Mauritanian secretary of state starts visit to Morocco

Mauritanian secretary of state in charge of the Arab Maghreb Union, Hammou Ould Salem, started this Wednesday a visit to Morocco.

The Mauritanian official said his visit is part of permanent dialogue between the two North African states on bilateral issues, hailing the multi-faceted cooperation between the two states.

The Mauritanian official will co-chair with Moroccan delegate minister for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taieb Fassi Fihri, a meeting of the follow-up that will prepare for the joint high commission's upcoming session.

Regarding the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) set up in 1989 by Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, he hoped that the UMA upcoming meeting will help re-activate the regional grouping.

The UMA convened early this month a meeting of its foreign ministers' council in Algiers and agreed to hold a summit at a date to be set by the Union council chairmanship, held by Algeria, after consultations with the four other member-states.

A summit of the UMA was scheduled last June in Algeria but was postponed.

The UMA has been brought to a standstill because of Algeria's direct backing to the Polisario separatists that claim the independence of Moroccan southern provinces.