Libyan leader receives message from Morocco's King

The Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi received on Friday an oral message from King Mohammed VI of Morocco.

The message was conveyed by Royal envoy, Mohamed Rochdi Chraibi.

On Thursday, King Mohammed VI had received separately Libyan and Mauritanian foreign ministers, Abderrahmane Cholghom and Mohamed Vall Ould Bellal.

Following the royal audience, the Mauritanian foreign minister thanked Morocco's good offices to facilitate the "rapprochement between Libya and Mauritania."

He also told the press the Royal audience allowed "opening a new page in relations" between Mauritanian and Libya.

The sovereign hailed at the meeting the relations binding Morocco to the two states and the fruitful dialogue with al-Qathafi and president Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed Tayaa.

The meeting with Cholghom was an occasion to "open a new page in bilateral relations, in the service of the two peoples," noted Ould Bellal, underlining that the situation in the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA- mustering Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia) was also raised in the meeting.

The Moroccan monarch urged for unifying ranks of states of the Arab Maghreb Union and overcome the obstacles and problems hampering the realization of the Maghreb people's aspirations to build a harmonious regional space, based on mutual respect and preservation of the unity and sovereignty of Maghreban countries.

The Arab Maghreb Union is a regional grouping, mustering Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. Set up in Marrakesh in 1989, it is known by its French acronym UMA.

The development of UMA countries and the establishment of stability in the region hinges on intensified efforts and a sound environment to take up the development challenges and play a significant role at the regional and continental levels, said the sovereign.

The monarch also voiced satisfaction for the joint readiness expressed by Libya and Mauritania to open a fresh page in their bilateral relations.