UMA Foreign Ministers Council Opens in Algiers
The Foreign ministers council of the Arab Maghreb Union five member countries opens this Monday in Algiers, for the first time in over five years.
Morocco is represented by its secretary of state for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taieb Fassi Fihri.
The preparatory follow up committee which wound up Sunday its meeting in Algeria, which holds the UMA rotating chairmanship, recommended to the UMA foreign ministers council to adopt recommendations resulting from specialized commissions, held last month in the five Maghreban capitals.
Recommendations also deal with the situation of the UMA bodies and institutions (secretariat general, consultative council, judiciary body, university, academy and investment and external trade bank).
UMA foreign ministers council were submitted items related to the fixture of upcoming meetings, the legal status of UMA conventions, relations with other regional groupings, financial institutions and specialized organizations.
Presenting results of the meeting, Algeria's minister in charge of the Algerian community abroad and regional cooperation stressed the need for the five countries to harmonize economic and financial policies, mainly texts regulating trade and customs and said amendments are needed to encourage economic integration of member countries.
Meanwhile, Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, told Saudi daily "Asharq Al-Awsat" that Morocco wishes "an earnest and efficient" reactivation of the Arab Maghreb Union but, he stressed, economic integration and economic and political cooperation cannot be dissociate from the Sahara issue which is an issue of territorial integrity for a member country - Morocco.
He explained that Morocco is not setting conditions but is being realistic at a time the UMA is braced for a new phase in Maghreban cooperation.
"While we are attached to the Arab Maghreb Union principles and structures, we are aspiring to consolidating relations between Maghreban countries, both at bilateral and multilateral levels, mainly with a neighbor country, Algeria," Benaissa. These principles require that we be realistic; however, presently "borders between two active member countries are closed."
He further attributed his non-participation in the foreign ministers council to heavy agenda.