Moroccan-Algerian border - King Mohammed VI of Morocco Saturday pleaded for the re-opening of his country's land borders with Algeria and called for an all round normalization of relations between Rabat and Algiers. The land borders between the two major North African neighbouring countries had been closed since 1994, following a terrorist attack in Marrakech (South Morocco), in which Spanish tourists were killed and for which the Sherifian authorities had blamed Algerian secret services.

'We want the beginning of a new dynamic open to the settlement of all outstanding issues as a prelude to a full normalization of bilateral relations (...), including the reopening of land borders,' said Mohammed VI in a speech to the nation on the occasion of the feast of the throne, celebrated Saturday in Morocco.

'This excludes any stigma or inaction inconsistent with good neighbourly ties, the need for North African integration and the expectations of the international community and of our regional area,' he added.

Moreover, the Moroccan king called for the early election of a new Parliament.

'It is important to start with the election of the new House of Representatives' to appoint a prime minister, he said.

He, however, noted that 'procrastination can jeopardize the dynamics of trust and squander the opportunities offered by the new reform.'

The Moroccan people acclaimed by an overwhelming majority, on 1 July, a new constitution, which stipulates, among other things, the strengthening of the powers of the Prime Minister.

He also called on political parties to redouble their efforts to promote reconciliation among citizens, especially young people, with political action.

King Mohammed VI celebrated in Tangier (north) the 12th anniversary of his inauguration after the death of his father Hassan II in 1999.

Pana 30/07/2011