In an interview published Thursday by Moroccan daily "Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb", the Lebanese ambassador voiced hope that "all parties involved in the Sahara issue reach a final agreement that preserves the territorial integrity of the brotherly Kingdom of Morocco."

    Lebanon hopes that "Morocco's initiative to negotiate an autonomy status in the Sahara region, within the framework of the Kingdom's sovereignty and its national unity, can create conditions for a process of dialogue and negotiation leading to a mutually acceptable political solution, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions," he stressed.

    On the other hand, Hassan Moustapha described the Moroccan-Lebanese relations as "strong and privileged", stressing the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation in both countries' interest.

    "Despite the efforts made by the officials of the two brotherly countries to develop economic and trade relations, these remain below the level of political relations and potentialities of the two countries," he noted.

    The Lebanese diplomat ascribed this situation to the high rates of transport due to geographic remoteness and the similarity of goods produced in both countries.

    He called, in this vein, for the revival of the Moroccan-Lebanese high Joint Commission, which was created in 1997 and held one meeting in Beirut in 2001 before the outbreak of the tragic events that rocked Lebanon.

    Regarding the volume of trade exchanges, Hassan Moustapha indicated that it has reached some $24 mln for each country in 2007, pointing out that with the resumption, in 2005, of the Beirut-Casablanca direct air route, exchanges are to be increased over the years.

Source: MAP
News and events on Western Sahara issue / Corcas