Party leaders honour historic Tangier summit in pursuit of united Maghreb

30/04/2008

Leaders from political parties from across the Maghreb attended a celebration Sunday to honour the 1958 summit that first proposed the idea of an Arab Maghreb Union. Despite some tension over Western Sahara, the delegations spoke favourably of further progress towards regional unity.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 30/04/08

[File] Moroccan Minister of State Mohamed El Yazghi (left) and Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem met with other Maghreb leaders in Tangier to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Arab Maghreb Union summit.

Maghreb political party officials attending a celebration Sunday (April 27th) of the 50th anniversary of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) summit in Tangier reiterated the importance of regional co-operation, calling the UMA an irreversible strategic choice.

Participants spoke of a need for the countries of the Maghreb to unify themselves, allowing free circulation of people and goods between the five countries of the region. Their hopes include the adoption of a free-trade agreement and a Maghreb common market to promote economic and social development in the region.

International relations professor Samir Chihabi told Magharebia the event took on even greater significance due to the national leaders' return to the negotiating table. "Re-launching dialogue about a Maghreb union is in itself a step forward. Each [meeting] removes obstacles so that differences can be overcome, particularly with regard to Morocco and Algeria. The issue of the Sahara must from now on be left to the United Nations to open up the way to union."

This was the position voiced by Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem and National Liberation Front Chairman in an interview with Aljazeera. He called the meeting a "message of hope", laying the foundations for regional unity. Belkhadem also recalled the 1958 Tangier conference, saying it "opened up to our peoples a promising outlook for the building of a Great Arab Maghreb" that he hoped would become "a reality with positive effects for all".

The same optimism was shown by Moroccan Prime Minister and Istiqlal Party chief Abbas El Fassi. He called on the nations of the Maghreb to bring an end to inaction by committing to constructive dialogue, able to foster dynamic, healthy interaction in the region.

Despite the peaceful sentiments, tensions between Morocco and Algeria over Western Sahara flared up when Moroccan Minister of State Mohamed El Yazghi called on Algeria to "support the Moroccan initiative to put an end to the Sahara impasse".

Belkhadem refuted the Moroccan minister's presentation of the situation, saying Algeria "has always defended just causes and national liberation movements since independence".

While members of the audience chanted "the Sahara is Moroccan", Belkhadem asked if Algeria was expected to renounce its principles and said his country would confront any accusations directly.

Moroccan Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi called for onlookers to respect Belkhadem, who concluded by saying "history will tell who was responsible for the deadlock."

The remaining nations made remarks without further incident. Taieb Sahbani, representing Tunisia's Democratic Constitutional Assembly, stressed the need to build the union on solid foundations to establish a fair and dynamic society based on progress and development.

The chairman of Mauritania's National Pact for Democracy and Development, Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef, shared the same view. He said construction of the UMA will require a consolidated effort to face current and future challenges, and to realise the hopes and aspirations of the Maghreb peoples.

Meanwhile, Rafie Ali Al Madani, from the Libyan General People’s Congress, called for Maghreb countries to build harmony in the region, saying the modern world only takes notice of groups which are strong at the regional and continental level.

As part of the celebration, the party leaders attended the inaugural ceremony of a new "Arab Maghreb Square" in Tangier, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Arab Maghreb party conference.