Conference organized by Amadeus association: "hurdles to Maghreb Union"
Mrs. Khadija Mohsen Finan, senior researcher on Maghreb countries at the French institute of international relations (IFRI) advocated strongly for integration of the Maghreb notwithstanding the risk of a balkanization during a conference entitling "hurdles to Maghreb Union"
the 29th May 2008 in Sciences Po Paris
Mrs. Khadija Mohsen Finan, senior researcher on Maghreb countries at the French institute of international relations (IFRI) advocated strongly for integration of the Maghreb notwithstanding the risk of a balkanization during a conference entitling "hurdles to Maghreb Union" organization by the Amadeus association on the 29th May 2008 in Sciences Po Paris.
She stated that "the Saharan-sahelian area where today the security situation is worsening and where we are losing control, the independence of Western Sahara is not a realist option". This is one of the conclusions in the book she wrote in 1997 on the Sahara conflict.
Mrs. Mohsen Finan emphasized that Maghreb integration should draw attention especially at that time when the Union for the Mediterranean was about to be created. Whatever the shape the future project will have, the southern bank of the Mediterranean should define a clear common stance in front of a Northern bank already united a long time ago. "Maghreb countries are therefore losing a great part of their potential bargaining power in the new structure".
"Those are the reasons of the weakness and marginalization of the Maghreb at an international level" she added. "Moreover this lack of integration has economic, social and human costs".
