Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 5/16/2005
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of May 16, 2005
- Morocco's human rights experience underscored in London
Morocco's experience in human rights was underscored at the biennial meeting of the Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies (May 18-20) that opened Wednesday in the British capital. Morocco-UK, Politics, 5/21/2005 - Morocco, Algeria trade exchanges drop by 6.8pc
Trade exchanges between Morocco and Algeria dropped from MAD 1.9 billion (USD 223 millions) in 2003 to MAD 1.77 billion (USD 208 millions) in 2004, i.e a regression of 6.8pc. Morocco-Algeria, Economics, 5/21/2005 - Morocco to host 2005 kick and Thai Boxing World championship
Morocco will host the 15th kick and Thai Boxing World championship slated for September 19-25 in Agadir (South), announced, here Thursday, President of World Association of Kickboxing Organisation (WAKO), Italian Ennio Falsoni, Morocco, Sports, 5/21/2005 - Princess Lalla Hasna inaugurates 4th Mawazine-Rythmes du Monde Festival
Morocco's Princess Lalla Hasna (younger sister of King Mohammed VI) presided, in Rabat Thursday, the opening ceremony of the 4th Mawazine-Rythmes du Monde Festival. Morocco-Regional, Local, 5/21/2005 - Basketball: Morocco defeats Mali in friendly
Moroccan Basketball team defeated, here Thursday, Mali 61/52 in a friendly match part of preparations to the 2005 Mediterranean Games. Morocco, Local, 5/21/2005 - Indian foreign minister due in Morocco Morocco-India, Politics, 5/21/2005
- Online petition unveiled to support release of Moroccan POWs in Algeria
An online petition for the release of Moroccan prisoners of war (POWS), some of them held for more than two decades by a separatist movement in Tindouf (Southwestern Algeria), was unveiled Tuesday in Washington during a press conference by U.S. Senator John McCain and six Moroccan POWs. Morocco-USA, Politics, 5/20/2005 - Three Moroccan shepherds sentenced to three years in prison in Algeria
"Al Alam" and "Assabah" reported Thursday that Algerian authorities also seized 1,650 sheep pertaining to the three shepherds. Morocco-Algeria, Local, 5/20/2005 - World Bank approves four-year CAS for Morocco
The World Bank (WB) Executive Board unanimously approved Thursday the new Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) with Morocco for the period 2005-2009, said a press release of the bank. Morocco, Economics, 5/20/2005 - Libyan leader receives message from Moroccan king on UMA summit Morocco-Libya, Politics, 5/20/2005
- Moroccan-US relations 'excellent', US official Morocco-USA, Politics, 5/20/2005
- FAR flies to Nigeria to clinch CAF quarter-finals ticket Morocco-Nigeria, Sports, 5/20/2005
- King announces the launching of 'the National Initiative for Human Development'
Morocco's King Mohammed VI announced Wednesday evening the launching of the National Initiative for Human Development, which illustrates the sovereign's concern to fulfill the aspirations of the Moroccan people, and which is part of the society project initiated by His Majesty since his accession to the Alaouite throne. Morocco, Politics, 5/19/2005 - Royal Initiative for Human Development unanimously praised by politicians
The royal Initiative for Human Development, announced on Wednesday by King Mohammed VI in a speech to the nation was welcomed with unanimous praise by Moroccan political leaders as the adequate solution to Moroccan problems. Morocco, Politics, 5/19/2005 - Over 400 'phantom civil servants' salaries frozen
The Moroccan Government suspended the salaries of 415 "phantom civil servants" in 2005, part of a crack down on what is known in Morocco as "the phantom civil servants phenomenon," said Wednesday, Minister in charge of Modernizing Public Sectors, Mohamed Boussaid. Morocco, Politics, 5/19/2005 - Morocco-Spanish operation nabs human smuggling network
Moroccan and Spanish security forces have managed, in a joint operation to dismantle a large human-smuggling network responsible for introducing hundreds of illegal immigrants in recent months in the Spanish territory. Morocco-Spain, Local, 5/19/2005 - Moroccan official rules out risk of new locust invasion
Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, Mohand Laenser, ruled out the risk of a new locust invasion in Morocco next fall. Morocco, Local, 5/19/2005 - Over 300 meningitis cases recorded annually in Morocco
Some 360 meningitis cases are recorded annually in the kingdom, including deadly cases that represent 5 to 10% of people affected by the disease, said, here Wednesday, Health minister, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah. Morocco, Health, 5/19/2005 - 'Run for fun' women race hopes to attract 20,000 participants
The "run for fun" women race taking place annually in Casablanca hopes to attract 20,000 participants for its 7th edition slated next Sunday. Morocco-Regional, Sports, 5/19/2005 - Arizona senator McCain urged 'Polisario' to release Moroccan prisoners
Arizona senator John McCain urged the Polisario, in Washington Tuesday, to release immediately the 408 Moroccan prisoners of war, many of whom have been held for over 20 years in the Tindouf camps, South-West Algeria. Morocco-USA, Politics, 5/18/2005 - Moroccan prisoners of war held by 'Polisario' meet Washington Times Editorial Board
"The same rationale governing terrorist organizations must apply to the Polisario Front," wrote "The Washington Times" in its Tuesday issue, adding that "as long as it continues to hold human beings in bondage, it must be regarded as an enemy of civilization." Morocco-USA, Politics, 5/18/2005 - London sit-in calls for release of Moroccans detained in Southern Algeria
Moroccan expatriates in Great Britain staged a sit-in, on Tuesday before the "Welington Arch" in London, to denounce the Polisario separatists manoeuvres and call for the immediate and unconditional release of their fellow countrymen who are detained in the Tindouf camps (southwest Algeria). Morocco-UK, Politics, 5/18/2005 - Morocco, UAE launch $ 2bn project to develop Oued Bouregreg valley
Morocco and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed, here Tuesday, a draft accord to launch USD 2 billion-worth "Amwaj" project in Oued Bouregreg valley that separates the capital Rabat from millennium-old Sale. Morocco-United Arab Emirates, Economics, 5/18/2005 - Essaouira, first Moroccan city to become slum-free
The Atlantic city of Essaouira has become the first Moroccan slum-free city, after the last shanty town was destroyed and its inhabitants relocated in modern flats. Morocco, Economics, 5/18/2005 - Zaki names squad for WC/ACN 2006 qualifications
Moroccan team manager Badou Zaki unveiled Tuesday, the list of 24 players who will play the upcoming World cup and African Cup of Nations qualifying matches. Morocco, Sports, 5/18/2005 - Morocco, Jordan boost relations in several fields
Morocco and Jordan signed Monday five agreements, four protocols, three executive programs and a memorandum of understanding touching on as diverse domains as economy, trade, energy, agriculture, culture, tourism and education. Morocco-Jordan, Politics, 5/17/2005 - Terrorism 'bringing in many a horror', spokesman
Terrorism is an "international phenomenon bringing in many a horror" and through ages and time manifested in various forms, sai Monday Moroccan communication minister and government spokesman, Nabil Benabdellah. Morocco, Politics, 5/17/2005 - US-based NGO calls for including Polisario in Terrorist Exclusion List
"The American Council for Moroccan POWs" has called US authorities to include the Polisario separatist group in the Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL), following the Algeria-backed movement's recent threats of terrorist attacks. Morocco-USA, Politics, 5/17/2005 - China to reduce textile exports to Morocco, Minister
China has set up several measures aiming to self-regulate and limit its exports of textile products, said Monday visiting Chinese vice-minister for Commerce Yu Guangzhou. Morocco-China, Economics, 5/17/2005 - Over 20 thousands enrolled in 'popular universities' courses
Over 20,000 people have enrolled in the program of "popular universities," launched in January 2005, said Monday Morocco's State Secretary in charge of Youth, Mohamed El Gahs. Morocco, Education, 5/17/2005 - Moroccan GNF1: Mano a mano resumes
It's the mano a mano in the Moroccan soccer first division GNF1 as leaders RAJA, FAR and WAC win to prolong the suspense. At the bottom, things are getting complicated for MAS and Kawkab. Morocco, Sports, 5/17/2005 - Over 20,000 cases of scorpion stings in Morocco in 2004
Some 24,000 cases of scorpion stings were reported in 2004 in Morocco, representing over 30% of poisoning cases, said Director of Moroccan Anti-Poison Center (CNAP), Rachida Slimani. Morocco, Health, 5/17/2005 - China willing to take into account Moroccan textile interests, official
China is willing to enhance economic relations with Morocco taking into account the economic interests of the North African country, especially in the textile sector, said Yu Guangzhou, Chinese trade vice-minister. Morocco-China, Economics, 5/16/2005 - Assahara Al Maghribya: King Mohammed receives Jordanian PM Morocco-Jordan, Politics, 5/16/2005