14/05/2006
In a joint declaration Saturday (13 May), Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Moroccan King Mohammed VI called on the United States, Russia, the EU and the UN to renew efforts for peace in the Middle East. The declaration also called for an "Arab peace initiative" for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and backed the road map for peace.
Several co-operation accords were signed during the three-day visit by Mubarak and the session of the Egyptian-Moroccan joint commission. The agreements cover legal matters, social security, technological training, culture, bilateral trade, economic planning and housing. The commission recommended boosting trade exchanges for alleviation of Morocco's heavy deficit with Egypt. Participants also called for an early start to operations via a new shipping line between the two countries, which could almost triple trade to as much as $500m a year. (AFP, Morocco Times, MAP)