Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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October 23, 2007

Sarkozy in Morocco to Promote Bid for Mediterranean Union
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=19FB69A:A6F02AD83191E1601C23CFFCA5BD75B19574F7DCC14957C0 French proposal
would include Mediterranean investment bank, along with regional
energy and environmental agencies, university exchange program French
President Nicolas Sarkozy is on a three-day visit to Morocco aimed to
finalize business deals and gain support for his idea to forge a union
between European and North African countries in the Mediterranean
region. For VOA, Lisa Bryant has more from Paris.





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Morocco's King Mohammed VI and French President Nicolas Sarkozy review
the Royal Guard at the King's palace, Marrakesh, 22 Oct 2007President
Nicolas Sarkozy began his visit to Morocco Monday on a positive note,
with the signature of nearly a dozen business agreements worth nearly
$3 billion. They include building a high speed TGV train between the
Moroccan cities of Tangiers and Casablanca. Morocco and France also
forged deals to extract uranium in Morocco to meet the growing demand
for nuclear power worldwide. The French also agreed to sell frigates
to Rabat.

But as Paris-based analyst Mohammed Proudi points out, Mr. Sarkozy's
visit isn't just about business.

Proudi, a North African expert at the Institute of Strategic Relations
in Paris, says Mr. Sarkozy's visit has two aims: First to re-establish
France's economic presence in Morocco in the face of growing
competition, particularly from China. The other is to re-establish a
new partnership between France and its old colonies in North Africa.

Mr. Sarkozy has already outlined what kind of partnership he's
thinking about - notably a Mediterranean Union between European and
North African countries in the Mediterranean region.

The Paris-based newspaper, The International Herald Tribune, reports
the French proposal would include a Mediterranean investment bank,
along with regional energy and environmental agencies and a university
exchange program. A summit between Mediterranean leaders is planned
for next year.

Mr. Sarkozy was met by Moroccan King Mohammed VI Monday. He is
expected to deliver a major speech to the Moroccan parliament later
Tuesday. Mr. Sarkozy returns to France Wednesday.


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