Moroccan Foreign Minister in France Next Week

Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa will pay a visit to France next week, a French official source said, MAP reported.

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine told MAP's correspondent in Cairo that "the date of the visit -- May 12 -- is almost set but we are awaiting the final agreement of the Moroccan side."

"Our assistants are already preparing this visit...and I am deeply pleased to meet my Moroccan counterpart," said Vedrine who was visiting Cairo on the occasion of the dedication of the French trade show in Egypt "France Expo 99."

This would be Benaissa's first visit to France since his appointment as Morocco's minister of foreign affairs and cooperation early April.

"This visit would provide us with the opportunity to know each other and to survey the issues of common concern, as well as the situation in the world," Vedrine said.

"France Expo 99" was dedicated by French Premier Lionel Jospin.