King of Morocco arrives for talks

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 26. In the continuing season of India's engagement the Arab world, the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, arrived here this evening on a six- day visit.

The consultations of King Mohammed VI with the Indian leadership tomorrow will be capped by a political declaration. Morocco, which follows a moderate path at home and abroad, is likely to join India in rejecting international terrorism, extremism and separatism in all forms.

Political relations between India and Morocco had taken a big leap forward last year when the Government withdrew recognition to the Saharwi Arab Democratic Republic. The Saharwis have been fighting for years to gain independence from Morocco. The reversal of the Indian position followed an extended diplomatic campaign by Morocco.

Rich in phosphates, Morocco is emerging as an important political and economic partner of India in the Arab world. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, had visited the Kingdom on the far Western fringes of the Arab world in 1999.

Morocco has a free trade agreement with the European Union, and is likely to become an Associate Member of the grouping in the next few years. It is widely seen as being more successful among the Arab nations in coping with the trends of globalisation. King Mohammed VI, who took charge after his father's death last year, has begun a cautious liberalisation of the domestic political system.

Besides a substantive discussion with Mr. Vajpayee, King Mohammed VI will also interact with the President, Mr. K.R. Narayanan, the Vice-President, Mr. Krishan Kant, the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, and the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes. The Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, and the BJP president, Mr. Bangaru Laxman will also call on the him.

After his official engagements here, King Mohammed VI will travel to the Corbett National Park, Agra and Jaipur.

An agreement on cultural exchanges and others on cooperation in the fields of plant varieties and veterinary sciences are likely to be signed by India and Morocco tomorrow.

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