Moroccan-Tunisian bilateral commission debates ways to boost cooperation
The Moroccan-Tunisian high joint commission opened in Tunis on Wednesday to debate ways of promoting economic cooperation between the two Maghreban countries.
Addressing the opening session, Morocco's Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi, deplored the low level of Moroccan-Tunisian trade exchange.
"We have to admit that our bilateral trade exchange has not yet reached the expected level, at a time we are called to take up the challenges of globalization and face up the consolidation of the European Union," Youssoufi said.
Trade exchange between the two Maghreban countries totaled $90 million in 1997, Map reported.
He, however, underlined that the bilateral commission's meetings are evidence to the two countries' "firm will" to shore up their ties.
Youssoufi added that the accords concluded between Morocco and Tunisia, particularly the commercial and customs convention, will pave the way for greater economic and commercial integration and will ease the setting up of a free trade area.
The Prime Minister renewed Morocco's position deeming the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) a "political, geopolitical and civilization claim."
The UMA was set up in February 1989 by Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania with the aim of fostering economic integration among the five North African nations.
The Moroccan Prime Minister told the press upon his arrival in the Tunisian capital that Rabat wants to boost its relations with Tunis, which can "influence the state of our relations with the other Maghreban countries."
The Union's march toward integration has been handicapped in the few past years by the direct Algerian intervention in the Moroccan Sahara issue and by the U.N. sanctions imposed on Libya for its alleged involvement in the bombing of a U.S. plane over the Scottish village of Lockerbie in 1988.
Tunisia's Prime Minister Hamed Karoui agreed with Youssoufi that bilateral exchanges are still short of the expected level, and stressed the key role that the two countries' investors can play in promoting economic ties.
Karoui also voiced hopes that the promotion of the Moroccan-Tunisian relations will serve as leverage for the consolidation of the Maghreban Union.
Karoui and Youssoufi shared the same position regarding the U.N. sanctions imposed on Libya and called for putting an end to the embargo.
They also voiced concern over the deadlock in the Middle-East peace process.
The Moroccan-Tunisian commission is expected to wrap up its meetings on Thursday with the conclusion of several cooperation accords in the realms of industry, commerce, tourism, transport, communication and education.