Moroccan foreign minister meets heads of delegations to UN general assembly

Moroccan Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister, Mohammed Benaissa, met on Monday here several heads of delegations, attending the 54th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Benaissa thus held separate meetings with South African President Thabo Mbeki and French Prime Minister, lionel Jospin, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister, Hubert Vedrine.

The meetings focused on bilateral relations, issues of common concern and major issues to be debated by the General Assembly.

Relatedly, Benaissa, who is to address the assembly this Tuesday, was quoted by the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat daily as saying that he would meet several Latin American, Asian, European and African peers in New York.

Benaissa however told the daily that no meeting is scheduled between him and President Bouteflika in New York.

He added that he would participate in a coordination meeting of Arab Foreign Affairs Ministers and the Ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

The Middle-East peace process, especially the Al-Quds (Jerusalem) issue, is among the items on the agenda of the two meetings.

The Moroccan Minister is also scheduled to meet in Washington US White House and State Department officials.