UK Encourages Rapprochement Between Morocco And Algeria

London - The British government expressed, on Wednesday, its encouragement and support for bringing Morocco and Algeria closer, saying that this process is crucial for the Maghreb region.

Rapprochement between Morocco and Algeria is very important for the Maghreb region, said Irfan Siddiq head of the Department for Arab Partnership, a program launched in February 2011 by the UK Foreign Office to promote good governance and political participation in the MENA region.

Artificial divisions between the two states hampered the process of integration and development in the region, he said at a press briefing at the Foreign Office.

He recalled that trade exchanges between Maghreb countries are among the lowest worldwide; noting that boosting integration in the region must top all priorities.

Hailing efforts of rapprochement made by Morocco and Algeria, the official underlined that the UK fully supports this initiative and hopes that this would lead to reopening borders between the two countries.