Egypt–Morocco relations

Morocco-Egypt relations

Egypt	Morocco

Morocco-Egypt relations refers to the bilateral relations between the kingdom of Morocco and the Arab Republic of Egypt. Since independence, the two nations have maintained warm relations. Both being predominantly Arab countries they are members of the Arab League, GAFTA, WTO, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Council of Arab Economic Unity and the UN.

Western Sahara Issue

In 1999 Egypt renewed its support for Morocco's territorial integrity.^[1] "Egypt has always backed Morocco's efforts to perfect its territorial integrity," Egyptian deputy minister of foreign affairs, Jamal-Eddine Bayoumi told Moroccan daily Al-Mounaataf, referring to Morocco's conquest and occupation of Western Sahara. Bayoumi also stressed the need for Morocco and Egypt to consolidate trade relations among Arab states.^{[citation needed]}

Economic cooperation

Morocco and Egypt are both signers of the Agadir Agreement for the Establishment of a Free Trade Zone between the Arabic Mediterranean Nations, signed in Rabat, Morocco on 25 February 2004.^[2]The agreement aimed at establishing a free trade area between Jordan, Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco and it was seen as a possible first step in the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean free trade area as envisaged in the Barcelona Process.^[3] They are also founding members of GAFTA, a pact made by the Arab League to achieve a complete Arab economic bloc that can compete internationally.

See also

• Arab League
• Arab Maghreb Union
• Western Sahara War

References

1. ^ http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/990315/1999031549.html
2. ^ "Full text of the Agreement (English version)". http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=2513. 
3. ^ Wippel, Steffen. "The Agadir Agreement and Open regionalism" (PDF). http://www.euromesco.net/media/euromesco_paper_45.pdf.