Youssoufi: Morocco wants to live in peace with Algeria
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 10/18/1999

Moroccan Premier, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, renewed Morocco's will "to live in peace with neighboring Algeria."

"Morocco is keen on living in peace and preserving neighborliness and cooperation with the Algerian brothers," Youssoufi told Saudi Al-Madina daily.

Youssoufi said that bilateral relations were marred by blacked cloud after a warming up that did not last for long.

Relations between Morocco and Algeria soured over the past years in view of Algiers' direct involvement in the Sahara issue and borders between Morocco and Algeria have been closed since 1994 when evidence showed the involvement of Algerian-born French nationals in a terrorist attack against a luxury hotel in Marrakesh (southern Morocco), killing two Spanish tourists.

Winds of reconciliation between the two Maghreban nations started to blow after the election last April of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who multiplied good will statements towards Morocco.On the morrow of his election, Bouteflika actually sent Morocco warm messages, vowing to improve neighborliness ties with the kingdom and to upgrade cooperation between the two countries.However, in the past weeks he repeatedly made anti-Moroccan statements, mainly charging Morocco of sheltering camps of Islamist extremist groups.

In his interview, Youssoufi underlined that "Morocco does not understand the reasons for the recent baseless Algerian accusations against Morocco." He added that Algeria "unfairly accuses Morocco of involvement in events with which Rabat has no link whatsoever."

"Morocco does not care about these accusations, as long as the Sahara issue is at the hands of the United Nations," he insisted.

"We are confident that the consultation will lead to a unique result, namely the confirmation of the southern provinces as Moroccan territory," the Prime Minister said.

Algeria has to back a "natural and objective" settlement of the Sahara issue to save its own present and future interests, he said, adding that such a settlement offers development opportunities for the two states and for the Arab Maghreb regions as a whole.

Previous Stories:
  Istiqlal Party calls Algerian leaders to adopt new policy for better relations with Morocco   (10/7/1999)
  Bouteflika sends message of regret to Moroccan king   (10/4/1999)
  King Mohammed congratulates Bouteflika over civil concord referendum   (9/20/1999)

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