Maghreb has chance to assert itself, UMA's SG Says

The Secretary General of the Maghreb Arab Union (UMA), Habib Boulares said here on Thursday that the Union "has a historic chance to assert itself." Taking part to a conference under the theme: "What future for the Arab world" organized by Tunisian daily "Realites," Boulares noted that it all depends on the region's heads of state.

"If the Maghreb's heads of state decide to give new impetus to the Union's structures, UMA can achieve huge strides in terms of integration and consolidation of ties with the European Union and Sub-Saharan Africa." "If the Union comes to miss this opportunity it will inevitably be dragged in the Middle-Eastern maelstrom," he warned, rebuking suggestions heralding the end of the United Nations despite hard times.

The Arab Maghreb Union was set up in 1989 in Marrakesh by Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. However, it has failed to emerge as a strong regional grouping due to divergences between its member states, notably between Morocco and Algeria, as a result of Algeria's backing to the Polisario secessionist group that claims the independence of Morocco's southern provinces.