Youssoufi hails anti-corruption fight

Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi on Wednesday hailed the action of Moroccan non-governmental organizations in fighting corruption in Morocco.

Youssoufi, who was meeting with representatives of Moroccan NGOs striving against corruption, said the plague is on top of the problems his government is trying to settle.

Some 35 civil society associations joined together to stage a week-long campaign to foster awareness on the dangers of corruption. The week was sponsored by "Transparency Maroc" association.

Youssoufi stressed the need to develop a "culture of transparency in the management of public affairs."

"Corruption is a plague that worsens poverty, hinders development and harms our country's vitality," Simon Assidon, Chairman of Transparency Maroc had said.

The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of the "good governance" charter he called for when he presented his government's program to the Parliament in March 1998.

He added that ministerial commissions were set up recently to ponder on the reform of public administration, investments and the implementation of some 100,000 pending court rulings.