Moroccan fm pleads for Africa's debts canceling

Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohammed Benaissa, called Thursday for the canceling African countries' debts so that they focus their efforts to development tasks.

Speaking at the 2nd ministerial conference follow up to the Africa-Europe Summit, currently held in Burkina Faso, Benaissa said "it is up to us to find new formulas such as swapping debts into productive investments, that benefit both the creditor and debtor.

The Moroccan minister deplored the fact that the indebtedness issue, recognized by Cairo's action plan as a major impediment to development programs, has not seen any significant progress, adding that a free, prosperous and developed continent would be an active and wealth generating partner and a creditworthy customer that would contribute to the consolidation of international peace and security.

Benaissa warned against the non-respect of the ecosystem in the African continent, stressing that environment issues are linked, in Africa more than elsewhere, to sustainable development.