Washington is ready to alleviate Morocco's debts

A U.S. congress delegation, led by Benjamin Gilman, chairman of the international relations committee, said Tuesday here that Washington is ready to alleviate Morocco's debts, rev up trade exchanges and increase US investments in Morocco.

At a meeting with Moroccan premier, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, the US delegation hailed Morocco's political alternation experience, that brought to power a socialist-led coalition government after decades of right-wing rule. They also praised ongoing efforts in the country to promote human rights and consolidate the democratic process.

For his part, the Moroccan premier said talks with the US representatives covered bilateral relations, the Sahara issue, the Middle-east peace process and ways to reinforce Morocco-US friendship ties.

The US delegation, which arrived Monday on a four-day work visit, is composed of Bernard Sanders (Independent, Vermont), Bob Filner (Democrat, California) and Earl Hilliar (Democrat,Alabama).

Benjamin Gilman (Republican of N.Y) and accompanying congress members arrived in Morocco, as part of a North-African and Middle-East tour destined to assess the Middle-East peace progress. The US delegation had earlier visited Jordan, Israel, Egypt and Tunisia.

Another 13-member delegation of the US congress, led by chairman of the trade committee at the US House of Representatives, Tom Bliley, left on Monday Morocco after a four-day work visit during they had talks with Moroccan officials on ways to strengthen Morocco-US partnership in all sectors.

Members of both delegations are among the 110-Congressmen signatories of the "Statement of Friendship" setting up the caucus "Friends of Morocco in the United States Congress."

USA is Morocco's 7th customer and 4th supplier while its indebtedness towards the United States is estimated at around $ 1.1 Billion, representing 6 % of Morocco's overall foreign debts.