Moroccan-Lebanese high joint commission convenes first session in beirut

The Moroccan-Lebanese High joint commission will convene its first session in Beirut October 20-21, under the co-chairmanship of the two countries' Prime Ministers, Abderrahmane Youssoufi and Rafiq al-Hariri.

The meeting will highlight by the signing of eight accords, related to non-double taxation, struggle against tax evasion, encouragement and protection of investments, and cooperation in the realms of economy, culture, tourism and environment protection.

The meeting will also be marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the setting up of a free-trade area between Morocco and Lebanon and a protocol of cooperation between the two countries' agriculture departments.

Cooperation between the two Arab nations is governed by several cooperation accords, some dating back to the early sixties. Bilateral trade is however still short of the two countries' potentials and political ties. In 2000, commercial exchanges did not exceed $ 10 million.

The high joint commission was set up in 1997, but its first session has been reportedly postponed.

Moroccan ambassador to Lebanon, Abdeljalil Fenjiro, who was co-chairing with advisor to the Lebanese Premier, Ghazi Youssef, in Beirut Wednesday the meeting of experts preparing for the commission session expressed hope that the two states will make up for the delays due to the postponements of the commission first session and reach positive results that would be beneficial to the two brotherly countries.

The Moroccan diplomat recalled the visits of President Emile Lahoud to Morocco last June, and of the Lebanese Premier in November 2000 and the visit to Lebanon by Princess Lalla Meriem last July, saying these visits have greatly contributed to consolidating cooperation relations between the two states.

The experts conducted their works at the level of three committees that were entrusted with commercial, economic and technical issues, cultural, scientific and media cooperation and with drafting the report to be submitted to the joint commission.

Preparations for the commission session were also at the focus of talks held in Beirut Wednesday between Fenjiro and Lebanese foreign minister, Mahmoud Hammoud.