Morocco will not renew fisheries accord with Russia
Morocco-Russia, Politics, 12/1/1999

Morocco on Tuesday announced that it will not renew the fisheries accords binding it to Russia.

The announcement was made by the Moroccan agriculture, rural development and fisheries minister, Habib Malki, during a meeting in Moscow with his Russian peer.

Malki called on Russia to ponder with Morocco a new form of cooperation.

The Minister told MAP bureau in the Russian capital city that Morocco "informed on time the European Union that the 1995 fisheries accord would be the last one."

All European fleets left Moroccan waters on Tuesday, as the Morocco-EU fisheries accord expired on Nov. 30.

"This is no surprise, but rather a joint choice aimed at safeguarding the biological balance and to preserve our sea resources," Malki said.

He underlined that Morocco wants to integrate the fisheries sector in a new strategy to protect the sea riches.

The two countries signed Monday an agreement providing for cooperation in agriculture, especially in research, forests, irrigation and water harnessing.

The agreement --initialed by Malki and Russian Agriculture and Food Minister Aleksey Gordeyev-- provides for encouraging private initiatives to promote partnership and trade of agricultural produce. A follow-up committee, to meet alternately in Morocco and Russia, will identify cooperation programs and examine enforcement measures.

Bilateral trade totalled $205 million in 1998. Russia bought the same year 36% of Moroccan exports of oranges and other citrus fruits, 16.7% of tomato exports and 1.8% of potato exports, becoming the second market, after the European Union, for Moroccan products.

Morocco exported to Russia a total of 192,140 tons of citrus fruits against 65,842 in 1997 while tomato exports increased from 10,238 tons in 1997 to 40,602 tons in 1998. However, a slight regression was noted in 1999 due to the financial crisis in Russia.

Morocco is also seeking to attract more Russian tourists as in 1998 only 2,000 Russian nationals opted for the Morocco bound, at a time 25,000 Russians visited Egypt, 20,000 went to the United Arab Emirates, and 16,000 chose to spend their holidays in Tunisia.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco and Russia agree to cooperate in agriculture   (11/30/1999)
  Moroccan agriculture and fisheries minister visits Moscow   (11/29/1999)
  Morocco's Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Visits Moscow   (11/25/1999)

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