U.S.-Moroccan cooperation reviewed

Ways to enhance cooperation between Morocco and the USA topped talks held in Rabat Thursday between Moroccan Interior Minister Driss Basri and visiting assistant US undersecretary of state for the Near East and North Africa, Ronald Neumann.

The two sides noted the "excellent" relations binding Morocco and the US and reviewed the evolution of exchanges between the two countries at the economic, political and cultural levels.

Neumann came to Morocco from Tunisia, where he renewed the initiative that Washington launched a few months ago to establish an economic and commercial partnership with Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

The initiative, which has "no political dimension" aims to "encourage the three Maghreban countries harmonize their customs systems" in such a way as to intensify bilateral trade exchange and hence, publicize their potentials to U.S. investors, Neumann told the press in Tunis.

The U.S official underlined that the promotion of investments depends, however, on the establishment of "peace and stability" in the region.

The US initiative was launched by the U.S. under-secretary of state for economic affairs, Stuart Eizenstat, who toured the region in June.

The initiative revolves around establishing a permanent dialogue at the highest level between the USA and the Maghreban countries, encouraging these countries to lift barriers to ensure a better flow of trade exchanges and materializing inter-Maghreban complementarity leading to better political relations.

In a bid to materialize its initiative, Washington will host a ministerial meeting at the end of the year and a regional conference on investment will be convened by the U.S. administration early next year.