Maghreb Union Secretariat Informs The Member States About Algeria’s Request

General Secretariat of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) confirmed that it had received a letter from Algeria’s Foreign Minister, Abdelkader Messahel, asking for “the necessary measures in order to hold a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Arab Maghreb Union as soon as possible”.

A statement that was issued by the secretariat of the Maghreb Union said that it had “informed all the five Maghreb countries of the content of the message that was received from Algeria on the same day it contacted it”.

The statement said that the General Secretariat of the Union appreciates “the Algerian demand, especially as it comes in the context of the outcome of the 11th extraordinary summit that was held on 17-18 November in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the subject of institutional reform of the Organization, which has markedly focused on the role of regional economic groups in continental integration and has played important roles within the framework of the new vision of the African Union’s work, its management and future as well”.

“The General Secretariat, which has deepened in the last two years its African belonging as one of the eight groups on which the African Union is based, and considers it one of its main pillars, appreciates the linking of Algeria to the Maghreb and African entitlements.”

“The letter of the Algerian Foreign Minister confirms that the Arab Maghreb Union remains the regional group that is least integrated at the African level”, the statement said.

The General Secretariat, which was seeking to hold the thirty-fifth session of the Council of Foreign Ministers for more than a year, expressed its hope that “everyone will respond to the renewed call for the convening of the Ministerial Council pending the holding of the Seventh Summit.”

In the same vein, the Mauritanian Foreign and Cooperation Ministry issued a statement expressing Mauritania’s willingness and readiness to host the meeting, “as soon as possible”.

In its statement, Mauritania affirmed its commitment to the Arab Maghreb Union as a “framework for strengthening ties of brotherhood and a tool for achieving integration and economic harmony among brothers in a world in which blocs impose themselves as an irreplaceable formula to face challenges.”

It announced its support for all initiatives “that would contribute to the activation of the institutions of the Arab Maghreb Union in order to achieve the aspirations of its people”.

It is noteworthy that the task of the Foreign Ministers Council is summarized in accordance with the Charter of the Union in preparing for the sessions of the Presidency Council and considers the proposals of the Follow-up Committee and the specialized ministerial committees and coordinated policies and positions in regional and international organizations.

The attendance of all members shall be required for the validity of the holding of its extraordinary ordinary session at the invitation of the Presidency or at the request of a member state.

Foreign Minister, Abdelkader Messahel, called for a meeting of the EU foreign ministers’ council two weeks after King Mohammed VI called for dialogue to overcome political differences between the two countries.

The Maghreb Union was founded in 1989 and it includes Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania. However, internal differences, especially between Algeria and Rabat have frozen the organization’s regional work, as no summit was held at the leadership level since 1994.