Maghreban political parties open first congress in Libya

The first congress of Maghreban political parties will open Wednesday in Tripoli with the participation of delegates from 37 parties representing various movements from the five north African countries.

The congress will focus on three major themes: means to re-activate the Arab Maghreb Union, Maghreb's relations with the Mediterranean basin, the Arab world and African countries and the adoption of a statement on relations between Maghreban political parties.

According to Moroccan daily "Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki," the preparations for the congress took three years for each country and for the preparatory commission.

The congress will seek to revive the Maghreban action with a view to overcoming obstacles hindering the construction of the Arab Maghreb Union "UMA" and enable political and social forces to contribute efficiently to the achievement of these objectives.

The preparatory commission insisted on the need to lift the unfair embargo enforced against Libya, help the Algerian people by all means to settle Algeria's current problems and create a Maghreban front able to face challenges of globalization and of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership process.

The commission also underlined the need to support democracy and establish the rule of law and an integrated development of the Maghreban area, MAP reported.

The Arab Maghreb Union, set up in 1989 in Marrakesh (Morocco) includes Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.