Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 3/8/1999
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of March 8, 1999
- President Ben Ali starts first official visit to Morocco
The creation of a bilateral free trade area will be one of the major topics to be discussed during Ben Ali's visit. Tunisia-Morocco, Politics, 3/13/1999 - France ready to assist Morocco increase debt swapping rate
France said it was ready to assist Morocco increase to over 30 percent its debt swapping rate, set by the Paris Club at 20 percent. Morocco-France, Economics, 3/13/1999 - Morocco competes with Nigeria, Ghana in bid for 2000 African nations cup
Morocco is competing with Nigeria and Ghana to host the 2000 African Nations Cup of Football that the African Football Confederation (CAF) withdrew from Zimbabwe. Morocco-Africa, Sports, 3/13/1999 - Moroccan-Iranian legislative cooperation examined
Ways to enhance Moroccan-Iranian cooperation in legislative fields topped talks held in Rabat on Friday between speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives (lower house), Abdelouahed Radi, and vice-speaker of the Iranian Shoura Council, Hassan Rouhani. Morocco-Iran, Politics, 3/13/1999 - No Moroccan pilgrim has applied to visit al-Quds after pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia
Morocco said no Moroccan pilgrim has so far registered to visit al-Quds Asharif (Jerusalem) after pilgrimage to Islam's holy shrines in Saudi Arabia. Morocco, Religion, 3/13/1999 - Over 170 kg of Chira seized in Morocco Morocco, Judicial, 3/13/1999
- Moroccan U-20 football team beats USA in second friendly Morocco-USA, Sports, 3/13/1999
- Morocco, Andorra to sign accord on inmates repatriation Morocco-Andorra, Politics, 3/13/1999
- Andalucia parliament speaker in Morocco Morocco-Spain, Politics, 3/13/1999
- French group to build tourist center in Casablanca Morocco-France, Business, 3/13/1999
- US official denies visit to US State Department by president of self-proclaimed Sahrawi republic
A US official source denied Thursday that Mohamed Abdelaziz, president of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi republic, would be received at the US State Department. Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/12/1999 - Moroccan-Tunisian joint information commission meets in Rabat
The Moroccan-Tunisian joint commission for cooperation in information is currently holding its first session in Rabat to look into ways of bolstering this cooperation. Morocco-Tunisia, Economics, 3/12/1999 - U.S. Operation Smile Flying Hospital lands in Morocco to operate on Moroccan children with facial deformities
The Flying Hospital of the U.S Operation Smile is currently on the ground at the international airport of Casablanca to operate on Moroccan children suffering from facial deformities. Morocco-USA, Health, 3/12/1999 - Moroccan university concludes scientific agreement with US Lucent Technologies
Morocco's private Al Akhawayn University and Bell Laboratories, a branch of Lucent Technologies specialized in research and development, signed in Rabat Wednesday a partnership agreement in telecommunications research. Morocco, Economics, 3/12/1999 - Three million dollars earmarked for restoring charity centers
A total of $3 million (28.6 million dh) will be earmarked to restore 130 charity centers in Morocco, a committee supervising an anti-poverty fund-raising campaign announced. Morocco, Economics, 3/12/1999 - French group builds cement plant in northern Morocco
The French Lafarge group will build a cement plant in Morocco's northern region, the Paris-based group announced on Wednesday. Morocco, Business, 3/12/1999 - Morocco does not want referendum delay, says government spokesman
The Moroccan government spokesman told reporters after the Cabinet's weekly meeting that setting the referendum date depends on the implementation of the UN settlement process in the Sahara. Morocco, Politics, 3/12/1999 - 16.4 percent of Moroccan households are led by women
In Morocco, 16.4 % of households are led by women, according to the findings of a national survey conducted in 1997-98 by the statistics department. Morocco, Culture, 3/12/1999 - Moroccan movie gets prize at African cinema festival
The Moroccan movie "Femmes et...Femmes" by Said Chraibi was awarded the UNICEF prize for the promotion of woman during the latest festival for African cinema "FESPACO" held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from February 27 through March 6. Morocco-Africa, Culture, 3/12/1999 - Administrative board of multi-cultural foundation holds meeting in Seville
The Foundation of Three Cultures that was set up at the initiative of Morocco held the first session of its administrative board here recently. Morocco-International, Culture, 3/12/1999 - Moroccan clubs start contests in three African cups
Three Moroccan leading clubs will start as of this weekend competing in three African cups. Morocco-North Africa, Sports, 3/12/1999 - President of Senegal to pay official visit to Morocco shortly, press
Senegalese weekly "Le Temoin" published in its latest release a story on Moroccan-Senegalese "privileged" relations wherein it said that President Abdou Diouf would pay an official visit to Morocco. Morocco-Senegal, Politics, 3/12/1999 - Islamic bank loans Morocco's water board $28.4 million
The Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank has granted to the Moroccan water board "ONEP" a loan of $28.4 million (273 million dh) to finance a drinking water project in Taza (318 km east of Rabat). Morocco, Politics, 3/12/1999 - Morocco and Iran for enhanced economic and cultural relations
Morocco and Iran expressed hope that their relations in the fields of economy, finance and culture would be enhanced Morocco-Iran, Politics, 3/11/1999 - Referendum in Sahara will be held in march 2000, minister says
The Moroccan minister of the interior said the referendum in the Sahara will be held in March 2000 "Morocco will go to the referendum at any cost," Morocco, Politics, 3/11/1999 - Morocco will count on its own resources in Fisheries
Morocco has opted for an approach to count on its own means to manage and exploit its sea fisheries, said here Wednesday Moroccan fisheries minister, Thami Khyari. Morocco, Economics, 3/11/1999 - Moroccan political parties denounce sanctions against Iraqi people as unfair decision
Four Moroccan political parties have denounced the embargo decreed against Iraq as an unfair decision and contrary to human values and called for lifting the sanctions imposed on the Iraqi people Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 3/11/1999 - Palestinian official describes as positive and needed the trip of Moroccan pilgrims to Jerusalem
Palestinian official in charge of Al-Quds (Jerusalem), Faysal Al-Husseini, described Morocco's decision to send Moroccan pilgrims on a trip to Al Quds as a positive and needed initiative Palestine-Morocco, Economics, 3/11/1999 - Morocco and WB draw plan to promote women's participation in sustained development Morocco, Politics, 3/11/1999
- King al-Hassan II of Morocco discusses with Indyk conditions in the Gulf, Sahara peace
Moroccan King Hassan II on Tuesday held with the US Under Secretary of State Martin Indyk, currently visiting Morocco in the course of a tour on Turkey, Jordan and Syria. Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/10/1999 - Morocco's diplomacy was not active enough to explain Morocco's position on Sahara, minister says
A Moroccan minister said the Moroccan diplomacy was not active enough to explain Morocco's position regarding its southern provinces. Morocco, Politics, 3/10/1999 - Morocco and U.S will boost bilateral cooperation, U.S diplomat says
Morocco and the USA will devise a program to boost their bilateral cooperation and protect their joint interests, the U.S ambassador to Morocco said. Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/10/1999 - Next Algerian president shall address relations with Morocco, minister says
The Algerian president to be elected next April shall have to address Algiers' relations with Morocco and with the other Maghreban countries, a Moroccan minister said. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/10/1999 - Moroccan-French cooperation discussed at follow-up meeting in Rabat
Various aspects of Moroccan-French cooperation will be discussed this wednesday in Rabat by the two countries' senior officials. Morocco-France, Politics, 3/10/1999 - Iranian parliamentary delegation in Rabat
Vice-speaker of the Iranian parliament, Hassan Rouhani, arrived in Rabat on Tuesday for a four-day visit to Morocco. The Iranian MP, who is also chairman of the foreign affairs committee, told reporters that his visit is mainly aimed at consolidating solidarity among Islamic countries. Morocco-Iran, Politics, 3/10/1999 - Environment protection fair held in Casablanca
A fair on environment protection dubbed "Enviro Maroc 99" is being held in Casablanca this March 8-10. The fair, co-sponsored by Morocco and Germany, is the first of the kind ever held in the kingdom. Regional-Morocco, Environment, 3/10/1999 - French Alstom struck 550 million dh deal with moroccan railway company Morocco-France, Business, 3/10/1999
- Moroccan crown prince in Bahrain to convey condolences Bahrain-Morocco, Politics, 3/10/1999
- US assistant secretary of state expected in Morocco today
US assistant secretary of state for the Middle East, Martin Indyk, is expected this Tuesday in Morocco, a US authorized source announced. Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/9/1999 - Women's World Day: prime minister sets up body to promote women's status
Youssoufi said a society in which women do not enjoy civil, social and political rights on an equal footing as men will not be able to achieve socioeconomic development. Morocco, Culture, 3/9/1999 - Morocco seeks civilized settlement to Spanish-controlled cities issue, Moroccan speaker says
Morocco seeks a "civilized" settlement to the issue of Sebta and Mellilia, two Moroccan northern cities under Spanish rule, the speaker of the Moroccan chamber of advisors (upper house) said. Morocco-International, Politics, 3/9/1999 - King Hassan II advocates new educational system matching training to employment
This new system, the king pointed out, must mainly ensure equality of chances to all and dispense fundamental knowledge to all Moroccans to relieve them from the grips of ignorance, spare them illiteracy and endow them with a basic education so that they will be useful to themselves, to their relatives and to their homeland. Morocco, Education, 3/9/1999 - Youssoufi calls for setting up Morocco-New Zealand business council
Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi called Monday for the establishment of a Morocco-New Zealand business council that will contribute to building up genuine partnership between the two countries. Morocco-New Zealand, Economics, 3/9/1999 - Iranian delegation expected in Morocco
An Iranian delegation, led by vice-speaker of the "Shoura" council (parliament) and chairman of the council's foreign committee, Hassan Rouhani, is expected in Morocco this March 9-13, it was officially announced in Rabat. Morocco-Iran, Politics, 3/9/1999 - Agadir hosts international workshop on safeguard of bald ibis
Experts from several Arab and European countries are currently meeting in the southern Moroccan city of Agadir to examine means of safeguarding the endangered bald ibis. Morocco-International, Environment, 3/9/1999 - Polisario leaders skim international assistance, Spanish daily
A Spanish wide-circulation daily reported that the Polisario has skimmed 64 million Pesetas in aid, initially extended to buy female camels. Morocco, Politics, 3/9/1999 - African bank operations in Morocco will match the country's options, bank chairman
The African Development Bank's operations in Morocco, in the 1999-2001 period, will be conform to the five-year plan that is being drafted by the government, said Omar Kabbaj, chairman of the Abidjan-based ADB. Morocco-Africa, Economics, 3/9/1999 - Moroccan house speaker renews Rabat's adherence to resuming brotherly ties with Algeria Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/9/1999
- Morocco's government pledges to revise women's rights
The UAF Chairwoman, Latifa Jbabdi, explained that the legal status of Moroccan women, who are considered by the law as minors throughout their life, marks a wide gap between Morocco's yearning for modernity and the reality. Morocco, Culture, 3/8/1999 - There are no political prisoners in Morocco, Minister
"There are no longer any political detainees in Moroccan prisons," after "the release of a group of persons proposed by the Human Rights Consultative Council," said Moroccan minister in charge of relations with the parliament, Mohamed Bouzoubaa. Morocco, Politics, 3/8/1999 - Moroccan journalists union opposes normalization with Israel Morocco, Culture, 3/8/1999
- Moroccan premier dedicates Nice international fair
Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, dedicated on Saturday the international fair of the French southern city of Nice, giving thus the kick to the economic component of "Morocco's Season" (Le Temps du Maroc) in France. Morocco-France, Economics, 3/8/1999 - Tunisian president's coming visit to Morocco will positively impact Arab Maghreb, diplomat
The diplomat recalled that the two states are projecting to sign an agreement setting up a free trade area, pointing out that the agreement will be a basis for free trade exchanges between all the states of the Arab Maghreb. Tunisia-Morocco, Politics, 3/8/1999 - Moroccan house speaker calls for Mediterranean charter to avert wars in the region
Speaker of the Moroccan House of representatives (Lower house), Abdelouahed Radi, called for the elaboration of a Mediterranean charter to avert wars in the Mediterranean region. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 3/8/1999 - Morocco wins one silver medal, ranks 20th in world indoor athletics championships
Female Athlete Zahra Ouaziz saved Morocco's honor during the Baebashi's World indoor championships in Athletics, when she won a silver medal on 3000 m allowing her country to rank 20th among world teams. Morocco, Sports, 3/8/1999 - International Institutions Loan Morocco $ 600 Mln, Minister Says Morocco, Economics, 3/8/1999