"This new political order was sought by Paris, as part of the post-Chirac break with previous political tradition. It means that from now on, ties between the two countries should be less emotional but more balanced, and therefore healthier."
French president in Morocco to strengthen bilateral ties
21/10/2007
During a visit to Morocco on October 22-24, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will stop in Marrakech, Rabat and Tangier to discuss economic relations between the two countries. He is also due to make a speech before the Moroccan parliament, a first for Morocco.
By Hassan Benmehdi for Magharebia in Casablanca – 21/10/07
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is scheduled to arrive in Marrakesh on Monday (October 22nd) to begin his first state visit to Morocco. Moroccan and French observers have said the visit, which will include trips to Rabat and Tangier, may constitute a turning point in relations between the two countries.
After Sarkozy chose Algeria and Tunisia for his first state visit to the region, initial plans to continue to Morocco were postponed in what analysts viewed as a reminder to the new administration of the significance of the French-Moroccan partnership.
Journalist Alex Panzani, a specialist in French-Moroccan relations, said the climate surrounding relations between the two countries is changing: "This new political order was sought by Paris, as part of the post-Chirac break with previous political tradition. It means that from now on, ties between the two countries should be less emotional but more balanced, and therefore healthier."
Panzani added that the two heads of state will devote much of the visit to discussing stronger economic ties between the two countries. Along these lines, he said, Sarkozy has planned a visit to the new Renault-Nissan plant in Tangier and will be present for the announcement of a high-speed (TGV) rail link between Marrakech and either Casablanca or Essaouira.
When asked whether Morocco’s decision to purchase American Lockheed-Martin F-16 aircraft instead of French Rafale fighters will make an impact on the visit, Panzani stressed that France’s failure to close the deal will probably not have been forgotten but should have no particularly negative impact on President Sarkozy's first official visit. France remains Morocco's primary trading partner.
According to Dominique Brunin, CEO of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Casablanca, Sarkozy's visit could give fresh momentum to the special partnership. "The message now coming from French business leaders is that we must note the sustained economic development enjoyed by Morocco over the last few years and seek confirmation that this long-term strategy will not be affected by the vagaries of political relations."
The Rabat leg of Sarkozy's visit will include high-level talks between the two heads of state, as well as a speech to be delivered by the French president before the Moroccan parliament. Moroccan analysts have said the new president’s visit to Morocco will be more in keeping with the current state of relations between the two countries, now that the political context surrounding them has changed on both sides of the Mediterranean.
France's President Visits Morocco
22 October 2007
MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy met with Morocco's king Monday and signed a string of deals aimed at fostering closer cooperation between the two countries and economic development projects.
Sarkozy began a three-day visit to the former French colony in North Africa to promote his proposal for cooperation between the two sides of the Mediterranean in four areas — economic growth, security, the environment and cultural dialogue.
In one of the accords signed Monday, France pledged to help build a $2.5 billion bullet train connecting Casablanca, Morocco's economic hub, and the northern port city of Tangiers. The train is to be operational in 2013, the head of Morocco's National Railway office, Rabie Khlie, told the official MAP news agency.
In a setback to French business, however, French newspaper reports said that Morocco decided to buy an F-16 from Lockheed Martin instead of a Rafale jet fighter from France.
Asked about the F-16, Sarkozy praised the Rafale in an interview published Monday with the Moroccan paper L'Economist and said France hopes to develop "defense and arms cooperation with Morocco that does justice to our political partnership."
Upon his arrival, Sarkozy was met at the foot of his plane by Morocco's King Mohammed XVI and offered a traditional welcome of milk and dates before traveling to the palace in Marrakech, a southern city best known for tourism. A formal state welcome, with the king's cavalry and a 21-gun salute, followed.
Sarkozy arrived with dozens of business leaders and Justice Minister Rachida Dati, who is of Moroccan origin, for a trip that will take him to Rabat, the capital, and Tangiers — just across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain.
The French president was scheduled to give a speech Tuesday in Tangiers on his proposal for an informal "Mediterranean Union" that would better link the European and African countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea.
French president wraps up official visit to Morocco
Marrakech, Oct 24 - French president, Nicholas Sarkozy, left Morocco on Wednesday at the end of a three-day official visit to the North African country, at the invitation of king Mohammed VI.
24/10/2007
Mr. Sarkozy was seen off at the Marrakech-Menara international airport by King Mohammed VI.
During this visit, President Sarkozy and king Mohammed VI held private talks and co-chaired the signing ceremony of various cooperation agreements. The Euro 3Bn agreements cover the fields of transport, justice, social security, mines and equipment.
Mr. Sarkozy also delivered a speech at the Moroccan parliament, in which he voiced hope that the Sahara autonomy plan, proposed by Morocco, serves as a basis for negotiations to settle the 32-year-old dispute between the North African country and the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario".
The French head of state also delivered, in the northern city of Tangier, a speech on his proposal of a Mediterranean Union, calling for a summit of heads of State of the countries bordering the Mediterranean, in June 2008 in France, to discuss the initiative of the proposed Union, and lay down the bases of this project, which is a "political, economic and cultural union based on the principle of strict equality between the nations" of the Mediterranean zone.
King Mohammed VI on Tuesday held an official diner in honor of Mr. Sarkozy and the official delegation accompanying him.
King Mohammed VI and president Sarkozy visited, on Wednesday in Marrakech, the USD 356,000 Child Protection center of Marrakech, and laid the foundation stone to build the Child Protection Center for Girls.
21/10/2007
During a visit to Morocco on October 22-24, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will stop in Marrakech, Rabat and Tangier to discuss economic relations between the two countries. He is also due to make a speech before the Moroccan parliament, a first for Morocco.
By Hassan Benmehdi for Magharebia in Casablanca – 21/10/07
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is scheduled to arrive in Marrakesh on Monday (October 22nd) to begin his first state visit to Morocco. Moroccan and French observers have said the visit, which will include trips to Rabat and Tangier, may constitute a turning point in relations between the two countries.
After Sarkozy chose Algeria and Tunisia for his first state visit to the region, initial plans to continue to Morocco were postponed in what analysts viewed as a reminder to the new administration of the significance of the French-Moroccan partnership.
Journalist Alex Panzani, a specialist in French-Moroccan relations, said the climate surrounding relations between the two countries is changing: "This new political order was sought by Paris, as part of the post-Chirac break with previous political tradition. It means that from now on, ties between the two countries should be less emotional but more balanced, and therefore healthier."
Panzani added that the two heads of state will devote much of the visit to discussing stronger economic ties between the two countries. Along these lines, he said, Sarkozy has planned a visit to the new Renault-Nissan plant in Tangier and will be present for the announcement of a high-speed (TGV) rail link between Marrakech and either Casablanca or Essaouira.
When asked whether Morocco’s decision to purchase American Lockheed-Martin F-16 aircraft instead of French Rafale fighters will make an impact on the visit, Panzani stressed that France’s failure to close the deal will probably not have been forgotten but should have no particularly negative impact on President Sarkozy's first official visit. France remains Morocco's primary trading partner.
According to Dominique Brunin, CEO of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Casablanca, Sarkozy's visit could give fresh momentum to the special partnership. "The message now coming from French business leaders is that we must note the sustained economic development enjoyed by Morocco over the last few years and seek confirmation that this long-term strategy will not be affected by the vagaries of political relations."
The Rabat leg of Sarkozy's visit will include high-level talks between the two heads of state, as well as a speech to be delivered by the French president before the Moroccan parliament. Moroccan analysts have said the new president’s visit to Morocco will be more in keeping with the current state of relations between the two countries, now that the political context surrounding them has changed on both sides of the Mediterranean.
France's President Visits Morocco
22 October 2007
MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy met with Morocco's king Monday and signed a string of deals aimed at fostering closer cooperation between the two countries and economic development projects.
Sarkozy began a three-day visit to the former French colony in North Africa to promote his proposal for cooperation between the two sides of the Mediterranean in four areas — economic growth, security, the environment and cultural dialogue.
In one of the accords signed Monday, France pledged to help build a $2.5 billion bullet train connecting Casablanca, Morocco's economic hub, and the northern port city of Tangiers. The train is to be operational in 2013, the head of Morocco's National Railway office, Rabie Khlie, told the official MAP news agency.
In a setback to French business, however, French newspaper reports said that Morocco decided to buy an F-16 from Lockheed Martin instead of a Rafale jet fighter from France.
Asked about the F-16, Sarkozy praised the Rafale in an interview published Monday with the Moroccan paper L'Economist and said France hopes to develop "defense and arms cooperation with Morocco that does justice to our political partnership."
Upon his arrival, Sarkozy was met at the foot of his plane by Morocco's King Mohammed XVI and offered a traditional welcome of milk and dates before traveling to the palace in Marrakech, a southern city best known for tourism. A formal state welcome, with the king's cavalry and a 21-gun salute, followed.
Sarkozy arrived with dozens of business leaders and Justice Minister Rachida Dati, who is of Moroccan origin, for a trip that will take him to Rabat, the capital, and Tangiers — just across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain.
The French president was scheduled to give a speech Tuesday in Tangiers on his proposal for an informal "Mediterranean Union" that would better link the European and African countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea.
French president wraps up official visit to Morocco
Marrakech, Oct 24 - French president, Nicholas Sarkozy, left Morocco on Wednesday at the end of a three-day official visit to the North African country, at the invitation of king Mohammed VI.
24/10/2007
Mr. Sarkozy was seen off at the Marrakech-Menara international airport by King Mohammed VI.
During this visit, President Sarkozy and king Mohammed VI held private talks and co-chaired the signing ceremony of various cooperation agreements. The Euro 3Bn agreements cover the fields of transport, justice, social security, mines and equipment.
Mr. Sarkozy also delivered a speech at the Moroccan parliament, in which he voiced hope that the Sahara autonomy plan, proposed by Morocco, serves as a basis for negotiations to settle the 32-year-old dispute between the North African country and the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario".
The French head of state also delivered, in the northern city of Tangier, a speech on his proposal of a Mediterranean Union, calling for a summit of heads of State of the countries bordering the Mediterranean, in June 2008 in France, to discuss the initiative of the proposed Union, and lay down the bases of this project, which is a "political, economic and cultural union based on the principle of strict equality between the nations" of the Mediterranean zone.
King Mohammed VI on Tuesday held an official diner in honor of Mr. Sarkozy and the official delegation accompanying him.
King Mohammed VI and president Sarkozy visited, on Wednesday in Marrakech, the USD 356,000 Child Protection center of Marrakech, and laid the foundation stone to build the Child Protection Center for Girls.