George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany): May 3, 2005. “The Maghreb, the Middle East and Mediterranean Cooperation: A View from the South” Paper Presented at the Seminar on “Challenges to Nato’s Transformation: A Look across the Mediterranean” By: Dr. Hassan RAHMOUNI Hassan II University – Mohammedia (Morocco) http://www.hassanrahmouni.com
[email protected] North Africa represents a human and geographical entity located on the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Initially thought of as a potential union of three former French colonies (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia), it has finally grasped two other neighboring countries (Libya and Mauritania) and formed, in 1989, the UMA (Union of the Arab Maghreb). It thus covers a territory of 6,045,591 square kilometers (a little larger than Australia, twice the size of India and almost the size of Canada). Most recent censuses estimate its total population however at about 82 million inhabitants. As part of the MENA region, it aspires to multiple communalities with its neighboring Arab Middle eastern countries. The five members of the UMA are active partners in the Arab League. Actually, Algeria is its president. Morocco is the acting president of the “Al Qods” [Jerusalem] Committee (let’s not forget that not long ago, Moroccan military contingents fought both in Sinai and in the Golan on the side of Egyptian and Syrian troops!). And Tunisia has hosted for a long period of time both of the headquarters of the Arab League [1979 to 1990] (before they returned to Cairo) and the political leadership of the PLO [1982 to 1994] (before they finally settled in Ram Allah).