Morocco's premier meets German president, German chancellor

Moroccan prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, who started on Sunday a three-day official visit to Germany at the invitation of chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, met on Monday German president Johannes Rau.

The two men held a meeting attended by delegations of the two countries.

Youssoufi, who is the first Moroccan prime minister to visit Germany in 30 years, on Sunday attended a dinner banquet hosted in his honor by state foreign minister, Christoph Zoepel, on behalf of foreign minister, Joshcka Fisher.

On the same day, he attended the fast-breaking meal with associations representing the Germany-based Moroccan community and business community.

The prime minister will also give a lecture at the Friedrich Ebert foundation on "Where is Morocco going? Challenge for the 21st century."

In the economic field, the prime minister, who is accompanied by economy, finance and tourism minister, Fathallah Oualalou, chaired the signing of a convention between Morocco and German tour operator "Condor und Neckermann." The second largest travel operator in Germany will build a 4-star hotel in the southwestern city of Agadir.

Meantime, German chancellor Gerhard Shroeder and Youssoufi held on Monday a work session. Following the meeting, the German chancellor expressed "deep respect for the policy of social openness conducted by King Mohammed VI and his prime minister," adding this policy should be supported.

He also announced the two countries decided to set up a joint economic commission, under the chairmanship of economy ministers, to develop economic relations and probe new opportunities for German investments in Morocco. German cooperation, he went on, will also focus on Moroccan northern regions to fight smuggling.

For the Moroccan premier, economic relations between Morocco and Germany are below the two countries' aspirations and potentials, due to a reciprocal ignorance and a communication deficit.