§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his recent visit to North Africa.
§ Mr. HurdI visited Tunisia from 3–6 January arid Morocco from 6–10 January at the invitation of the Ministers of the Interior in both countries. With the object of further strengthening bilateral cooperation, our discussion centred upon combating international terrorism, organised crime and drug trafficking.
A joint communiqué on these matters was issued on 6 January on behalf of the British and Tunisian Governments. The Minister of the Interior of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco and I signed a memorandum of understanding between our two Governments on 7 January. Texts of both documents will be placed in the Library. During my visit I had the honour to be received by His Majesty King Hassan II of Morocco and by President Zine el Abidene Ben Ali of Tunisia.
I believe that these visits illustrated the increased arid specific openings which now exist for reinforcing in practical ways our traditional friendships with Tunisia arid Morocco.