Maghreb Union, imperative for the region, Sahara issue, Moroccan - Algerian problem, Libyan official
The Arab Maghreb Union is an imperative for the people of the region and for the promotion of joint Arab and African action, said Libyan secretary of African unity, Ali Abdesslam Triki, at a meeting with the Moroccan reporters currently visiting Libya to cover the official visit King Mohammed VI is paying to Libya as of this Monday.
Triki surveyed efforts made to reactivate the mechanisms of the Arab maghreb Union (UMA, mustering Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia) and recalled the contacts and initiatives made by Libya and Tunisia to give a new momentum to the union.
The UMA that was set up in Marrakesh in 1989 is paralyzed due to strained relations between Morocco and Algeria over Algiers' direct involvement in the Sahara issue.
When he came to deal with the impact of the Sahara issue on the UMA march, Triki said the settlement of the question lies in the implementation of the UN resolutions.
He said Libya is convinced that the promotion of Maghreban action is likely to help reach a solution to this issue.
As to the existence of "invisible hands" seeking to hamper the settlement of the issue, Triki said "the Sahara issue is a Moroccan-Algerian problem. This is the truth." "The promotion of Maghreban action shall contribute to alleviate tension in relations between Morocco and Algeria.," he insisted.
"Brothers in Morocco and Algeria must be aware that the issue of the Arab Maghreb is by far more important than bilateral disputes," Triki said.
Triki added that the reactivation of the union and the promotion of Maghreban action was the topic of talks with King Mohammed VI and the Algerian President. It has been decided in this respect to reactivate the four commissions stemming from the union, in the perspective of the meeting of Maghreban foreign ministers, Triki said expressing hope that the ministerial meeting would pave the way to a Maghreban summit.
Libya deems the UMA an imperative for the people of the region and for the promotion of Arab and African action, he said ruling out the existence of a contradiction between Libya's endeavors to set up the African Union or the Union of Sahel and sahara states and its stand vis-a-vis the UMA.