Algeria will open borders with Morocco sooner or later: minister

Borders between Algeria and Morocco will be opened the sooner or the later, said Algerian agriculture minister Rachid Ben Aissa.

• “The land borders between Morocco and Algeria which have been closed for 17 years will be opened the sooner or the later,” Rachid Ben Aissa said.
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• “This will be done through the signature of an understanding memorandum to enhance food security of both countries,” he added.
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• Last week, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika called for stepping up Algerian Moroccan cooperation. He said the Western Sahara issue is of the UN and Algeria has nothing to do with it.
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• “We are neighbours and brothers. We work on reinforcing relationships between the two countries,” said the minister.
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• Two Moroccan ministers paid a visit to Algeria while an Algerian minister visited Morocco.
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• Four Algerian ministers are expected to pay a visit to Morocco.
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• Algeria said it will open the borders provided that arms and weapons smuggling is stopped, joint security measures are set up, Algerians owner of lands in Morocco are compensated.
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• The last remarks came without talking about those conditions. That shows political indicators to achieve the Moroccan demand to open the borders.
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• Algerian security authorities stepped up surveillance on borders. Morocco and Algeria have increase visits exchange for three months. This step is considered as a gradual warming up of the political relationship between the countries.