Morocco's decision to lift visa for Algerians aims to open cooperation prospects, FM

Morocco's King Mohammed VI's decision to lift visa requirements for Algerians wanting to visit Morocco, starting last Friday, is meant to open new prospects of bilateral cooperation, said Wednesday Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohammed Benaissa.

In an interview with radio station 'Medi I', Benaissa said the royal decision also aims at "giving fresh impetus to the Maghreb Union (UMA) and closing the ranks of Maghreban peoples, in Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya."

"The Kingdom of Morocco is aware that the Algerian decision to lift visa requirements for Moroccans is a question of sovereignty that concerns Algerian authorities. We hope, however, that sister Algeria will answer favorably to the royal decision which evidences Morocco's sincere will to settle down relations between the two neighbor countries and the difficult situation between the two peoples, by facilitating contacts between relatives" across the borders.

Algerian foreign minister, Abdelaziz Belkhadem, described last week Morocco's decision to lift the visa requirement, in force since 1994, as a token of "friendship and brotherhood between the two countries."

He said that Algeria's decision to reciprocate or not will be known shortly.

The Moroccan initiative was also welcomed by the Maghreb Union (UMA) through the Libyan foreign minister, Abderrahmane Cholghom, whose country is currently chairing the UMA.

The Union welcomes with satisfaction and consideration the move as a new step towards enhancement of the regional grouping, said the Libyan official.

Practical activation of the Maghreb union has been hampered by Algeria's direct backing to Polisario separatists, who claim secession of Morocco's southern provinces, known as the Sahara. This former Spanish colony was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords, signed with Spain and Mauritania.