French republic ombudsman meets Moroccan officials in Rabat

The French republic ombudsman, Bernard Stazi, who started Tuesday a two-day visit to Morocco, held separate talks in Rabat with Morocco's minister of human rights, Mohamed Aujjar, and minister of civil service and administrative reform, Aziz Husseini.

Talks covered France's experience regarding the mediatory institution and Morocco's project to set up a similar institution.

Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi had announced in a statement before the parliament last January that Morocco would set up in the course of year 2000 an independent institution similar to the mediatory institutions existing in some European countries.

The democratic process in Morocco, the progress scored in human rights promotion, the reforms initiated at the level of administration, justice and management of local affairs were also surveyed at the talks.

Stazi is scheduled to meet other officials as well as the speakers of the two chambers of the Moroccan Parliament and the chairman of the Moroccan Bar Association.

The ombudsman receives and investigates complaints made by individuals against abuses or capricious acts of public officials and helps achieve equitable settlements.