Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki Salé – Rachid Bougha Moroccan King Mohammad VI received Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki at Salé airport, Wednesday. The Moroccan king was accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid. The reception is considered a rare precedent as the Moroccan king is not accustomed to receiving guests at the airport, which indicates appreciation and respect that Mohammad VI and the Moroccan people have for the newly elected Tunisian president.
Marzouki was also received by Moroccan PM Abdelilah Benkirane and members of the cabinet, in addition to a large delegation of military, political, and diplomatic figures in Morocco.
Marzouki had previously stated that his visit to Morocco was of great importance on personal and political levels, noting that his discussions with the king would tackle the activation of the Maghreb project and develop bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries.
The Tunisian President told the Moroccan News Agency MAP earlier: “This year we will work to restore unity with our brothers in Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Mauritania, with the aim of resuscitating the great dream of a Union of the Maghreb which has been frozen for years.”
He told MAP he envisioned a UMA modelled on the European Union and based on five principles: “Freedom of movement, of residence, of employment, of investment and ownership, as well as the right to vote in local polls.”
The Tunisian President was accompanied by a delegation including the Foreign Minister Rafik Abdul Salam, Defence Minister Abdul Karim Al-Zubaidi, Advisor to the President Abdallah Kahlawi, and Secretary of State in charge of the Arab, Maghreb, and African affairs, Abdulla Al-Tureiki.