Mr. Zerouali stressed that "the Moroccan Sahara issue does not hinder the march of the Arab Maghreb Union", adding that the Moroccan autonomy proposal in the southern provinces of the Kingdom, " is gaining international support, and we are convinced that it is the most effective solution to this issue, which is witnessing a kind of transformation and development."

    The Moroccan diplomat said that the obstacles faced by the Arab Maghreb are primarily economic as the Maghreb countries adopted different economic policies, so that Morocco and Tunisia have for so long chosen liberal market economy, unlike the rest of other countries where necessary interdependence economy was not created.

    He expressed the belief that all political parties, civil society organizations, businessmen and economic bodies were not involved and, therefore, "the strong will of leaders were not matched by a clear vision by parties or other parties."

    Mr. Zerouali stressed that the unity of the Arab Maghreb has become a necessity today, pointing out that the studies carried out by international institutions have proved that the cost of the Non Maghreb deprives the region’s countries two per cent of their growth annually.

    The Ambassador expressed his optimism over the creation of the Arab Maghreb Business Union last Saturday in the city of Marrakesh, considering this a strong signal to review the Economic Union, as well as a number of initiatives at the bilateral level. He quoted as evidence in this regard, the Moroccan Tunisian good relations, highlighting that they are "signals to the need to build the Union."

    Mr Najib Zerouali, in speaking about terrorism that it is an international phenomenon and found in one area, indicating that the terrorist cells that target instability in the Maghreb region, "are trying to reproduce al-Qaeda."

 The Moroccan ambassador said that in order to counter terrorism or any other scourge, human development remains the best solution , "Although security approach is very important to combat terrorism, the most important of all is to develop an integrated strategy for human development aimed at the development of men for men."

Source: MAP
(News on Western Sahara issue / Corcas)