Interview in Rabat between CORCAS chairman and Minister of Belgian Federal State

Interview in Rabat between CORCAS chairman and Minister of Belgian Federal State

5/25/2009

The Chairman of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS), Mr. Ould Errachid Khalihenna, met Friday in Rabat, with Mr. Philippe Moureaux, Minister of Federal State, Vice-President of the Belgian Socialist Party and Mayor of the municipality of Molenbeek, who is paying a working visit to the Kingdom. The talks, which took place in the presence of CORCAS Secretary General, M. Maouelainin Ben Khalihanna Maouelainin, focused on various aspects of economic development in Southern Provinces, including the city of Laâyoune. The two parties also discussed the possibility of initiating a cultural twining between the commune of Molenbeek and the city of Laayoune, Moureaux said to the press after the interview. The Belgium official recalled having already carried out, two years ago, a visit to Laâyoune, noting that the CORCAS plays an extremely important role in several respects, particularly with regard to the Moroccan autonomy proposal for the southern provinces, initiated by His Majesty the King, and the negotiations conducted under UN auspices. He also considered "positive" the impact of the Moroccan approach to settle the Sahara issue. During this three-day visit, Mr. Moureaux, who was accompanied by Mr. Shahid Mohammadi, Brussels MP and communal councilor in Molenbeek-Saint Jean and his chief of staff, Ms. Isabelle Van Mechelen, will pay a visit to the city of Laâyoune.

Source: MAP - News concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas -