Morocco, an ongoing revolution since March 98
Morocco-International, Politics, 10/22/1999

Since the coming to power in Morocco of this government, the country is living in an ongoing May 68 (revolution), said Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi in a press-conference in Brussels after the colloquy "Morocco-EU: A Shared Fate" wound up Thursday night. Those who want to demonstrate do, those who want to strike do and those who want to gather in groups do, Youssoufi said, denying brute force was ever used.

The Socialist-led coalition government was appointed on March 14, 1998, bringing to power center-left parties after decades of right-wing rule. The coalition Cabinet is made up of 41 ministers from 7 leftist and centrist political parties.

To a question on Moroccan-Algerian borders, Youssoufi said Morocco had no border dispute with Algeria, the issue being settled by a treaty passed by the two countries.

The prime minister then surveyed all major treaties that enabled Morocco to recover, piecemeal, sovereignty over its territories stopping at the standing situation in southern provinces of the kingdom.

To a question on a new fishing accord with the EU, Youssoufi said the two sides had agreed not to renew the accord because Europeans were, at long last, convinced overfishing was depleting stocks in blatant violation of all conventions. The resource being vital to the Moroccan people, the whole thing was settled in a letter sent to the late King Hassan II by President Santer, he recalled.

The last accord was longer than previous ones with the aim to leave enough time to Europeans to restructure and redeploy and come up with new cooperation opportunities in the fishing activities, fishing directly being excluded, the prime minister said.

The prime minister said he is aware some EU states would like to raise the issue, and Morocco is willing to listen to friends whence the Moroccan fishery minister's invitation to the European Commissioner to visit Morocco. He did not give a date for the visit though, saying it is up to the two sides to agree on a time most convenient to both.

Asked whether morocco's troops were likely to go to Congo as part of the United Nations contingent, Youssoufi said Morocco always answered calls for intervention for peace in Africa reminding reporters of Somalia and Kinshasa and others.

For the time being, he went on, I am not aware of any decision or request made to the government or the state.

Morocco has always been involved in peacemaking and peacekeeping in Africa. We showed solidarity with liberation movements all over the continent and our bilateral ties are thriving and improving with every and each African partner, said Youssoufi.

Of talks with European Commission President Romano Prodi, he said he found European interlocutors very attentive and understanding to Moroccan stands, adding that the next few weeks would see new things coming to life. The issue was globally addressed and the coming into force of the partnership agreement whose ratification was somewhat delayed will probably take place early 2000 after amendments decided and due notification.

Coming talks and negotiations will take place within these structures, Youssoufi said, be it the Union Council, its Commission, or Committee. There exist frames of work, of negotiations to which other frameworks will add up.

Youssoufi left Brussels this Friday afternoon heading back home, after he co-chaired with Prodi the colloquy on "Morocco-EU: A Shared Fate."

Previous Stories:
  Morocco presents human rights report to UN   (10/21/1999)
  Fishing agreement with EU will not be renewed, says Youssoufi   (10/21/1999)
  Partnership agreement, a new era in euro-moroccan relations, says youssoufi   (10/20/1999)

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