UMA summit postponed for objective reasons, Libyan official

The 7th summit of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) was postponed for "objective reasons that convinced everybody," affirmed in Tripoli Tuesday Libyan Foreign Minister, Abderrahman Shalgham.

The Libyan official told the press his country has informed the Foreign ministers of UMA (grouping Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia) about the postponement of the summit that was due Wednesday in Tripoli. The postponement came after it was announced that King Mohammed VI would not take part in the meeting.

The Moroccan sovereign pulled out of the summit after Algeria's recent "surprising stances" over the Sahara issue that has been among the major obstacles to boosting UMA since its creation in 1989. The two countries' are at loggerheads because of Algiers' backing to the Polisario Front in its claims for the separation of the Moroccan Sahara from the rest of the country.

Since a summit held in Tunis in 1994, UMA countries failed to meet again notably because of the Sahara conflict.

Chalgham said it was agreed at the meeting with Maghreban Foreign ministers and secretary general of UMA to intensify contacts in the coming days to "hold a successful summit as soon as possible."

"We are working to provide favorable conditions for the success of the summit," he said.

Meatnime, JANA reported that the Libyan leader Muammar al-Qathafi received Chairman of AMU Presidential Council, received Tuesday evening, Abdul Aziz Belkadem, the State Minister, and personal representative of President Abdul Aziz Boutaflika of Algeria, a member of AMU Presidential Council.

JANA said "The audience discussed ways to prepare the brotherly climate, to hold the 7th session of the AMU Presidential Council in a suitable circumstances, to serve the goals, the Union is seeking to realize."