Morocco, Libya sign packages of cooperation accords
Libya-Morocco, Politics, 11/16/1999

Morocco and Libya signed on Monday in the northeastern Libyan city of Benghazi several cooperation accords.

The accords were signed at the end of the 4th session of the Moroccan-Libyan high joint commission in the presence of Moroccan prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi and Secretary of the Libyan general popular committee, Mohamed Ahmed Mankouch.

Libya is Morocco's first partner among the members of the Arab Maghreb Union that musters besides Morocco and Libya, Algeria, Mauritania and Tunisia. Up to June 1999, Morocco's exports to Libya -- finished and semi-finished consumption goods-- were worth $ 71.83 million while imports --fertilizers, chemical products, iron and steel-- amounted to $ 11.46 million.

A strong Moroccan community-- more than 112 thousand souls-- is settled in Libya.

The accords provide for the consolidation of cooperation and complementarity between the two countries in the fields of information, trade, handicraft, youth and sports.

An agreement on the setting up of a Moroccan-Libyan joint economic chamber has also been concluded, in addition to a cooperation accord between the two countries' radio stations and their centers for the promotion of exports.

The two sides equally signed a memorandum of understanding entrusting the two states' specialized bodies with the drafting of an accord on the liberalization of air space between Morocco and libya.

After the signing ceremony, Moroccan minister of transport, Mustapha Mansouri said the liberalization of Moroccan and libyan air space is a stride towards the liberalization of the Arab air space. The move, he said, will be beneficial to the Moroccan and Libyan business milieux.

Talks will be held shortly on the resumption of direct flights between the two states. These flights had been suspended following the air embargo decreed against Libya in 1992 in view of the Lockerbie affair.

At a meeting Sunday with Moroccan and Libyan businessmen, Youssoufi called for the resumption of flights between the two countries as the move will promote contacts between economic operators and trade exchanges between the two countries. Youssoufi deemed it "impossible" to promote economic relations without an air connection between Morocco and Libya.

The upgrading of trade exchanges depends on the settlement of the air connection problem, which has become, Youssoufi said, a major obstacle to increase the volume of these exchanges which have dropped since 1996.

The joint commission 4th session was also marked by the setting up of a political coordination and consultation committee. The committee will endeavor to coordinate the two countries' political stands on Arab, African and international issues and to consolidate international relations at the service of world peace and security.

During the commission debates, Youssoufi -- who was received Sunday evening by Libyan leader Muammar Kaddafi-- and Mankouch underlined the need to set a timetable for implementing the accords and to follow up this implementation to give a new impetus to economic, cultural and social relations between the two states.

They voiced determination to establish a mutually beneficial partnership and called for joining efforts and potentials to face the globalization challenges and to foster complementarity.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan-Libyan high commission meeting, bilateral trade far short of potential   (11/15/1999)
  Moroccan and Libyan premiers to chair joint high commission   (11/11/1999)
  President Bongo leaves Morocco heading for Libya   (11/1/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search