Morocco does not interfere in Algeria's internal affairs, prime minister

Moroccan Premier, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, asserted that Morocco does not interfere in Algeria's internal problems and expresses no stand on what is going on in the neighbor country.

Youssoufi made the statement at the joint news conference he held in Paris Thursday with his French peer, Lionel Jospin, at the end of the 4th meeting of the Moroccan-French high joint commission held Thursday.

Youssoufi said "it is not possible that French and Moroccan officials meet without surveying the situation in the countries of the Maghreb," adding that Morocco remains faithful to its tradition and does not express any stand on what is going on in Algeria.

"Morocco does not to interfere in Algeria's internal problems," he insisted.

As to relations between the two Maghreban countries, Youssoufi said these relations are "quasi-normal but need to be improved."

Lionel Jospin who said that Moroccan-French talks touched on the situation in the countries of the Maghreb, and mainly in Algeria, pointed out that for France a recovered unity and a concerted development of the Maghreb is a strategic element.