Rabat, France views on peace, Iraq
Morocco-France, Politics, 11/6/1999

Morocco and France on Friday voiced firm backing to a fair, lasting and global peace in the Middle-East.

The two countries also lauded the resumption of the peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis, a joint communique, made public at the end of the third annual meeting of the Moroccan-French High Joint Commission said.

Palestinians and Israelis met recently in Oslo, in presence of US President Bill clinton in an attempt to revive the peace process on the eve of the final status negotiations, to be opened Monday in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

The Moroccan and French sides, who warned that the task should not be under-estimated, called on all the concerned parties "to mobilize their energy to seize the historic chance."

The final status negotiations, meant to reach an accord by next September 13, will focus on the thorniest issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: Palestinian refugees' right to return, the status of Al-Quds (Jerusalem), the fate of Jewish settlements, the borders, the prerogatives of the future Palestinian state, water sharing and security arrangements.

Morocco and France also called for the implementation of all peace accords and for the beginning of negotiations between Israel, Lebanon and Syria in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions.

The two parties also tackled the situation in Iraq, saying that the statu quo cannot last for ever. Any settlement of the issue should first target the end of the sufferings of the Iraqi population.

Iraq has been under U.N. sanctions since its invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The Arab states is still prey to intermittent air attacks by the USA and Britain.

Morocco and France also voiced determination to consolidate world peace. They convened to hold a seminar next year to assess their participation in peace keeping operations in Somalia, Bosnia and Kosovo.

Morocco has just dispatched a contingent to the Balkan province to help alleviate the sufferings of the local population.

Previous Stories:
  Iraq opposes any UN decision not considering its position   (11/3/1999)
  Al-Assad gets a message from Chirac   (11/2/1999)
  US ambassador calls Washington to show more resolve in assisting Morocco   (9/17/1999)

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