Morocco's first ambassador to Cyprus hands credentials

Morocco's ambassador to Cyprus, the first ever, Noureddine Sefiani, handed his credentials to president Glafcos Clerides at a meeting Thursday in Nicosia, Morocco's embassy in Athens said in a statement.

Cyprus authorities that are eager to bolster cooperation relations with Morocco arranged several meetings between the new ambassador and a number of Cabinet members, including the ministers of finance, trade, industry, foreign affairs and tourism, the statement said.

The diplomat also met the speaker of the parliament and the chairman of the chamber of trade and industry and is scheduled to confer with the minister of education, culture and sports on Morocco's candidacy to host the 2006 soccer World Cup.

Sefiani is also Morocco's ambassador to Greece, a post he has held since November 1996.