Moroccan FM underscores political will to re-open Moroccan-Algerian land borders

Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, underscored on Saturday the existence of a political will in both Morocco and Algeria for the reopening of land borders and for fostering bilateral economic, political, social and cultural ties.

Such a political will could help "move toward the re-opening of borders and the reactivation of economic, political, social and cultural relations between the two countries," said Benaissa at the end of a meeting with Algerian president, Abdul Aziz Butaflika.

Benaissa who visited Algeria over the weekend also underscored that the two countries have an earnest will to restore confidence and to make a new start, in all sincerity, objectivity, frankness and clarity, to overcome all divergences opposing the two countries.

In the same connection, Algeria's Minister of State For Foreign Affairs Abdul Aziz Balkhadem noted that the question of borders will be discussed when the Moroccan and Algerian heads of state meet.

Speaking on bilateral relations, the Moroccan foreign affairs minister said there is nothing to be ashamed of concerning problems between Morocco and Algeria, adding that it is natural for divergences to appear between two neighboring countries from time to time.

Evoking the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA/mustering Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia), the Moroccan foreign affairs minister said "Morocco encourages all drives to re-launch the union."

Set up in 1989, the union failed to emerge as a regional grouping due to Algiers' direct support to the Polisario, a secessionist group claiming the independence of Morocco's southern provinces.

Benaissa, left Algeria on Sunday after a two-day visit during which he met several Algerian officials and Algerian president, Abdul Aziz Butaflika.