King Mohammed inquires about return of Moroccan expatriates

Morocco's King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Princess Lalla Meriem, on Sunday made a surprise visit to the port of Tangiers to inquire about return conditions of Moroccan expatriates for summer holidays.

The king visited the port facilities, including structures set in place by the Mohammed V foundation for solidarity for disabled people and children, elderly and sick persons.

At the port, the king greeted travelers and discussed with them about their living conditions in the host countries and their travel. The king also heard explanations about the 2000 transit operation serviced daily by eight car-ferries between the ports of Tangiers and Algesiras (southern Spain). Other ships are linking the Moroccan eastern city of Nador with Almeria (southern Spain) and vice-versa while biweekly ships will service the French port of Sete to Tangiers and Nador.

In Algesiras, the port authorities said since last June 15, some 67,522 north Africans and 12,867 vehicles used the port to travel to Tangiers and Sebta. Over two million Maghrebans and 500,000 vehicles are expected to transit the Spanish six ports until next September 5, 5% more than in 1999. Morocco expects over one million of its citizens living in Europe to spend summer holidays in Morocco. In 1999, they were no more than 992,970.