Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 12/6/1999
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of December 6, 1999
- King renews Morocco's attachment to human rights as they are universally recognized
A new concept of the authority is being defined so that the authority will be at the service of citizens, close to their concerns and needs, and maintain with them relations of mutual respect and complementarity. The king also said that any person, community or administration violating the law shall be punished. Morocco, Politics, 12/11/1999 - King Mohammed receives Palestinian official
King Mohammed VI received on Friday Mahmoud Abou Abbas, secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Palestine-Morocco, Politics, 12/11/1999 - King Mohammed renews solidarity with Iraqi people
King Mohammed VI renewed solidarity with the Iraqi people and prayed the almighty to help them overcome the hardships and sufferings they are enduring. Morocco-Iraq-International, Religion, 12/11/1999 - Prince Moulay Rachid to chair committee of Morocco's candidacy to host 2006 soccer World Cup
King Mohammed VI has entrusted to his younger brother prince Moulay Rachid the chairmanship of the national committee of Morocco's candidacy to host the 2006 soccer World Cup, it was officially announced in Rabat this Saturday. Morocco, Sports, 12/11/1999 - International tourism group to build tourism and spa compound in Morocco
An international tourism group, "Palais des Roses" (Palace of Roses), will build a tourism compound in the Moroccan Atlantic Ocean resort of Agadir, for an initial investment of $22 million. Morocco, Business, 12/11/1999 - Moroccan writer among goodwill ambassadors against racism
Moroccan writer Tahar Benjelloun was named in Geneva on Friday goodwill ambassador to promote awareness for the world conference against racism to be held in 2001 in South Africa. Morocco-International, Culture, 12/11/1999 - Death toll of Fez collapsed building rises to 47
Forty seven people have been killed in the collapse early Wednesday of the five-story building in Fez, according to estimates that are almost final as there remains little hope to unearth more living persons from the rubble. Morocco, Local, 12/11/1999 - European bank extends Morocco 87 million euros in loans
The European Investment Bank (EIB) on Friday extended Morocco two loans of a total value of 87 million euros. Morocco, Economics, 12/11/1999 - Moroccan and Algerian universities to exchange expertise in legacy protection
Moroccan and Algerian that are universities members of the UNESCO forum will meet next year in Algeria to exchange expertise in patrimony protection. Morocco-Algeria, Culture, 12/10/1999 - Government announces inquiry on Fez building collapse
Minister in charge of relations with parliament Mohamed Bouzoubaa, standing for the government spokesman, said Thursday local authorities were questioning people in an inquiry to pinpoint responsibility in the collapse early Wednesday of a building in Fez that killed 31 people. Morocco, Local, 12/10/1999 - Morocco ready for year 2000 bug Morocco, Politics, 12/10/1999
- Japan finances water supply project in northern Morocco Morocco-Japan, Economics, 12/10/1999
- Port traffic increases by 8.6%
The overall traffic in Moroccan ports reached from January to October 1999 some 43.7 million tons, recording an increase of 8.6% compared to the same period the previous year. Morocco, Economics, 12/10/1999 - Moroccan government renews resolve to move forward in rule of law consolidation
The Moroccan government renewed resolve to move forward in consolidating the rule of the law and the protection of human rights in cooperation with all institutions and organizations. Morocco, Politics, 12/10/1999 - Moroccan Human Rights Association voices will to carry on struggle for human dignity
The Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH) expressed its intention to continue its struggle, together with other human rights bodies, to fulfill all its claims and defend human dignity. Morocco, Politics, 12/10/1999 - Italy to swap $100 million Moroccan debt in investments
Italy has decided to swap $100 million in debts owed by Morocco into investments by Italian small and medium-sized enterprises, said the chairman of the Arab-Italian Chamber of Commerce, Sergio Mariani. Morocco-Italy, Economics, 12/10/1999 - Women's solidarity meeting in Casablanca next January
The second women's solidarity meeting will be held in Casablanca next January 13-21 on the topic "Women, partner in rural development and struggle against poverty." Morocco, Politics, 12/10/1999 - 6.5 million m3 of water stored in Moroccan dams' reservoirs Morocco, Economics, 12/10/1999
- Moroccan democratic bloc determined to carry on joint action
Four Moroccan political parties gathered in the democratic Koutla (Arabic name for bloc) voiced determination to carry on their action within this bloc. Morocco, Politics, 12/10/1999 - Government wants social dialogue resumption
The minister told the press the government would stick to social dialogue as an efficient means of solving problems and deplored the "transient crisis." He urged all parts to look for a new approach to dialogue "avoiding confrontation" and enabling the country to "take up development challenges." Morocco, Politics, 12/10/1999 - Morocco, Japan hold African seminar on road maintenance Morocco-Japan, Economics, 12/10/1999
- Moroccan 2006 World Cup campaign in sub-Saharan countries
The high commissioner in charge of the promotion of the Moroccan bid to host soccer's World Cup final rounds in the year 2006, Driss Benhima, is expected Tuesday in Dakar, the first leg of a sub-Saharan tour to 15 African countries. Morocco, Sports, 12/10/1999 - Moroccan court decides temporary release for Spanish truck driver accused of drug trafficking
A court of Tangiers (northern Morocco) granted Thursday temporary freedom to a Spanish truck driver, accused of drug trafficking, and postponed the trial to next Thursday. Morocco, Judicial, 12/10/1999 - Morocco attends conference on struggle against organized crime
A delegation from the Moroccan Senate takes part, Dec 9-10 in Geneva, in the works of the conference on the struggle against organized crime in the era of globalization. Morocco-International, Politics, 12/10/1999 - King Mohammed congratules Nujoma on reelection Morocco-Namibia, Politics, 12/9/1999
- New interior minister unveils policy in TV program
Moroccans should free themselves from the ascendancy of the past and mobilize around the king to take up the challenges thrown at the kingdom, said Interior Minister Ahmed Midaoui. Morocco, Politics, 12/9/1999 - First corporate law institute in Morocco dedicated
A corporate law higher institute, the first of the kind ever in Morocco, has been dedicated on Wednesday in Casablanca. Morocco, Business, 12/9/1999 - King Mohammed chairs Sahara follow-up committee meeting
King Mohammed VI chaired in Rabat Wednesday a meeting of the Saharan affairs follow-up committee, said spokesman of the royal palace Hassan Aourid. Morocco, Politics, 12/9/1999 - State to sell its shares in Moroccan car-assembling company
The Moroccan state will sell to the private sector the 38% of shares it holds in the car-assembling company "SOMACA," it was officially announced in Rabat. Morocco, Business, 12/9/1999 - Moroccan-European Commission cooperation assessed at news conference
Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Fathallah Oualalou and the head of the European Commission delegation in Rabat, Lucio Guerrato, assessed at a joint news conference in Rabat on Wednesday cooperation between Morocco and the European Commission, especially in the framework of the MEDA program. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 12/9/1999 - USFP Attends Limassol Euro-Mediterranean Forum Morocco, Politics, 12/9/1999
- Morocco represented at swearing-in ceremony of Argentina's president-elect
King Mohammed VI will be represented at the swearing-in ceremony of the Argentinean president-elect Fernando De La Rua by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa. Morocco-Argentina, Politics, 12/9/1999 - Ramadan begins in Morocco Friday
The holy month of Ramadan begins in Morocco on Friday, it was officially announced in Rabat. Morocco, Religion, 12/9/1999 - Building collapses killing 27 in Fez
A five-storey building collapsed early Wednesday morning in the popular Ben Debbab district of Fez killing 27. Morocco, Local, 12/9/1999 - Italy studies possibility of allocating quota of permanent work visas for Moroccans
The Italian government is studying the possibility of allocating to Moroccans an annual quota of 1,000 to 2,000 permanent work visas, Italian Ambassador Guido Martini, announced. Morocco-Italy, Politics, 12/9/1999 - Little possibility of holding referendum in Sahara before 2002, UN secretary general
There is little possibility of holding the referendum in the Sahara before 2002 or even later, said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Morocco, Politics, 12/8/1999 - Conflict settlement a prerequisite to lasting development in Africa, Moroccan foreign minister says
The settlement of conflicts in Africa is a pre-requisite for a harmonious and lasting development in Africa. The statement was made by Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mohamed Benaissa, who took part in the ministerial follow-up meeting of the France-Africa summit conference, held in Paris on December 7. Morocco, Politics, 12/8/1999 - Nearly 200,000 persons identified as voters in referendum in Sahara since 1994
The total number of persons identified as would-be voters in the referendum the U.N is projecting to hold in the Sahara has reached 190,023 since the identification operation started in 1994. Morocco-UN, Politics, 12/8/1999 - Moroccan premier meets head of Spanish opposition
Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi met in Rabat Tuesday with the secretary general of the Spanish Labor Socialist Party (PSOE, opposition), Joaquim Almunia, who arrived on the same day in Morocco. Morocco, Politics, 12/8/1999 - Gas storage terminal in El Jadida Morocco, Business, 12/8/1999
- Morocco, Bulgaria sign cooperation agreement
Morocco and Bulgaria signed in Rabat on Tuesday a cooperation agreement to promote and develop relations in agriculture and forests. Morocco-Bulgaria, Politics, 12/8/1999 - Moroccan university to set up UNESCO chair
A UNESCO chair for legacy education will be set up shortly in Al Akhawayn University, the university's president, Rachid Belmokhtar, announced. Morocco-International, Culture, 12/8/1999 - Strike in medical and pharmacy schools of Rabat, Casablanca
The medical and pharmacy schools of Rabat and Casablanca started today a two-day strike in all departments, except in emergency wards. Morocco, Economics, 12/8/1999 - Hassan II Arabian horse trophy awarded In Paris
The Hassan II Trophies rewarding the best Arabian horse, junior and senior male and female categories, for the year 1999 were handed out in Paris Monday by ambassador Hassan Abouyoub. Morocco-France, Culture, 12/8/1999 - Tourism brigade in Agadir gets beach motorcycles Morocco, Economics, 12/8/1999
- A $640 million budget surplus for the 1999 July-October period
The Moroccan budget recorded a surplus of 6.4 billion dhs ($640 mln) in the first 4 months of the 1999-2000 exercise, starting in July 99, said figures released by the economy and finance department. Morocco, Economics, 12/8/1999 - King's advisor at Mideast conference in Germany
Adviser to King Mohammed VI, Andre Azoulay, takes part in the Kronberg Mideast conference which looks Dec 7-9 into "Europe and the Middle East: Stages to go for stability of the mutually accepted process." Morocco-International, Politics, 12/8/1999 - Morocco, Tunisia sign agreement for industrial cooperation Morocco-Tunisia, Economics, 12/7/1999
- Moroccan bank reduces interest rates for investment loans Morocco, Business, 12/7/1999
- French coach Troussier made ambassador for Morocco's World Cup bid
Renowned French coach Philippe Troussier was made ambassador for the promotion of Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. Morocco, Sports, 12/7/1999 - Morocco raises $15.8 million in anti-poverty campaign
Morocco raised $15.8 million in in-kind and cash donations during the second national campaign of struggle against poverty, the governing board of the Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation said on Monday. Morocco, Economics, 12/7/1999 - New technologies to fill in Moroccan development gap
New technologies are a genuine "historic opportunity" for Morocco to catch up with developed countries, said economic adviser to the king, Andre Azoulay, in Bonn on Monday. Morocco, Economics, 12/7/1999 - Morocco pledges to settle joblessness in southern provinces
Moroccan Employment Minister Khalid Alioua said on Monday that the joblessness issue in the southern province of Laayoune will be settled "very shortly." Morocco, Economics, 12/7/1999 - Morocco, Bulgaria to start enforcing non-double taxation agreement
Morocco and Bulgaria exchanged in Rabat on Monday the ratification documents of a non-double taxation agreement, signed in 1996 in Bulgaria's capital city of Sofia. Morocco-Bulgaria, Economics, 12/7/1999 - Cactus cultivation project in Marrakesh region
Morocco is studying the possibility of cultivating cactus over 4,000 hectares in the Rehamna region near Marrakesh. Morocco, Agriculture, 12/7/1999 - Head of Spanish opposition visits Morocco
Secretary general of the Spanish Labor Socialist Party (PSOE, opposition), Joaquim Almunia, started this Tuesday a two-day visit to Morocco, at the invitation of Moroccan Premier, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, who heads the Moroccan Socialist Party (USFP). Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/7/1999 - Morocco braced for post fishing accord reprisals
Fisheries Minister Thami Khyari said Monday that several countries outside the European Union have invited the kingdom to talks on fishing rights in Moroccan waters. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 12/7/1999 - German man arrested in Tangiers in possession of drugs Morocco-Germany, Local, 12/7/1999
- Moroccan philosopher passes away Morocco, People, 12/7/1999
- Morocco plays Gambia in World Cup preliminary match
Morocco will play Gambia in a preliminary match for the 2002 World Cup, to be co-hosted by Japan and South Korea. Morocco, Sports, 12/7/1999 - European MEDA committee contributes $1.7 million to Moroccan housing project
The MEDA Committee of the European Union has earmarked $1.7 million to back a Moroccan housing project in the northern city of Tangier. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 12/7/1999 - UNESCO holds 4th legacy forum in Morocco
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is holding in this Moroccan mountain resort, 200 km northeast of Rabat, its 4th forum on "university and legacy" which opened this Monday. Morocco, Politics, 12/6/1999 - Morocco opens disabled children integration center in north Morocco, Culture, 12/6/1999
- Morocco, UAE discuss cooperation in disabled persons issues
The Moroccan secretary of state for disabled persons, Nouzha Chekrouni, paid a visit last week to the United Arab Emirates, where she conferred with several UAE officials on cooperation in disabled persons-related issues. United Arab Emirates-Morocco, Culture, 12/6/1999 - Melilia opens first bookshop of Arabic and Spanish books on Islam
The first bookshop specialized in books on Islam and Islamic culture published in the Arabic and Spanish languages has opened in the Moroccan northern town of Melilia, under Spanish rule. Morocco-Spain, Religion, 12/6/1999 - African Mothers' Association at UN raises funds for Moroccan project
The United Nations African Mothers' Association (UNAMA) organized last week a fund-raising lunch to finance a training center for Moroccan disabled women and young girls. Morocco, Politics, 12/6/1999 - Moroccan teachers on strike, government voice surprise Morocco, Economics, 12/6/1999
- Top Polisario figure defects separatists, joins Mauritania, daily
A Moroccan daily reported this Monday that Bachir Mustapha Sayed, former foreign minister of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), has defected the Polisario and joined Mauritania. Morocco, Politics, 12/6/1999 - Cote d'Ivoire's president hails late King Hassan II's efforts for territorial integrity
President Henri Konan Bedie of Cote D'Ivoire hailed as "considerable" the work made by late King Hassan II to consolidate Morocco's independence and highlighted the Green March initiated by the late sovereign to recover the southern provinces. Morocco-Cote D'Ivoire, Politics, 12/6/1999 - PPS party supports government's plan for women integration in development
There are 89% of women who are illiterate in rural areas where poverty affects mostly women's and children's health and well being. Morocco also has a higher maternal mortality rate than its neighbors. Women also suffer from an unfair legal status despite the increasing numbers of working women. However, women's empowerment is still low, placing Morocco among the last three African countries in terms of women represented in the parliament or in the government. Morocco, Politics, 12/6/1999 - Morocco among seeded nations in African World Cup preliminary heats
Morocco was chosen among the 25 African seeded nations for the preliminary heats of the 2002 World Cup, to be co-hosted by Japan and South Korea. Morocco, Sports, 12/6/1999 - Omnium Nord Africain Corp. contributes to Morocco's World Cup bid
Morocco's largest private group, Omnium Nord Africain (ONA) has agreed to contribute to Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. Morocco, Sports, 12/6/1999