Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 1/25/1999
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of January 25, 1999
- Albright's visit to Morocco was canceled, daily reports
A Moroccan daily reported on Friday that the visit that US Secretary of State Madleine Albright was intending to pay to Morocco part of her Arab world tour, was canceled. Morocco-USA, Politics, 1/30/1999 - Annan recommends four-week extension of UN Sahara mission
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan recommended that the Security Council extend by four weeks, until February 28, the mandate of the MINURSO (French acronym for the U.N. mission in charge of supervising the referendum process in the Sahara). Morocco, Politics, 1/30/1999 - Morocco, Niger conclude several cooperation accords
Morocco and Niger, whose joint cooperation commission met in Rabat, concluded on Friday several accords geared towards fostering bilateral cooperation in economic, social and cultural fields. Morocco-Niger, Economics, 1/30/1999 - Morocco: No figure can be forwarded before completion of voter identification
Morocco's permanent representative to the United Nations has affirmed that the final number of would-be voters in the Sahara referendum cannot be forwarded before the completion of the identification of these voters. Morocco, Politics, 1/30/1999 - Moroccan journalists' protest movement was successful, press union says
The protest movement staged on Thursday by the Moroccan print media journalists was crowned with a "great success," the Moroccan National Press Union (SNPM) said in a release. Morocco, Local, 1/30/1999 - Returns of Morocco's sea products exports increased by 10 % in 1998
Sea product exports have earned Morocco 7.4 billion dirhams in 1998, recording an increase of 10 % over the previous year. Morocco, Economics, 1/30/1999 - Morocco-Egypt free trade accord may enter into force in February
The accord on the creation of a free trade area between Morocco and Egypt may enter into force in February, an Egyptian businessman said. Morocco-Egypt, Economics, 1/30/1999 - Morocco to host UN women's fund's Maghreb branch
The United Nations Fund for Women's Development has chosen Morocco to host the office of its gender advisor for Maghreban countries. Morocco-UN, Politics, 1/30/1999 - Morocco and U.N. sign agreement on Sahara settlement plan
Morocco and the United Nations concluded on Wednesday an agreement on the resumption of the identification of would-be voters in the self-determination referendum that the U.N. plans to hold in the Sahara. Morocco, Politics, 1/29/1999 - Greece wishes political solution to Sebta-Mellilia issue
Greece on Wednesday voiced hope that Morocco and Spain would find a "political solution" to the issue of Sebta and Mellilia, two Moroccan northern cities still under Spanish rule. Morocco-Greece, Politics, 1/29/1999 - Privatization minister pleads for integrating small firms in productive fabric
These firms generate large numbers of jobs, but did not benefit from any attention of the part of the public and private decision-makes in the past decades, he said. Morocco, Economics, 1/29/1999 - Moroccan government calls Arabs to turn page of the past
Spokesman of the Moroccan government, Khalid Alioua, called the Arab world to turn the page of the past and meet Arab peoples' aspirations for unification. Morocco, Politics, 1/29/1999 - Morocco and Greece conclude decentralization accord
The covenant provides for the consolidation of bilateral cooperation in the fields of liberties, human rights and economic and social development. Morocco-Greece, Politics, 1/29/1999 - Morocco and Niger wish to conclude interim commercial accord
Morocco and Niger voiced hope to conclude an interim commercial accord pending the enforcement of the Economic and Monetary Union of Western Africa (UEMOA). Morocco-Niger, Politics, 1/29/1999 - Rate of 65 percent of Moroccan tv viewers watch local TV programs
A study ordered by the Moroccan communication ministry revealed that programs of the two Moroccan TV channels are watched by 65% of TV viewers. Morocco, Local, 1/29/1999 - Morocco and US Peace Corps agree to jointly support handicraft enterprises
Morocco and the US non-governmental organization, "Peace Corps" agreed to launch a joint program to back handicraft enterprises and NGOs. Morocco-USA, Economics, 1/29/1999 - Morocco sets age for military service at 20
A draft law, approved on Thursday by the weekly government council meeting, stipulates that Moroccans can be fit for military service at the age of 20. Morocco, Military, 1/29/1999 - Moroccan Journalists Wear Armbands, Protest Work, Material Conditions Morocco, Culture, 1/29/1999
- More than 30,500 Saudis visited Morocco in 1998
More than 30,500 Saudis visited Morocco in 1998, ie. an increase of 9.8 percent over the previous year when their number stood at 28,000. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Economics, 1/29/1999 - Asian crisis directly impact Moroccan economy, minister says
Hussein disclosed that the Casablanca financial market recorded a drop of 10 %, entailing thus a "relatively adverse" impact on the flow of foreign capital into the Moroccan market. Morocco, Economics, 1/29/1999 - King Hassan II receives South Korean foreign minister
King Hassan II received on Wednesday evening in Rabat South Korean minister of foreign affairs and trade, Hong Soon-Young, who is currently on an official visit to Morocco. Morocco-South Korea, Politics, 1/28/1999 - Morocco extends assistance to central American countries hit by Mitch cyclone Morocco-Central America, Culture, 1/28/1999
- Morocco and Iran study ways to enhance cultural cooperation
Ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in cultural fields topped talks held here on Wednesday between Moroccan culture minister, Mohamed Al-Achaari, and visiting Iranian peer Mustapha Muain. Morocco-Iran, Politics, 1/28/1999 - Moroccan press union proposes amendments to press laws
The Moroccan press union (SNPM) presented to the Moroccan human rights minister a package of proposals to amend the press laws, the ministry said in a release. Morocco, Politics, 1/28/1999 - Economy minister pleads for maintaining control over foreign exchange
The Moroccan economy and finance minister said lately that the recent financial crisis that rocked several countries in Asia and Latin America incites Morocco to keep on controlling the currencies exchange. Morocco, Economics, 1/28/1999 - Three Drug Traffickers Sentenced to 9-year Imprisonment
The first instance court of Tangiers condemned Tuesday night three drug traffickers to a nine-year imprisonment sentence each and a fine of around $ 2,000. Morocco, Local, 1/28/1999 - Morocco's tourism office in London gets best tourism representation office
British specialized "Travel Weekly" magazine granted to the Moroccan tourism office in London the prize of the best tourism office in Great Britain, ahead of the Egyptian, Cypriot and Tunisian ones. Regional-Morocco, Economics, 1/28/1999 - Morocco and Andalucia to intensify cooperation in fight against forest fire
Morocco and the southern Spanish autonomous government of Andalucia have voiced determination to intensify their cooperation in matters of struggle against forest fire. Morocco-Spain, Environment, 1/28/1999 - Morocco-Niger Joint Commission Meets in Rabat
The Morocco-Niger joint commission is to hold its second session this week in Morocco to debate ways to enhance cooperation ties between the two African nations. Morocco-Niger, Politics, 1/28/1999 - Party calls for foiling plots against Morocco's territorial integrity
A Moroccan political party has called the national forces to foil the plots hatched against Morocco's territorial integrity. Morocco, Politics, 1/27/1999 - Morocco and South Korea sign accords on investment promotion
Morocco and South Korea signed Wednesday in Rabat accords for the promotion of investment and for non-double taxation. Morocco-South Korea, Economics, 1/27/1999 - Moroccan economy minister calls for improving the private sector
"We will consolidate the solidity, security and efficiency of the banking sector and its competitive edge (...). We will also seek to reform the capital market to make of it an efficient tool for the mobilization of savings and the financing of investments," Oualalou said. Morocco, Economics, 1/27/1999 - Fire destroys cardboard plant in Casablanca Morocco, Business, 1/27/1999
- Eleven people jailed for celebrating Eid El-fitr prematurely Morocco, Culture, 1/27/1999
- Attorney of Moroccan gardener to ask for trial revision
Jacques Verges, a French attorney, said he will ask the cassation court to revise the trial of Omar Raddad, a 37-year old Moroccan gardener who was sentenced in 1994 to an 18-year prison term for a murder he has always denied and who was released last September after serving 7 years of the 18 year-prison term. Morocco-France, Judicial, 1/27/1999 - Iranian culture minister arrives in Morocco
Iranian culture and higher education minister, Mustapha Mouline, arrived on Tuesday in Morocco for talks with Moroccan officials on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in scientific fields. Morocco-Iran, Politics, 1/27/1999 - Morocco-Niger Joint Commission Meets in Rabat Morocco-Niger, Politics, 1/27/1999
- President of luxury hotel group denounces transfer to French group
President of luxury hotel group "Dounia-PLM," Abdelhadi Alami, denounced strongly the transfer by the credit bank "CIH" of two units to French group "Accor." Morocco-France, Business, 1/27/1999 - Canada's general governor expected in Morocco next month Morocco-Canada, Politics, 1/27/1999
- Cost of meals distributed in Ramadan reached $ 1.5 million
The cost of meals, distributed during the fasting month of Ramadan, to poorest people reached $ 1.5 million, said Moroccan secretary of state for solidarity and humanitarian action, Hammou Ouhali. Morocco, Culture, 1/27/1999 - Greek home minister expected in Morocco today Morocco-Greece, Politics, 1/27/1999
- Moroccan-Egyptian Business Council meets next month
Morocco and Egypt agreed last month to suppress gradually custom duties reaching 25 % and lower to 22 % taxes exceeding 25 % percent. Morocco-Egypt, Economics, 1/27/1999 - Moroccan party calls for lifting embargo against Iraq
Moroccan leftist party, the Front of Democratic Forces (FFD/ represented in the Moroccan socialist-led government) called for lifting the embargo imposed on Iraq and for respecting its territorial integrity. Morocco, Politics, 1/27/1999 - Three new Moroccan - Egyptian companies
The Moroccan - Egyptian business council will discuss during its coming meetings that will start on February 2 in Casablanca establishing three joint companies in tourism, fishery and maritime transportation Egypt-Morocco, Economics, 1/26/1999 - Moroccan FM says outcome of Arab meeting on Iraq is positive
Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Abdellatif Filali, said the outcome of the meeting held Sunday here by Arab foreign ministers, can be considered as "positive" in view of the present circumstances in the Arab world. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 1/26/1999 - South Korean foreign minister in Morocco Morocco-South Korea, Politics, 1/26/1999
- Moroccan party denounces pressures on Morocco by UN mission
Leader of a Moroccan opposition party denounced "some pressures exerted on Morocco by members of the MINURSO" (UN mission for the holding of a referendum in the Sahara) and called for the participation of all Sahrawi people in the UN projected referendum. Morocco-UN, Politics, 1/26/1999 - Colombia voices backing to Morocco's territorial integrity
At a meeting held on Monday in Rabat with Moroccan peer, Abdelouahed Radi, Emilio Martinez expressed the Columbian people's solidarity with Morocco in the Sahara issue which the Kingdom retrieved from Spain in 1974 Morocco-Colombia, Politics, 1/26/1999 - Moroccan-Saudi business council calls for creating permanent secretariat
The Moroccan-Saudi business council has called for setting up a permanent secretariat in a bid to boost investments in either country. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Business, 1/26/1999 - Giant french company selected for construction of Tangier port
Morocco announced on Monday that it will conduct exclusive negotiations with French Bouygues Group for the construction of a new port near the northern city of Tangiers. Morocco-France, Business, 1/26/1999 - An agreement to dump Israeli nuclear wastes in Mauritania desert
The Moroccan paper "al-Ahdath" has asserted, quoting sources which it described as "well-informed," that there is an agreement between Mauritania and Israel to dump wastes from an Israeli nuclear reactor in the Mauritanian desert. Morocco, Politics, 1/26/1999 - Moroccan public health workers postpone strike
Moroccan public health workers, medicaids and physicians decided on Monday to postpone the two-day strike and march they were planning to stage this January 27 and 28. Morocco, Politics, 1/26/1999 - Moroccan-German trade deficit worsens to Rabat's detriment Morocco-Germany, Economics, 1/26/1999
- Morocco targets 4 million tourists in five coming years Morocco, Economics, 1/26/1999
- Spanish group satisfied over its investments in Morocco
Spanish Mondragon group, which has two affiliates in Morocco, voiced satisfaction over its investments in Morocco. Morocco-Spain, Business, 1/26/1999 - Morocco to eradicate leprosy by 2010
Morocco has made great strides in the fight against Leprosy, which is expected to be totally eradicated in the North African country by the year 2010. Morocco, Health, 1/25/1999 - Italian institute to enhance industrial investment in Morocco
The Rome-based Italian Institute of Foreign Trade and the Moroccan Office For Industrial Development signed last week here an accord for the promotion and attraction of Italian industrial investments to Morocco. Morocco-Italy, Economics, 1/25/1999 - Speaker of Colombia's house of representatives in Morocco
Speaker of the Colombian House of Representatives, Emilio Martinez Rosales, started Saturday a visit to Morocco for talks with Moroccan MPs on ways of boosting cooperation between the two countries' legislative bodies. Morocco-Colombia, Politics, 1/25/1999 - Moroccan foreign minister confers with Arab peers
Moroccan Foreign Minister Abdellatif Filali, who was in Cairo to take part in the Arab ministerial meeting held on Sunday, conferred with several Arab peers on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and on the situation in the Arab world. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 1/25/1999