France resolves to consolidate relations with the Maghreb

[Al-khiyal]

In the presence of France's ambassadors to the five Maghreb countries, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy gave an address entitled "For a reinforced partnership with the Maghreb" on March 20th in Paris. The foreign minister called upon nations on both sides of the Mediterranean to work with Paris to support and reinforce historical relations more than ever before, stating that the Maghreb region "constitutes a fundamental part of French identity".

Douste-Blazy's initiative is an apparent response to right-wing presidential candidate Nicolas Sarkozy's call for the creation of a Ministry of Immigration and National Identity, which has raised concerns among Maghreb minorities in France. Seeking to emphasize shared history and culture, Douste-Blazy said "the millions of French of Maghreb origin…form a natural link between the two littorals." Douste-Blazy announced that French-Maghreb relations "will be founded on new bases of trust and a body of political values".

As the Maghreb develops and become more integrated into global economics and politics, France is seeking to reassert its historical links with the region. More than two million Maghreb immigrants live in France, half of whom hold both their native and French nationality.

France is the primary trading partner for Morocco and Tunisia, and is second only to the United States in Algeria. France continues to seek increased access to the Libyan market and expects to benefit from increased co-operation between Tunisia and Libya. Last month, Tunisia and Libya removed customs barriers between the two countries. Reuters last week quoted an official at the French embassy in Tunis as saying "Tunisian companies are in a good position in Libya, and after the measures which have been taken lately we can envision partnership agreements between France and Tunisia to penetrate the Libyan market."

In response to the significant advance of English in the region, Douste-Blazy called for efforts to strengthen the French language in the Maghreb. Last month the British Centre in Tunis was unable to accommodate all of the applicants for English language courses, and has been forced to consider opening additional sections. France's response is a proposal for what Douste-Blazy calls "pedagogical poles of reference" in Algeria, Morocco and Algeria which will actively use the French language to promote francophone culture through literature, visual arts and new technologies.

Speaking on educational opportunities, Douste-Blazy said that it was his country's duty to educate and welcome the future elites of the Greater Maghreb, as "the students of today are our partners of tomorrow." The new initiative calls for greater co-operation between institutions of higher education and research on both sides of the Mediterranean.

Douste-Blazy also emphasised the importance of "reinforcing image-based culture through setting up projects in the audio-visual field". Although several French television channels are already available in the Maghreb, France seeks to offer Arabic-language programming as well beginning April 2nd on its new international channel, France 24, and to subsidize the satellite transmission of other French channels to the region.

At the end of his speech, Douste-Blazy announced that "France is ready to accompany the Maghreb states in their advance towards democracy and respect for human rights", asserting that this matter is considered "an integral part of the requirements for combating terrorism".

France resolves to consolidate relations with the Maghreb

[nesreen]

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