Italian official hails excellent relations with Morocco

Relations between Italy and Morocco are excellent at all levels, mainly in political and economic fields, said Thursday Italian secretary of state for foreign affairs, Rino Serri.

The Italian official, currently on a visit to Morocco, hoped that evolving bilateral relations would encompass other sectors, mainly investments and recalled that King Mohammed VI and Italian president, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi decided during the sovereign's visit to Italy last April to hold next February in Morocco a colloquy on economic and trade partnership between Italy and Morocco.

He also stressed the need to re-launch cooperation between the European Union and the Arab Maghreb Union and underlined that the Euro-Mediterranean process, between southern and northern Mediterranean countries, is decisive.

To a question on cooperation in fisheries, the Italian official said his country, as a member of the European Union, supports the conclusion of a fisheries agreement with Morocco, adding Italy grants a particular importance to cooperation with Morocco in fisheries, and recalled the latest visits to Morocco by the Italian fishing cooperative and federation to explore partnership prospects in the sector.

Regarding the Sahara issue, he said Europe should contribute "in a positive way" to settling the issue, as part of the UN settlement plan.

The Italian official held a series of meetings with prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, speaker of the house of representatives, Abdelouahed Radi, secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taieb Fassi Fihri and minister of agriculture, rural development, water and forests, Ismail Alaoui.