Austrian FM received by king, confers with moroccan officials

Morocco's King Mohammed VI received Wednesday evening at the royal palace in Rabat, Austrian federal minister of foreign affairs, Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who was accompanied by her country's ambassador to Morocco, Michael Sitz.

The Austrian official had earlier held separate meetings with the Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, and the minister of the interior, Driss Jettou.

Besides bilateral relations, the trading of experience in matters of regionalization and the role Austria can play in promoting development in the South Mediterranean countries, talks between Youssoufi and Sitz also covered the situation in the Middle East, mainly in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, and the European initiatives to reach a fair and lasting settlement to the issue, and the importance of inter-civilization dialogue.

The meeting between the Austrian official and Jettou surveyed economic and commercial cooperation and the sectors likely to attract Austrian businessmen, such as infrastructure, tourism and environment. The possibility for Morocco to benefit from Austria's know-how in the treatment of solid waste was also discussed.

Morocco and Austria signed earlier Wednesday a non-double taxation agreement and an accord regulating air transport between the two countries.