Moroccan FM meets Algerian peer

Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohammed Benaissa, who pays a working visit to Algeria, met in Algiers Saturday his Algerian peer, Abdelaziz Belkhadem.

Benaissa, who arrived here on the same day, held tete-a-tete talks with Belkhadem before the broad delegations meeting.

The head of Morocan diplomacy said in an arrival statement he and the Algerian foreign minister, Abdelaziz Belkhadem, are keen on prospecting new opportunities and prospects of a solid cooperation between the two countries.

He also reiterated his sympathy and condolences to the Algerian people and government following the earthquake that rocked the country May 21.

The Algerian foreign minister had visited Morocco last February.

Benaissa had told Arab daily "Asharq Al-Awsat" his talks in Algiers will cover all issues of concern to the Maghrebn the Islamic world, Africa and cooperation between Morocco and Algeria as two countries that concluded association agreements with the European Union.

He also hoped that the two countries will prepare the ground to settle all bilateral pending disputes and consolidate ties in all fields, in a way that would serve the Arab Maghreb Union and contribute to revive its structures.

Morocco and Algeria are both member-countries together with Algeria, Libya, Tunisia and Mauritania, of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA, set up in 1989). The union is being stalled due to Algiers' direct support to the Polisario, a secessionist group claiming the independence of Morocco's southern provinces.