignty and our territorial integrity."

Relations between Morocco and Algeria soured over the past few years due to Algeria's direct involvement in the Sahara issue and after Algerian-born French nationals perpetrated in 1994 a terrorist attack against a luxury hotel in Marrakesh (southern Morocco), killing two Spanish tourists.

Morocco imposed afterwards an entry visa for Algerians wishing to visit the Kingdom while Algeria retaliated by closing land borders with Morocco.

The election last April of a new president in Algeria was seen as a potential factor for an improvement of Moroccan-Algerian relations and of the Maghreban process as a whole, especially after the warm messages Bouteflika addressed to Morocco on the morrow of his election, vowing to improve neighborliness ties with the kingdom and to upgrade cooperation between the two countries.

However, in the past weeks he repeatedly made accusations against Morocco's government.

"The Istiqlal party which was pinning hopes that the election of President Bouteflika would open a new page in Moroccan-Algerian relations, deplores the fact that Algerian officials continue their attacks against Morocco, ignoring the principles of brotherhood and neighborliness," the statement said.

Previous Stories:
  Bouteflika sends message of regret to Moroccan king   (10/4/1999)
  King Mohammed congratulates Bouteflika over civil concord referendum   (9/20/1999)
  Moroccan-Algerian problems are ephemeral, minister   (9/13/1999)

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