Benaissa's visit to Egypt

Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohammed Benaissa on Tuesday paid a short visit to Cairo where he conferred with his Egyptian peer, Amr Moussa, on bilateral relations and a host of Arab issues.

The meeting was an opportunity to assess the follow-up of the agreements concluded by the latest session of the Moroccan-Egyptian high joint commission, Benaissa told reporters after his talks with Moussa, announcing that the commission will convene its upcoming session in Cairo in May 2000.

Benaissa and Moussa had met last week in Istanbul on the sidelines of the summit of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe.

To a question on Moroccan-Egyptian coordination regarding the issue of Al-Quds (Jerusalem), Benaissa said the two states are endeavoring along with other Arab states to preserve the Palestinian people's legitimate right over the holy city.

As to their role in promoting common Arab action, Amr Moussa said Morocco is playing a pioneer role in consolidating inter-Arab relations and cementing Arab ranks.

On Morocco's participation in the Afro-European summit scheduled to be held in Cairo next April, Moussa said the issue was discussed at his talks with Benaissa and that all parties wish that Morocco would attend such a summit.

Benaissa said Morocco is not against the summit but wants only United Nations member states to participate. Morocco will participate in a summit gathering African and European countries that are U.N members, he said.

To a question on Moroccan-Algerian relations, Benaissa expressed hope that these relations will resume their natural and normal course in the future.