Morocco's prime minister meets French president

Moroccan prime minister, Driss Jettou, met here this Monday French president, Jacques Chirac, in the presence of Morocco's ambassador in France, Hassan Abouyoub.

Jettou said he surveyed with the French head of state all bilateral issues, including political and economic cooperation, investments as well as the fight against terrorism and last May 16 terrorist attacks in Casablanca.

Jettou told reporters "terrorism is an international problem that can only be handled internationally, particularly through cooperation among various services."

The head of the Moroccan government hailed cooperation between Morocco and France in this field.

The Moroccan Sahara issue was another topic on the agenda, as the UN Secretary general's personal envoy has recently put forward new proposals, he said, citing a convergence of Moroccan and French viewpoints and the support of France, particularly of president Jacques Chirac.

The French foreign department said on Friday Jettou's visit to Paris will be an opportunity to prepare for the 5th French-Moroccan meeting of heads of government, due in Rabat at the end of July.

The latest Morocco-France high level meeting was held in Paris in May 2001.

Morocco and France decided to hold annual meetings at this level in 1996 during a visit by the late King Hassan II to France.