Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 12/20/1999
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of December 20, 1999
- Al-Sharaa confers with new Moroccan ambassador Morocco-Syria, Politics, 12/24/1999
- Morocco sets up prison-watch NGO
The national prison observatory OMP, a newly set up prison-watch NGO, held here Thursday a press-conference to highlight objectives and strategy for the defense of inmates' rights and upgrading of standards in detention. Morocco, Politics, 12/24/1999 - MP Stripped of Immunity for Bouncing Cheque
An Mp at the Moroccan House of Representatives (lower chamber of parliament) was stripped of parliamentary immunity for delivering bouncing cheques. Morocco, Politics, 12/24/1999 - King Mohammed represented at Niger president-elect's swearing-in ceremony
King Mohammed VI was represented at the swearing in ceremony of the president-elect of Niger, Mamadou Tandja, by Minister of Agriculture Habib Malki. Morocco-Niger, Politics, 12/23/1999 - Moroccan premier receives message from Indian peer
Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi received a message from his Indian peer, Atal Behari Vajpayee. Morocco-India, Politics, 12/23/1999 - King Mohammed condoles Algerian president over quake
King Mohammed VI sent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika a condolence message following the earth quake that jolted Algeria, claiming 28 lives. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 12/23/1999 - King Mohammed gets For Grenada 1999 prize
King Mohammed VI was awarded in Grenada Wednesday the honorary "For Grenada 1999" prize by the Grenada radio-stations network "Ser." Official spokesman of the Royal Palace Hassan Aourid, who received the prize on behalf of the king at the "Al Hamra" palace, said it spelt support to democratic changes undertaken by the king since coming to power aiming for democracy under the rule of the law. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/23/1999 - King Mohammed back in Rabat Morocco, Politics, 12/23/1999
- Prime minister attends Bethlehem 2000 festivities
Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi heads this Thursday to the Palestinian territories, where he will take part in the Bethlehem 2000 festivities, organized by the Palestinian government, it was officially announced in Rabat. Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 12/23/1999 - Gabon's president voices full backing for Morocco's World Cup football bid
President Haj Omar Bongo of Gabon on Wednesday voiced full backing to Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup football finals. Morocco, Sports, 12/23/1999 - Anti-corruption committee meets
The Moroccan follow-up committee of struggle against corruption met in Rabat on Wednesday to prepare strategies for the fight against corruption. Morocco, Politics, 12/23/1999 - Moroccan ship owners want to be part in reflection
In the wake of the visit to Morocco of the European commissioner for agriculture and fisheries, Franz Fischler, Moroccan ship owners said Wednesday they should be involved in any reflection on cooperation prospects in fisheries with EU. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 12/23/1999 - Mozambican president congratulated for reelection Morocco-Mozambique, Politics, 12/23/1999
- Morocco ties with Senegal in trial match Morocco-Senegal, Sports, 12/23/1999
- Government ready to resume social dialogue
In a debate hosted by the weekly "La Vie Economique," Alioua said each union will have the possibility of starting sectorial negotiations to pave the way for an economic and social policy. The main problem, he said, is the unfair spread of wealth in the country which requires a new process based on consensus. Morocco, Politics, 12/23/1999 - Reforms spur growth in Morocco
The reforms operated by Morocco in the 1990s have enabled it to double economic growth in the country, the London-based business daily Financial Times wrote. Morocco, Economics, 12/23/1999 - Morocco still leading Africa on FIFA rankings
Morocco is still topping all African and Arab states on the FIFA rankings of December. Morocco comes in 24th with 615 points followed by South Africa (30th) with 597 points. Brazil won FIFA's team of the year award for the sixth successive time. Morocco, Sports, 12/23/1999 - A quake in eastern Morocco, no losses incurred Morocco, Politics, 12/23/1999
- Moroccan-Portuguese trade exchanges on the rise
Portugal's imports from Morocco during the first eight months of 1999 amounted to 7.55 billion Escudos, compared to 6.58 billion the previous year, recording an increase of 14.6%. Morocco-Portugal, Economics, 12/23/1999 - Research ship to help build Moroccan foundation for use of sea resources
Morocco will get by March 31, 2001 a $ 11-million research ship built in Japanese shipyards to upgrade scientific research and secure the autonomy of works conducted on pelagics in Moroccan waters. Morocco, Science, 12/23/1999 - Spanish fishery minister disappointed yet upbeat
Spanish Agriculture and Fishery Minister Jesus Posada said Wednesday he was upbeat as to the final outcome of Morocco-UE talks on a fishing agreement yet voiced disappointment when no date for talks was announced at the end of the visit to the kingdom of commissioner Franz Fischler. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/23/1999 - Morocco, association of Caribbean states sign accord Morocco-International, Politics, 12/23/1999
- Coca Cola grants $1.2 to Morocco's football teams
Coca Cola-Maroc will grant the Moroccan first and olympic football teams $1.2 million. Morocco, Sports, 12/23/1999 - Morocco, EU to consider separately fishery cooperation
Morocco and the European Union will be exploring separately new ways and opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the field of fisheries, said premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi after a meeting with European commissioner for agriculture and fisheries, Franz Fischler. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 12/22/1999 - Gulf tour by the Moroccan king Morocco-Gulf, Politics, 12/22/1999
- King Mohammed visits Fez Morocco, Politics, 12/22/1999
- Administrative red tape limits German investments in Morocco
Administrative red tape and the absence of promotion campaign on Morocco in Germany limits German investments in the kingdom, said German ambassador to Rabat, Hans-Dieter Scheel. Morocco-Germany, Economics, 12/22/1999 - Youssoufi: Government is working to diminish pockets of resistance to change
Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi has insisted that his center-left coalition government is trying to diminish the "pockets of resistance" that hamper the process of change in Morocco. Morocco, Politics, 12/22/1999 - Moroccan banks still mainly serve an elite clientele
Although Morocco's banks have established a stable and modernizing sector, they remain an industry serving the elite and still unable to play the intermediation role required to accelerate economic growth and sufficient jobs, the Financial Times wrote on Monday. Morocco, Economics, 12/22/1999 - Finance minister blames economy ailments on low growth, poverty, heavy debt
The Moroccan economy and finance minister, Fathallah Oualalou, has said that low growth rate, poverty and heavy debts are the major cause behind the malfunctioning of the Moroccan economy. Morocco, Economics, 12/22/1999 - Moroccan media call Spain to follow Portugal's example in Macau and liberate Sebta and Melillia
The Moroccan media have called Spain to follow the example of Portugal which put an end to 442 years of colonial rule in Macau and handed back the territory to China and end the occupation of the Northern Moroccan cities of Sebta and Melillia and the neighboring islands. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/22/1999 - Morocco, a very strong world football cup bidder, German diplomat
Morocco is "a very strong" candidate to host the final rounds of the 2006 World football Cup, German Ambassador to Morocco, Hans-Dieter Scheel, said. Morocco-Germany, Sports, 12/22/1999 - Majority of Moroccans back Youssoufi's Policy
The majority of Moroccans back the policy of the Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi and think that he is able to lead the government into the 21st Century Morocco, Politics, 12/22/1999 - North Korean ambassador hands copies of credentials to foreign minister Morocco-North Korea, Politics, 12/22/1999
- World Football Cup 2006: Royal messages to Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon presidents
A Moroccan delegation, currently touring Africa to sway backing to Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup football finals, handed separate messages to presidents Teodoro Obiang NGuema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea and Paul Biya of Cameroon. Morocco, Politics, 12/22/1999 - Morocco sends urgent humanitarian assistance to Venezuela
Morocco has decided to send an urgent humanitarian assistance to Venezuela to alleviate the suffering incurred by the population following floods and landslides. Morocco-Venezuela, Economics, 12/21/1999 - Morocco, Mali underline importance of inter-culture dialogue
Malian Minister of Culture and Tourism Amina Traore, who is currently on a visit to Morocco, held talks in Rabat last week with her Moroccan peer, Mohammed Achaari, on the firm historic cultural ties binding the two countries. Morocco-Mali, Politics, 12/21/1999 - Marrakesh received over 84,000 visitors in November
The number of tourists who have visited Marrakesh in November reached 84,204, an increase of 19% in comparison with last year. Morocco, Economics, 12/21/1999 - Morocco's El-Guerrouj wins French prize Morocco, Sports, 12/21/1999
- Rabat hosts colloquy on the late King Hassan II
A colloquy on the political and human dimension of the late King Hassan II and on his stands on Islamic issues is being held in Rabat with the participation of scholars from all over the Islamic world. Morocco, Politics, 12/21/1999 - Royal family says it has no responsibility in Filali's affair
The royal family says that it has no responsibility whatsoever in the case of Fouad Filali, that he is no longer linked to the royal family and that his problems fall within the scope of justice, the official spokesman of the Royal Palace, Hassan Aourid, said over the weekend. Morocco, Local, 12/21/1999 - Banks union calls for sit-in Morocco, Politics, 12/21/1999
- Football: Burkina Faso upbeat over Morocco's World Cup bid
Burkina Faso said it was upbeat over Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup soccer finals. Morocco, Sports, 12/21/1999 - Eight Moroccan illegal emigrants arrested in Spain Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/21/1999
- Morocco's Skah wins French international cross-country Morocco-France, Sports, 12/21/1999
- School principal tried for pupil's death Morocco, Local, 12/21/1999
- Several people injured in building collapses
Twelve persons were injured Saturday evening in the Southern city of Dakhla, when the roof of a coffee shop collapsed. Morocco, Local, 12/21/1999