Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 7/17/2000
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of July 17, 2000
- Morocco hails as brave and wise Nicaragua's decision to freeze recognition of sahrawi republic
"Moroccan officials hailed on Friday Nicaragua's decision to freeze recognition of the puppet Sahrawi republic 'SADR' as wise and brave," MAP reported. Morocco, Politics, 7/22/2000 - Nicaragua vice-president confers with Moroccan officials
Vice-President of Nicaragua, Enrique Bolanos Geyer, who started Thursday evening an official visit to Morocco, held in Rabat Friday separate meetings with Moroccan Premier, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, with minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa and speaker of the House of Representatives, Abdelouahed Radi. Morocco-Nicaragua, Politics, 7/22/2000 - Moroccan premier hopes Qatar would reconsider its stand towards Morocco
Moroccan Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi expressed hope that Qatar would reconsider its stand vis-a-vis Morocco. Qatar-Morocco, Politics, 7/22/2000 - King Mohammed meets president of equatorial Guinea Morocco-Guinea, Politics, 7/21/2000
- Competition and free-price bill, a major achievement says Youssoufi
The bill passed by the Parliament as the end-result of an undertaking incepted in the 80's will help enhance a new economic culture based on free enterprise and sound and loyal competition putting an end to privileges and giving consumers more choice and better service, he said Morocco, Economics, 7/21/2000 - Nicaragua freezes recognition of so-called Sahrawi republic
Nicaragua has decided to freeze its recognition of the so-called Sahrawi republic (SADR). Morocco-Nicaragua, Politics, 7/21/2000 - Hanover universal fair marks Morocco's day
Morocco's Princess Lalla Hasna, youngest sister of King Mohammed VI, chaired this Friday Morocco's day at the Hanover universal fair "Expo 2000." Morocco, Economics, 7/21/2000 - French commerce and industry chamber extends donations to Moroccan charities Morocco, Economics, 7/21/2000
- 20% of foreign schooled children in Spain are Moroccans
More than 70,000 children of immigrants in Spain, including 20% of Moroccan-born kids, are studying in Spanish schools, accounting for 1% of all schooled children, says Spanish trade union "CC.OO." Morocco-Spain, Education, 7/21/2000 - Moroccan embassy in Doha continues activities
The Qatari daily al-Raya on Thursday said Morocco's ambassador to Doha, who was summoned by his country for consultation on Wednesday, underestimated the importance of this measure on relations between the two states. Qatar-Morocco, Politics, 7/21/2000 - Moroccan - Spanish trade flows show steady increase
Moroccan-Spanish trade flows witness a steady growth as the global volume of exchanges reached 290 billion pesetas in 1999 against 252 billion in 1998. Morocco-Spain, Economics, 7/21/2000 - Madrid opens investigation on ferry boats collision in Gibraltar strait
Spanish authorities have opened an investigation to determine responsibilities in the tragic collision last Sunday off the southern port of Algesiras wherein five Moroccans living in Europe died and 17 others, including a Spaniard, were injured. Morocco, Local, 7/21/2000 - National colloquy on agriculture calls for long-term development strategy
Participants in the national colloquy on agriculture and development held in July 19-20, called for drawing up a long-term, well-defined and transparent agricultural policy to ensure a lasting food security, combat poverty and exclusion and secure the growth of this sector which constitutes the engine of the national economy. Morocco, Agriculture, 7/21/2000 - Palestinian student wins UNESCO best poster prize
The UNESCO prize for the best Palestinian poster for heritage protection was awarded to the Palestinian student Riham El Hour. Palestine-Morocco, Politics, 7/21/2000 - French trucker arrested with 19 tons of chira in Moroccan port
Customs and police agents at the northern port of Tangiers arrested this week an Algerian-born French teamster who was trying to smuggle out of Morocco 19 tons of chira. Morocco-Algeria, Local, 7/21/2000 - Press code amendments to be adopted late July
The ministerial commission on public freedoms decided to adopt amendments to the press code late July in order to submit them to the cabinet. Morocco, Politics, 7/20/2000 - Doha's persistent negative attitude behind Morocco's decision to recall its ambassador
Morocco's decision to recall its ambassador to Doha for consultation, came in response to Qatar's persistence to run counter to Moroccan interests and to its negative stands within international and regional organizations, a well-informed Moroccan source said. Qatar-Morocco, Politics, 7/20/2000 - Moroccan leftist party calls for suppression of upper parliamentary chamber
The central committee of Moroccan leftist party "OADP" said the parliament upper chamber should be suppressed in the interest of Morocco. Morocco, Politics, 7/20/2000 - Qatar buys arms deal to help the Algerian government
Qatar's foreign minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jaber al-Thani on Wednesday stressed British press news on that Qatar has bought British military weapons and equipment at a cost of US $ 7.5 million for Algeria. Qatar-Morocco, Politics, 7/20/2000 - Moroccan media comments on Morocco-Qatar relations
Several Moroccan dailies devoted this Thursday editorials and comments to Morocco's decision to recall for consultation its ambassador to Qatar, some lashing out at Qatar's hostile attitude, others wishing that the misunderstanding between Morocco and Qatar would be a mere summer cloud. Morocco-Qatar, Politics, 7/20/2000 - Former OAU secretary general says all African presidents share responsibility in admission of sahrawi republic
Former secretary general of the Organization of African Unity, Togo's Edem Kodjo, refuses to shoulder alone responsibility for membership of Sahrawi puppet republic "SADR" and said all African heads of state should share the responsibility, calling them to draw conclusions since the entity does no longer enjoy majority at the Pan-African Organization. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/20/2000 - Morocco's first ambassador to Bahamas hands credentials
Morocco's ambassador to Bahamas, the first ever in the history of relations between the Kingdom and Bahamas, last week handed his credentials to the General governor of Bahamas, Sir Orville Turnquest. Morocco-Bahamas, Politics, 7/20/2000 - Morocco recalls ambassador to Qatar for consultation
Morocco has decided to immediately recall its ambassador to Qatar, Mohamed Ben Larbi Dilai, it was officially announced here this Tuesday afternoon. Morocco-Qatar, Politics, 7/19/2000 - Human rights abuses victims compensation stems from consolidation of rule of law and democratic institutions, dahhak
Following the release of results, relatives of some victims expressed satisfaction that the issue is beginning to be settled. For Sanae, daughter of the late Mohamed Aidi who spent 28 years in prison, this is all owed to king Mohammed VI who, as soon as he was enthroned, thought of indemnifying the victims who suffered a lot. She added that this is an indication to an acknowledgement that there was an error and injustice. For her sister, Hind, nothing can compensate the loss of a father. Morocco, Culture, 7/19/2000 - Morocco's hard currency reserves amount to $ 5.23 billion Morocco, Economics, 7/19/2000
- Five-year development plan sets average growth rate at 5%, youssoufi
The 2000-2004 economic and social development plan sets the annual growth rate of the GDP to about 5 % in average, knowing that the growth must reach by the end of the plan 6.4 % instead of the 2.2 % scored in average during the past nine years, said Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi. Morocco, Economics, 7/19/2000 - Bahrain projects to cancel visa requirements for Moroccans, daily Bahrain-Morocco, Politics, 7/19/2000
- Benaissa meets president De La Rua and Argentine foreign minister
Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, met Monday in Buenos Aires President Fernando De LA Rua whom he handed a message from King Mohammed VI, says a press-release of the foreign affairs and cooperation department. Morocco, Politics, 7/19/2000 - Egyptian - Moroccan commercial committee convenes in Rabat in coming September
The joint Egyptian - Moroccan commercial committee will convene in Rabat (Morocco) under the chairmanship of Egyptian minister of economy and foreign trade Yusef Botros Ghali and counterpart Alami Tazi at the end of coming September. Egypt-Morocco, Economics, 7/19/2000 - Iran's Khatami underscores Morocco's prominent place in Islamic world
President of Iran Seyed Mohammad Khatami has underscored the prominent place held by Morocco and Iran in the Islamic world and the constructive role both countries play in favor of the Islamic ummah. Morocco-Iran, Politics, 7/19/2000 - Moroccan requires UNO to restore rights of voters accepted, then rejected
Morocco requests that candidates accepted by the UN identification commission as voters in the UN-projected referendum in the Sahara and then rejected by a revision commission be restored in their right to be included in the voter rolls Morocco, Politics, 7/19/2000 - Morocco's trade deficit worsens
Morocco's trade balance posted during the first five months of the current year a deficit of $ 1.84 billion (18.4 billion DH), worsening by 53.1 % compared to the same period last year, a release by the exchange office said. Morocco, Economics, 7/19/2000 - 'Morocco: Sources Of Growth', not an official World Bank document
"Morocco: Sources of growth" is a note by World Bank (WB) experts which has not been validated by Morocco yet some of the Moroccan media dealt with it as an official document of the international financial institution. Morocco, Economics, 7/19/2000 - Casablanca Airport Gets Press Bureau Morocco, Politics, 7/18/2000
- Morocco settles 68 human rights abuse cases
A Moroccan independent commission, set up last August by King Mohammed VI, to extend compensations for victims of arbitrary detention and inheritors of missing people, announced on Monday that 68 cases have been settled. Morocco, Politics, 7/18/2000 - Royal Messages On Sahara Delivered Worldwide Morocco, Politics, 7/18/2000
- Morocco's house of representatives adopts 2000-2004 development plan
The House of Representatives (Lower House of the Moroccan Parliament) adopted Saturday the 2000-2004 economic and social development plan, by 87 votes. Morocco, Economics, 7/17/2000 - King Mohammed renews Moroccans' solidarity with Iraqis
Morocco's King Mohammed VI has renewed in a message of congratulations to Iraqi president Saddam Hussein on the occasion of his country's national day the Moroccan people's solidarity with the Iraqi people. Iraq-Morocco, Politics, 7/17/2000 - Toledo summer course highlights Moroccan transition
Bernabe Garcia Lopez, said that change is tangible in Morocco as evidenced by efforts to reinforce the rule of law, to set up a transparent society and an administration at the service of the citizen. Morocco, Culture, 7/17/2000 - Guinea's new ambassador to Morocco hands copies of credentials Morocco-Guinea, Politics, 7/17/2000
- Agadir to host seminar on Amazigh history Morocco-Algeria, Culture, 7/17/2000
- Over 4 million foreign tourists expected in Morocco by 2004, minister
The number of foreign tourists could reach 4.5 million by 2004, said Moroccan tourism minister Hassan Sebbar. Saudi Arabia-Morocco, Economics, 7/17/2000 - Mohamed El Fassi 1999 prize shared by Moroccan and French searchers Morocco-France, People, 7/17/2000
- Two ferry boats collide in gibraltar strait: 5 Moroccans killed, 17 injured
Five Moroccans living in Europe died and 17 others, including a Spaniard, were injured when two ferry boats collided early Sunday in the Strait of Gibraltar, off the southern port of Algesiras. Morocco, Local, 7/17/2000