Powell visits the Arab Maghreb states next month
A spokesman for the American embassy in Algeria said yesterday that the US Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia in December regarding the fight against what is called terrorism.
Diplomats said that Powell's visit which will be made on December 2nd and 3rd is considered the first for a US Secretary Of State to the region. A matter which proves Washington's determination to win the support of the Arab states in its policy in Iraq, and to reactivate the Palestinian- Israeli peace process.
The diplomats stressed that Powell will visit Algeria on December 3rd, but it is not known so far if Morocco or Tunisia will be the US secretary's first stop.
In February 2002, Morocco's King Mohammed VI held talks with the CIA director George Tenet that dealt with the escalated conditions in the Middle East and the war launched by the USA against what is called terrorism.
Morocco, however, is considered the closest allies to the USA. It was among the first Arab states which strongly condemned September 11 attacks against New York and Washington.
