British official sees Morocco-UK ties as sound

Lord Michael Levy, envoy of British premier Tony Blair to King Mohammed VI, on Thursday lauded relations between Morocco and the United Kingdom as sound.

Morocco and the UK have embarked on a new cooperation era, marked by understanding and consultation on several international issues, the envoy said at a meeting with speaker of the Moroccan chamber of advisors (upper house of parliament), Mohamed Jalal Essaid.

The speaker urged Britain to consolidate cooperation with Morocco in view of the kingdom's key role in fostering stability in the Mediterranean.

The British envoy, who is currently on a six-day visit to Morocco, had handed King Mohammed VI a message from Tony Blair.

He also conferred with the Moroccan economy and finance minister, Fathallah Oualalou, and secretary of state for foreign affairs, Taieb Fassi Fihri.

Talks covered ways to consolidate Moroccan-British cooperation and a set of regional and international issues of common concern, including the peace process in the Middle East.