Meeting on 2001 transit operation held in Rabat

A meeting to hone preparations for the 2001 transit operation gathered Saturday in Rabat Morocco's consuls in Europe and in some Maghreban countries and some 46 young Moroccans settled in Europe.

The meeting, held under the chairmanship of advisor to the King, Ms Zoulikha Nasri, who is member of the administrative board of the Mohammed V solidarity foundation, looked into measures and arrangements made to welcome the Moroccan expatriates who come back home for the summer holidays and to ensure the unfolding of the transit operation in good conditions.

Nasri said King Mohammed VI has issued instructions to involve the Moroccan community settled abroad in the organization of the transit operation.

The aim of this meeting, she said, is to gather consuls and members of the Moroccan expatriate community to discuss arrangements made and to brief the participants on the communication strategy adopted by the foundation to better inform the Moroccan expatriates on the transit operation.

Arrangements were made to welcome and extend assistance to the Moroccans coming back home for holidays in Almeria and Algesiras (in Spain), in Sete (France), and in Tangier, Sebta, Nador and Casablanca as well as at rest areas in Larache and Taourirt.

Arrangements were also made to improve medical assistance to the expatriates, call centers operate around the clock to handle difficulties the expatriates may face, and special facilities are set up for the disabled persons.

King Mohammed VI had chaired late April and early May over working sessions of the Mohammed V solidarity foundation that discussed needed measures to guarantee good conditions to the Moroccan expatriates who come back home for the summer holidays.

Last year, more than one million Moroccans living abroad crossed the strait of Gibraltar on their way to spend holidays at home.

Moroccans usually embark from the Spanish southern ports of Algesiras, Almeria and Malaga to sail to the Moroccan northern cities of Tangiers and Nador and the Moroccan cities that are still under Spanish dominion of Melillia and Sebta.

About 2.3 million Moroccans are living abroad, 80 percent of them being Europe-settled.