Can Sarkozy’s ‘Mediterranean Union’ Boost Middle East & North African Democracies?

French President Nicholas Sarkozy is in Morocco to oversee the start of construction on a new TGV high-speed rail link. The agreement between France and Morocco to build the line was signed during Mr Sarkozy’s first state visit to the country in October 2007. Is this a first concrete step towards the inception of the Mediterranean Union ?

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AL JAZEERA – INSIDE STORY

Mediterranean Union

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Inside Story – Mediterranean Union ( Aired on Oct 24th, 2007 :

The French president outlines his plan for a union of the littoral states of Europe and N Africa.

Part I :

Part II:

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FRENCH MEDIATOR :

France’s Constructive Mediation

In The Palestinian Israeli Conflict

And Libyan Upheavel

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Sarkozy urges UN to admit Palestine as non-member state (AFP):

French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Wednesday on the United Nations to admit Palestine as a non-member state, upgrading its status as simple observer but opposing an Immediate Palestinian bid for full membership

Libya: Sarkozy, the people’s hero (Euronews)

Libyan people thanked Nicolas Sarkozy for his support asthe French President visited Tripoli with the British Prime Minister David Cameron…. No Comment | euronews

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SARKOZY AND KING OF MOROCCO

INAUGURATE TGV CONSTRUCTION

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Sarkozy Greeted by King Muhammad VI for Inauguration of Construction Project ( Sept 29th, 2011):

Sarkozy In Marrakech Speaks to Moroccan Parliamentarians (2009):

Moroccan TV Promotional Clipon TGV :

Euronews French Interview with André Azoulay (advisor to King Muhamad VI) on the Union of the Mediterranean project:

Nicolas Sarkozy visits Morocco for TGV rail-link launch by By Nora Fakim, Morocco (bbc)

French President Nicholas Sarkozy is in Morocco to oversee the start of construction on a new TGV high-speed rail link.

The line will connect Casablanca with Rabat and Tangiers.

The agreement between France and Morocco to build the line was signed during Mr Sarkozy’s first state visit to the country in October 2007.

The project’s budgetis estimated to be $4bn (£2.5bn) and the trains are due to start running by 2015.

The Moroccan government says the project will further enhance economic relations between the two countries. Officials also hope the 350km (219-mile) rail link will boost infrastructure.

However, Morocco’s former finance minister Mohamed Berrada says the project is simply awaste of money.

He says the funds should be spent on more important issues such as fighting the high illiteracy rates and poverty in the country.

Morocco had to borrow an estimated $2bn from French banks and Saudi Arabian development funds for the project.

According to Karim Tazi, a sociologist, the rest of the borrowed money will have to be paid for by future generations.

Some analysts question whether or not it is really worth Morocco going into further debt in order to reduce the train time between Tangiers to Casablanca from five hours, to two hours and 10 minutes.

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