Morocco says it does not seek escalation with Algeria
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 11/9/1999

Morocco on Monday said it does not seek escalation with neighboring Algeria.

"Morocco does not seek escalation with sisterly Algeria," Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Mohamed Benaissa told a press conference in Laayoune, a major city in the Moroccan southern provinces.

"Clouds are looming on relations between Morocco and Algeria," he said, adding that Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, is making utmost efforts to consolidate neighborliness ties with Algiers.

He also recalled that the Youssoufi government had repeatedly called for the opening of borders between the two nations.

Ties between Morocco and Algeria, which had taken a positive turn with Bouteflika's coming to power last April in Algiers, soured again recently, following the anti-Moroccan statements made by the Algerian head of state.

Bouteflika accused Morocco of sheltering camps of Islamist extremist groups. Morocco rejected the accusations as baseless.

During the press conference, Benaissa said relations between Rabat and Algiers have direct repercussions on the approaches related to the Sahara issue. He voiced hope of seeing the clouds marring bilateral relations cleared to overcome all difficulties.

Benaissa was part of a four-member ministerial delegation that visited the city of Laayoune on Monday and that also included the ministers of endowments and Islamic affairs, of justice and of economy and finance.

Previous Stories:
  King Mohammed sends congratulations message to Bouteflika   (11/2/1999)
  Moroccan delegation to African human rights meeting in Algiers returns home   (10/29/1999)
  Morocco's participation in African human rights meeting in Algiers, a positive sign   (10/27/1999)

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