HRH Crown Prince Moulay Rachid departs for France for Mediterranean Union summit

Paris, July 12, 2008 – To improve ties between Europe and North Africa, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay Rachid arrived in France Saturday, July 12, 2008, on the eve of a major Mediterranean summit.

Seeing many advantages, both economic and political, Crown Prince Moulay Rachid offered to play an active role in reinforcing efforts to push forward the cooperation on regional levels.
Crown Prince Moulay Rachid hopes the new Union for the Mediterranean will help improve relations between Morocco and other Mediterranean counties.

Crown Prince Moulay Rachid also expressed hope that this international meeting will provide the opportunity for direct encounters as for the first time the top leaders of the Mediterranean are meeting with the participation of Israel.

The Union that will be launched at a Paris summit on Sunday was originally proposed by France in 2007 with the aim of improving economic, political and cultural relations with the EU's southern neighbors.