Maghreban political parties satisfied over developments in UMA

Maghreban political parties, grouped in the secretariat of the follow up committee, have voiced satisfaction at the improvements at the Arab Maghreb Union. The secretariat, which held its first session in Tunis this May 20-21, debated the positive evolution that calls for more action to support the development of inter-Maghreban relationships.

The Maghreban political parties refer to the latest regional developments embodied by a warm message sent by Algerian president to the Moroccan king and the lifting of the sanctions enforced against Libya. Moroccan-Algerian strained relations have been a direct cause in the freezing of UMA activities, as the two countries closed land borders after Algeria-born French nationals perpetrated a terrorist attack in Marrakesh that killed two Spanish tourists. Libya has also been complaining that its partners within the Arab Maghreb Union apply the UN sanctions against it.

Special rapporteur of the meeting, Mohamed Lakhssassi, told MAP bureau in Tunis that the improvement of the Maghreban atmosphere and juncture, following last March's visit to Morocco of Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Benali, is reflected in the improvement of relationships between Morocco and Algeria, following the presidential elections in Algeria.

He added that this positive evolution is also embodied in the congratulations message sent by King Hassan II of Morocco to Algeria's new president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and the subsequent thanks message sent by the Algerian president.

Lakhsassi, a member of the Moroccan Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP, whose leader is heading the coalition government) stressed that the follow-up committee secretariat also voiced appreciation for the outcome of the meeting this May 17-18 of the UMA follow up committee in Algiers and for the lifting of the embargo enforced against Libya.

Regarding the decisions made by the Maghreban political parties meeting, he said the body which is in charge of implementing the follow-up committee resolutions has decided to hold two colloquia: a conference on Maghreban integration to be held in Nouakchott next November and another on Water problems in the Maghreb to be held in Morocco next January.

He added that it was also decided to publish a newsletter of the arab maghreb and set up a joint commission, comprising the secretariat members and five Maghreban renowned figures, to undertake contacts with heads of state of the five countries to talk them into making more efforts to re-launch the Maghreb construction process.

Set up in 1988 with ambitious goals, the Arab Maghreb Union, grouping Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, came to a standstill in 1994 after two of its key members, Morocco and Algeria, closed land borders. Since then, the Union has not held any meeting.

However, recent developments in the region, the election of a new Algerian president and the settlement of the Lockerbie crisis which opposed Libya to the USA, are seen as potential factors for resuming the UMA activities.

In May 17-18, the Union convened in Algiers a meeting of its follow-up committee that comprises top officials of the five member countries. The follow-up committee decided that foreign ministers will meet in October in Algeria, prior to a summit before end of this year.