UMA secretary general: member countries agree to face modern challenges

All of Maghreban states agree that facing modern challenges require that they join efforts and coordinate action, said secretary general of the Arab Maghreb Union, Mohamed Amamou.

Amamou who was interviewed by Moroccan daily "Liberation" said member countries (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia) devoted last year to reactivating the UMA bodies with meetings of sectoral commissions, ministerial commissions, the foreign ministers council, the follow-up committee and the consultative council.

At the economic level, the presidency council has drafted a program that needs to be implemented, he said calling member countries to determine actions needed before 2010 when a free trade zone between the European Union and Maghreban countries will enter into force. He went on that efforts are being made to enforce a strategy of economic development with the aim of setting a Maghreban free trade zone, a customs union and a common market.