Morocco, Czech Republic sign cooperation protocol

Morocco and the Czech Republic signed earlier this week in Prague a protocol of cooperation between their foreign departments.

The protocol was initialed during the visit the Moroccan secretary of state for cooperation, Aicha Belarbi paid to the Czech Republic, part of a Central European tour that also led her to Poland.

The Moroccan official discussed with several members of the Czech Cabinet and with speaker of the senate mechanisms to enhance bilateral political and economic relations. The promising prospects of the project to set up a free trade area that is being negotiated were equally examined.

Mrs. Belarbi underlined in this regard that this project, once materialized, would be a prelude to a larger cooperation between the two regional groupings, UMA-- the Arab Maghreb Union, mustering Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia-- and CEFTA-- the Central European Free Trade Area.

Talks also covered international and regional issues of mutual concern as well as Morocco's relations with Europe, the Euro-Mediterranean process and the Middle East issue.

During her visit to Poland, Mrs Belarbi and Polish officials underlined the two countries' determination to energize economic cooperation and adapt them to the world juncture, mainly through the setting up of a free trade area.

The projected visit of the Polish premier, Jerzy Buzek, to Morocco was also brought up.