Mohammed VI, Ben Ali review cooperation

Visiting King Mohammed VI and President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali held in Tunis Wednesday a first round of talks centered on bilateral cooperation as well as developments on the Arab and African scenes.

The two heads of state hailed ever-improving already special relations soon to be further consolidated with the implementation of the free-trade zone agreement, said the spokesman of the Tunisian presidency.

Both sides said they favored joint Arab action and underlined the need for regular Arab summit meetings. They voiced concern over the dragging Middle East peace-process and said Arab and international efforts should be exerted to help Palestinians recover their rights, including an independent state with Al Quds (Jerusalem)as its capital.

They also reiterated their call for an end to the embargo on iraq and libya and solidarity with the iraqi and libyan people and agreed to further liaise and tune stands in dealing with the European Union.

President Ben Ali later decorated the sovereign with the November 7 Grand Collar.