Morocco attends meeting on security in mediterranean

Morocco took part in a meeting on security in the Mediterranean held in London April 29-30.

The meeting, sponsored by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the British Royal United services Institute, discussed new challenges to security in the Mediterranean, the public opinion in the partner-countries to Mediterranean dialogue, and regional security cooperation prospects in the Mediterranean.

Debates also covered security in North Africa and eastern Mediterranean and the contribution of NATO's dialogue with seven Mediterranean countries, including Morocco, in fostering stability in the region.

Addressing the meeting, secretary general of the Moroccan ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation, Rachad Bouhlal, said cooperation between Morocco and NATO is not limited to the frame of the institution Mediterranean dialogue but encompasses also Moroccan troops' contribution to peace keeping operations, mainly in Bosnia Herzegovina and in Kosovo.

He said Morocco's participation in peace keeping efforts helped establish peace and stability in south-eastern Europe and in the Mediterranean basin.

Admiral Gregory Johnson, Commandant in chief of the NATO naval forces, paid tribute to Morocco's contribution to peace keeping in the Balkans describing this contribution as "precious."

Former minister and member of the Moroccan socialist union of popular forces (USFP), Khalid Alioua, also attended the meeting and made a presentation on Islamic radicalism and the stability of regimes in the Mediterranean.