Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 3/6/2000

Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of March 6, 2000

• Research funds increase significantly in five-year plan Morocco, Economics, 3/11/2000
• Royal Messages to Presidents of Seychelles, Niger Morocco, Politics, 3/11/2000
• Moroccan and Jordanian kings meet
  King Mohammed VI, accompanied by Prince Moulay Rachid, conferred Thursday with visiting King Abdullah II, who was flanked by Prince Ali Ibn Al-Hussein and Prince Ghazi Ibn Mohamed. Morocco-Jordan, Politics, 3/10/2000
• Morocco, Jordan voice full backing to Palestinians, Syria, Lebanon and lifting Iraq sanctions
  Morocco and Jordan on Thursday voiced full backing to the Palestinian people to recover their rights, including the establishment of an independent state with Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as its capital. Morocco-Jordan, Politics, 3/10/2000
• First Omani - Moroccan business council meeting in May
  The Omani-Moroccan business council will meet next May in Morocco, in parallel to the Arab gulf investment and partnership forum slated in Casablanca next May 2-4. A bilateral investment agreement will be updated during the meeting. Morocco-Morocco, Economics, 3/10/2000
• Women customs officers first batch graduation Morocco, Culture, 3/10/2000
• Youssoufi in Santiago
  Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi started Thursday a visit to Chile to attend the swearing-in of president Ricardo Lagos in Santiago, the second leg of his Latin-American tour. Morocco-Chile, Politics, 3/10/2000
• Jordan's Queen Rania visits women's center
  Jordan's First Lady Queen Rania and Morocco's Princess Lalla Meryem, sister of King Mohammed VI, visited Thursday the Moroccan Women Promotion Center. Morocco-Jordan, Politics, 3/10/2000
• Morocco calls Britain to swap its debt
  Morocco on Wednesday called Britain to swap the debt Rabat owes to London. Morocco-UK, Economics, 3/10/2000
• British official sees Morocco-UK ties as sound
  Lord Michael Levy, envoy of British premier Tony Blair to King Mohammed VI, on Thursday lauded relations between Morocco and the United Kingdom as sound. Morocco-UK, Politics, 3/10/2000
• Morocco's citrus fruits exports increase by 18 percent
  Morocco exported up to March 1st 393,000 tons of citrus fruits recording an increase of 18% compared to the same period last year. Morocco, Agriculture, 3/10/2000
• Italian officials in Morocco on eve of new immigration law enforcement
  A delegation of Italian officials will shortly pay a visit to Morocco on the eve of the coming into force of the new Italian law on immigration. Morocco-Italy, Politics, 3/10/2000
• Radi critical of classical Morocco-EU fishery relations
  Speaker of the House of Representatives Abdelouahed Radi voiced criticism of "classical" fishery cooperation between Morocco and the European Union. Morocco, Economics, 3/10/2000
• International fair on olive tree opens in Marrakesh
  An international fair on olive tree "Olea 2000" opened Thursday in Marrakesh with the participation of some sixty companies from France, Italy, Morocco and Spain. Regional-Morocco, Economics, 3/10/2000
• Unemployment decrease at end 1999, statistics
  Unemployment in Morocco decreased from 15.1% to 14,5% of the working population between July-Sept 99 and Oct-Dec 99, from 1,534,000 unemployed persons to 1,456,000, said the statistics department. Morocco, Economics, 3/10/2000
• Moroccan women to moderate conferences in Canada
  Several Moroccan women having scored outstanding performance in their field of activity will moderate cultural activities and political debates in Montreal, Canada, from May 28 through June 3. Morocco-Canada, Politics, 3/10/2000
• Women associations urge for lifting siege on sequestered populations in Polisario camps
  A group of women associations in Laayoune have launched an appeal to international women organizations and human rights-advocacy bodies to take action for the lifting of the siege imposed on women who are sequestered in the Tindouf camps and for their return to their homeland in Morocco. Morocco, Politics, 3/10/2000
• Lone Star energy corporation gets drilling contracts Morocco, Economics, 3/10/2000
• Moroccan trade mission to Ireland in June
  A Moroccan trade mission from the textile and leather sectors will be visiting Ireland in June, said industry, trade and handicraft minister Alami Tazi. Morocco-Ireland, Economics, 3/10/2000
• Olympic games: Egypt, Morocco in decisive match in Cairo
  Morocco will play Sunday in Cairo a decisive preliminary match for the football tournament of the 2000 Olympic Games of Sydney, Australia. Egypt-Morocco, Sports, 3/10/2000
• Japan extends assistance to Moroccan development projects Morocco, Economics, 3/10/2000
• Morocco in Cote d'Ivoire international judo tournament
  Morocco will participate in an international judo tournament, to start this Friday in Cote d'Ivoire's city of Abidjan. Morocco, Sports, 3/10/2000
• Morocco briefs Arab labor meeting on government's youth employment policy
  Morocco is considering youth employment as one of the top priorities of the government policy and, to this end, has adopted a legal and institutional arsenal to upgrade the competitiveness of Moroccan enterprises. Regional-Morocco, Economics, 3/9/2000
• CGEM investigation finds most Moroccan enterprises fare well and promising
  Most Moroccan enterprises are faring well and future prospects are promising, according to findings of an investigation by the Moroccan enterprise association (CGEM). Morocco, Business, 3/9/2000
• King Mohammed holds phone talks with Saudi heir-apparent Saudi Arabia-Morocco, Politics, 3/9/2000
• German MPs meet Moroccan interior minister Morocco-Germany, Politics, 3/9/2000
• King Abdallah of Jordan Arrives in Morocco
  King Abdallah II of Jordan arrived in Rabat this Thursday for a three-day official visit at the invitation of King Mohammed VI. Morocco-Jordan, Politics, 3/9/2000
• Hot winds and exceptional drought in Morocco, small farmers's debt written off
  Hot winds, coming from the south, are sweeping all over Morocco's western regions, causing unusual high temperatures of more than 30 degrees Celsius for an average of 19 degrees in this period. Morocco, Agriculture, 3/9/2000
• Businessmen call for creation of egyptian-moroccan-tunisian free trade are
  The Moroccan-Egyptian business council has called for the inception of a tripartite free exchange area between Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia. North Africa-Morocco, Economics, 3/9/2000
• Burkina faso's president gets message from Morocco's king
  President Compaore paid tribute to efforts made by King Mohammed VI to extend assistance to Burkina Faso and voiced resolve to upgrade bilateral cooperation to the aspirations of the two countries which are bound, he said, by firm ties of friendship. Morocco-Burkina Faso, Politics, 3/9/2000
• Owner of building that collapsed gets five-year prison sentence Morocco, Local, 3/9/2000
• Moroccan women to march for their rights
  Like other women across the world, Moroccan women will stage next Sunday a march in downtown Rabat. Morocco, Culture, 3/9/2000
• Belgian-luxemburgian committee to back Morocco's world cup bid Morocco-Belarus, Sports, 3/9/2000
• Youssoufi winds up visit to Colombia
  Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi winds up Thursday a visit to Colombia and heads for Chile on a three-day visit to the country where he attends Saturday the swearing-in of President Ricardo Lagos. Morocco-Colombia, Politics, 3/9/2000
• King Mohammed receives Moroccan official pilgrims delegation
  King Mohammed VI received here Wednesday the members of the official delegation of Moroccan pilgrims who will head for Saudi Arabia to perform pilgrimage. Morocco, Religion, 3/9/2000
• FIFA congratulates Morocco after inspectors' visit
  The world football governing body (FIFA) congratulated Morocco for the sound organization of the visit by a FIFA inspectors delegation to Morocco last February. Morocco, Sports, 3/9/2000
• A Group of Kosovars will be Part among Moroccan Pilgrims
  Morocco has decided to take in charge the pilgrimage cost of a number of Muslims from Kosovar and to integrate them among the Moroccans who are performing this year the pilgrimage rituals in the Islamic holy shrines in Saudi Arabia. Morocco, Culture, 3/9/2000
• Moroccans in France hold exhibition to promote partnership
  Moroccans settled in France will hold next May 6-8 in Paris suburbs the first "Salam France 2000," a fair destined to promote partnership between Moroccan and French regions. Morocco-France, Politics, 3/8/2000
• Golf: Mohammed VI challenge kicks off
  The first Mohammed VI Golf Challenge was kicked off this Wednesday at the Royal golf links of Dar Es-salam in Rabat with golfers from 24 nations participating. Morocco, Sports, 3/8/2000
• Moroccan delegation invites Qatari businessmen to Gulf investment forum
  A Moroccan executive delegation currently touring Arab Gulf states invited Qatar to send businessmen to the Arab Gulf investment forum slated in Morocco next May 2-4. Morocco-Gulf, Economics, 3/8/2000
• Morocco negotiates free trade accord with African grouping
  Morocco has dispatched a delegation to Burkina Faso's capital city of Ouagadougou to negotiate a free trade accord with the Western African Economic and Monetary Union. Morocco-Africa, Economics, 3/8/2000
• King Abdullah pays official visit to Morocco Morocco-Jordan, Politics, 3/8/2000
• King Mohammed meets Ivoirian envoy
  King Mohammed VI received in Rabat Tuesday minister of external relations of Cote d'Ivoire, M'boua Christophe, who arrived in Rabat Monday with a message from President Robert Guei to the king. Morocco-Cote D'Ivoire, Politics, 3/8/2000
• Moroccan teamsters on unlimited strike as of Tuesday Morocco, Politics, 3/8/2000
• Moroccan site chosen world's top unusual ski resort
  The Moroccan Oukaimeden ski resort, near Marrakesh, was chosen as the top unusual ski resorts worldwide. Morocco, Economics, 3/8/2000
• Britain's blair sends message to king Mohammed
  Lord Michael Levy, personal envoy of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, arrived in Rabat Tuesday with a message from Blair to King Mohammed VI, the British embassy in Rabat said in a release. Morocco-UK, Politics, 3/8/2000
• Zambian president receives message from Morocco's king
  President of Zambia, Frederick Chiluba, on Tuesday received a message from King Mohammed VI. Morocco-Zambia, Politics, 3/8/2000
• Morocco's democratic experiment most far-reaching political undertaking in Africa, British official
  British Foreign Office secretary of state for North Africa and the Middle East, Peter Hain, has hailed Morocco's democratic experiment as the most far-reaching political undertaking in Africa and the Arab-Islamic world. Morocco-UK, Politics, 3/8/2000
• Moroccan envoy hands message to Tunisia's president
  Tunisian President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali on Tuesday received a message from King Mohammed VI handed over by the minister in charge of Maghreban affairs, Abdeslam Znined, who told reporters that the message was part of the firm relations of brotherhood and cooperation existing between the two states and of permanent consultation on issues of mutual concern, mainly at the regional level. Morocco-Tunisia, Politics, 3/8/2000
• Spain holds forum on investments in Morocco
  The Spanish Economy and Finance Ministry and the Spanish chamber of commerce and industry in Tangiers are holding this March 21-22 in Tangiers a forum on investments in Morocco. Morocco-Spain, Economics, 3/8/2000
• King Mohammed's recent visit to Spain, significant friendship gesture, Spain says
  The private visit King Mohammed VI paid recently to Spain is a significant gesture of friendship, the Spanish foreign affairs minister said Tuesday. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 3/8/2000
• Rabat declaration maps common desertification indicators
  Participants to the emergency general assembly of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) held in Rabat March 6-7 adopted the Rabat Declaration, mapping out a common initiative defining drought and desertification indicators. Morocco-Regional, Environment, 3/8/2000
• UNFPA executive director to make four-day visit to Morocco
  Executive director of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) Mrs Nafis Sadik is expected in Rabat Thursday on a four-day visit to Morocco to find out about progress achieved in population activities in the kingdom. Morocco, Politics, 3/8/2000
• Amnesty International meets Moroccan minister in charge of human rights
  Amnesty International has hailed the progress scored by Morocco in matters of human rights and said it is following with keen interest the reforms initiated by the government. Morocco-International, Politics, 3/8/2000
• Trafic in Moroccan ports on the rise, equipment department says
  Overall trafic in Moroccan ports reached 4.3 million tons end of Jan. 2000, an increase of 1.8 percent compared to the same period last year, the equipment department said. Morocco, Economics, 3/8/2000
• More than one ton of chira sized in northern Morocco Morocco, Local, 3/8/2000
• Youssoufi on a Latin American tour Morocco-Chile, Politics, 3/7/2000
• Libya backs Morocco's World Cup bid
  Libya has voiced backing to Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. Morocco-Libya, Sports, 3/7/2000
• Rabat hosts Sahara Sahel Observatory general assembly
  The works of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) extraordinary general assembly opened in Rabat Monday under the chairmanship of Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Sea-Fisheries Habib El Malki. Regional-Morocco-Africa, Environment, 3/7/2000
• International center for human rights training to be set up in Morocco
  Morocco is poised to set up an international center for human rights training that will provide adequate training to those in charge of law enforcement and to NGO members. Morocco-UK, Politics, 3/7/2000
• Morocco's odds to host World Cup are strong, Algeria says
  "Morocco has strong odds to win the bid to host the World Cup, and Algeria backs this historic initiative by the Moroccans," Algerian Youth and Sports Minister Abdelmalek Sellal told the press before leaving Morocco. Morocco-Algeria, Sports, 3/7/2000
• Italian senate speaker winds up visit to Morocco Morocco-Italy, Politics, 3/7/2000
• Royal envoys carry on African tour
  Several Moroccan envoys are still touring a number of African countries to deliver messages from King Mohammed VI to these countries' leaders. Morocco-Africa, Politics, 3/7/2000
• Morocco briefs UN meeting on women promotion actions
  Moroccan Secretary of State for Social Protection, Family and Children Mohamed-Said Saadi told a UN meeting on women's conditions that the inception of his department in March 98 was meant to promote and coordinate actions and policies for women. Morocco-UN, Politics, 3/7/2000
• Fish, tomatoes are totally independent issues, Posada says
  There will be no swapping of fish for tomatoes, there are only "very important" global relations between Spain and the European Union on one hand and Morocco on the other, said Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Jesus Posada. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 3/7/2000
• Ivoirian envoy in Morocco
  Minister of external relations of Cote d'Ivoire, M'boua Christophe, arrived in Rabat Monday with a message from President Robert Guei to King Mohammed VI. Morocco-Cote D'Ivoire, Politics, 3/7/2000
• Morocco's foreign trade increases by 5.4% in 1999
  Morocco's foreign trade increased by 5.4% in 1999, going up from $16.7 billion (167.2 billion DH) in 1998 to $17.62 billion (176.6 billion DH) in 1999, says the exchange office. Morocco, Economics, 3/7/2000
• More than one ton of Chira Seized Morocco, Local, 3/7/2000
• Children come across world war ii bomb in Morocco
  A bomb dating back to World War II was discovered Sunday near the city of Kenitra (50 km north of here). Morocco, Local, 3/7/2000
• Morocco's al-Aynaoui in Bogota open second round Morocco, Sports, 3/7/2000
• Morocco's Lahlafi wins French cross-country championship Morocco, Sports, 3/7/2000
• Moroccan boxers warm up in Algeria Morocco-Algeria, Sports, 3/7/2000
• Morocco celebrates immolation feast March 17 Morocco, Religion, 3/7/2000
• Dams filled up to 47% by January Morocco, Politics, 3/7/2000
• Qatar's ruler sends message to King Mohammed Morocco-Qatar, Politics, 3/7/2000
• Morocco's ambassador in Algiers meets Cabinet members
  Morocco's ambassador in Algiers met on Sunday with the Algerian ministers of communication and culture and of health and population. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/6/2000
• King Mohammed message to Sudanese president Morocco-Sudan, Politics, 3/6/2000
• King of Jordan to visit Morocco Jordan-Morocco, Politics, 3/6/2000
• UN official says sexual exploitation of Moroccan children not very serious
  UN special rapporteur for children trafficking, prostitution and pornography, Ofelia Calcetas-Santos, who paid last week a visit to Morocco, said the situation of sexual exploitation of children in Morocco is not very serious. Morocco-UN, Politics, 3/6/2000
• King Mohammed hails army for defense and construction
  King Mohammed VI, Commander in Chief and chief of staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), accompanied by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, supervised Saturday a military parade at the headquarters of the Southern Zone Command. Morocco, Military, 3/6/2000
• Moroccan women join world march against poverty and discrimination
  Moroccan women will march on March 12 to claim social justice and the reduction of poverty, says Morocco's organizing committee of the world women's march held from March 8 through October 17. Morocco, Politics, 3/6/2000
• Italian senate speaker in Morocco
  Italian Senate Speaker Nicola Mancino started Saturday a three-day visit to Morocco. Morocco-Italy, Politics, 3/6/2000
• Moroccan former female athletes in world conference
  Three former Moroccan female athletics stars will attend an international conference on women and sports, to open doors this Monday in Paris. Morocco-International, Sports, 3/6/2000
• Guinean ambassador made officer of the Alawit order Morocco-Guinea, Politics, 3/6/2000
• Former football star, Dolmy, made ambassador for Morocco's 2006 bid
  Former star of the Moroccan football, Abdelmajid Dolmy, was made ambassador of Morocco's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. Morocco, Sports, 3/6/2000
• Four people killed in traffic accident Morocco, Local, 3/6/2000
• Moroccan woman gives birth to quadruplets Morocco, Local, 3/6/2000
• Morocco, Niger discuss cooperation in struggle against desertification
  Cooperation between Morocco and Niger in the struggle against desert encroachment, environment protection and agriculture in general was discussed at a meeting in Rabat. Morocco-Niger, Environment, 3/6/2000

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