Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 9/11/2000

Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of September 11, 2000

• Morocco calls world to help Palestinians gain independence
  Morocco called on the international community to help the Palestinian people recover its inalienable and legitimate right to independence with Al-Quds Asharif (Jerusalem) as capital. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 9/16/2000
• Center party tops election for renewal of 1/3rd of upper house members
  The center party, National Rally of Independents (RNI), topped the elections, held Friday in Morocco to renew one third of the Chamber of Advisors, upper house of parliament. Morocco, Politics, 9/16/2000
• Employment minister calls for bridging salary gaps Morocco, Local, 9/16/2000
• Morocco criticizes occupation of Moroccan presidios
  Morocco criticized the occupation by Spain of Moroccan Sebta and Mellilia and the neighboring Islands. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 9/16/2000
• King's visit to Spain opens wide horizons for bilateral cooperation Morocco-Spain, Politics, 9/16/2000
• European desputies are visiting Algeria and Polisario group
  The visit comprises Algeria and the western Sahara for 5 days to fulfill the invitation of the Polisario group as they also will visit the refugees' Camps in Tindof before they head to area dominated by the Polisario in the western Sahara. Algeria-Morocco-European Union, Politics, 9/16/2000
• Some 612 Candidates Ran for Renewal of 1/3rd of Upper House Members
  The Interior minister noted that there were only seven women among the 612 candidates, representing 1.14% of all candidates. Morocco, Politics, 9/16/2000
• Administration's rigorous action limited use of money in vote, minister
  Moroccan interior minister, Ahmed El-Midaoui, on Friday said that the administration's "rigorous" intervention restricted the use of money in Friday's elections. Morocco, Politics, 9/16/2000
• Morocco calls for joint reflection on UN future
  "The reform and the consolidation of the role of the Security Council, one of the main bodies of the organization that is entrusted with international security and peace keeping, are an imperative necessity," Benaissa said. Morocco, Politics, 9/16/2000
• Morocco-european union fishery dialog to resume end september, EU says
  Morocco and the European Union (EU) will resume on September 28-29 their dialog on the fisheries dossier, it was officially announced Friday in the EU capital of Brussels. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 9/16/2000
• Morocco, Egypt Fishery Commission Winds up meeting
  The Moroccan-Egyptian joint fishery commission wound up Friday a meeting in Rabat with a call to further improve cooperation in fishery related-sectors. Morocco-Egypt, Economics, 9/16/2000
• Candidates to illegal emigration arrested Morocco, Local, 9/16/2000
• King Mohammed receives Ukrainian president's envoy Morocco-Ukrain, Politics, 9/15/2000
• Three more countries withdraw recognition of sahrawi republic
  Three countries of the Pacific Forum, namely Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu, withdrew recognition of the so-called Sahrawi Republic "SADR." Morocco, Politics, 9/15/2000
• Literacy courses start at Moroccan mosques
  Last month, Morocco's King Mohammed VI had given instruction to open mosques for literacy courses and for dispensing religious, civic and health courses. He had also stressed the importance of education and training in overall development and social progress, deploring the high rates of illiteracy in urban and rural areas. Morocco, Education, 9/15/2000
• A new strategy for tourism promotion in Morocco
  Mohammed Bu Leghlagh, manager of the Moroccan national bureau for tourism in M.E assured that there is a new strategy for Moroccan tourism to attract 4 million tourists in year 2004 in which Arabs form nearly 30% and that is a new trend instead of the former one focused on European tourism. Morocco-Kuwait, Economics, 9/15/2000
• Agri-business called to be an engine for economic development
  Agri-business is called to be an engine for the modernization of agriculture and for national economy as a whole, the Moroccan agri-business Federation said. Morocco, Agriculture, 9/15/2000
• Quebec's enterprises explore investment opportunities in Morocco
  A group of 44 enterprises from the Canadian French-speaking province of Quebec are undertaking this September 25-28 a study visit to Morocco, led by the province vice-premier, Bernard Landry. Morocco-Canada, Economics, 9/15/2000
• Primary and secondary pupils expected to reach 5.5 million in 2000-2001 academic year
  The number of pupils in Moroccan primary and secondary schools is expected to exceed this year 5.5 millions, including 205,000 in private schools. Morocco, Education, 9/15/2000
• Moroccan state paid $ 945 million in subsidies
  The Moroccan state has paid a total of 10.4 billion DH ($ 945 million) in subsidies to oil and basic products, which represents 60% of the state annual investment budget and more than the budget deficit. Morocco, Economics, 9/15/2000
• Moroccan government ponders on measures to stabilize fuel prices
  The Moroccan government held on Thursday a meeting to ponder on measures to stabilize fuel prices at the internal market and safeguard the interests of the economy. Morocco, Economics, 9/15/2000
• Government renews commitment for honest elections
  The Moroccan government on Tuesday renewed commitment to hold honest and transparent elections for the renewal of one third of the Moroccan upper house, the Chamber of Advisors. Morocco, Politics, 9/14/2000
• Moroccan party calls for supperssing upper house
  A 1996 constitutional amendment set up a bi-cameral system in Morocco, with a 325-seat- lower house (the house of representatives) and a 270-seat upper house (chamber of advisors). While the House of representatives is fully elected at the direct universal suffrage, the members of the upper house are elected at indirect poll. Morocco, Politics, 9/14/2000
• Morocco attends conference in canada on war-affected children
  Morocco is taking part in the international conference on children victims of wars, currently held in Winnipeg, Canada. Morocco, Culture, 9/14/2000
• Tourism professionals called to improve product quality
  Moroccan tourism professionals and tour operators have been called to improve the quality of the tourism product and to diversify it through the promotion of the culture, sports and leisure windows. Morocco, Economics, 9/14/2000
• Morocco: privatizing the communication company
  It has been officially decided releasing privatizing Morocco Communication Company on the 3rd of the coming month after a series of political and technical delaying, which lasted few months. Morocco, Economics, 9/14/2000
• Ukrainian Businessmen Carry on Contacts in Morocco
  The delegation of Ukrainian businessmen, led by former President of Ukraine, Leonid Kravtchouk, that is currently visiting Morocco is carrying on contacts with Moroccan officials to explore new cooperation opportunities. Morocco-Ukrain, Economics, 9/14/2000
• Morocco renews backing to UN secretary general's moves to settle sahara issue Morocco, Politics, 9/14/2000
• Morocco's foreign minister meets peers in New York Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/13/2000
• King Mohammed calls for rigor to reform education
  Morocco's King Mohammed VI Tuesday called for a rigorous and mobilization of all to reform the Moroccan education sector in order to honor the 2002 deadline to generalize schooling for children aged 6 years. Morocco, Education, 9/13/2000
• Youssoufi calls government to speed action
  Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi on Tuesday called on the cabinet members to speed up the government's action. Morocco, Politics, 9/13/2000
• Morocco convinced referendum shall confirm sahara as Moroccan territory
  Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, renewed in an interview with Egyptian daily Al Ahram that Morocco is convinced that the referendum outcome will only confirm the Sahara as Moroccan territory if it is held in conformity with the United Nations Settlement Plan. Morocco, Politics, 9/13/2000
• Tourism returns increase by 12% in jan-july 2000 Morocco, Economics, 9/13/2000
• Islamic bank lends Morocco us$ 18 mln for water projects Morocco, Economics, 9/13/2000
• Morocco's hard currency reserves amount to $ 5.14 billion Morocco, Economics, 9/13/2000
• Morocco's trade balance deficit worsens by 36% during january-july period
  Morocco's trade balance deficit amounted during the first seven months of year 2000 to some $2.51 billion compared to $1.84 billion during the same period in 1999 worsening by 36 %, according to the exchange office. $2.51 billion Morocco, Economics, 9/13/2000
• Morocco's food products imports increase by 17.6 % in jan-july 2000
  Moroccan imports of food products in the period between January and July 2000 were worth 7.97 Billion Dirhams (US $ 724 mln), marking an increase of 17.6% compared to 6.78 billion Dirhams-worth of food products imports in the corresponding period of 1999. Morocco, Economics, 9/13/2000
• King Mohammed presides over signing of 39 conventions
  The conventions deal with low-cost housing, industrial and tourism areas creation, encouragement of textile and information technologies sectors, highway program, sea fisheries, water supply to rural areas, cultural and environment projects and other programs to back up micro-credit associations. Morocco, Economics, 9/12/2000
• Morocco wins world women bowling championships Morocco, Sports, 9/12/2000
• Moroccan youth calls for human rights consecration
  Youth participating in the third national forum of "Young Amnesty" called Tuesday for more efforts to consecrate human rights through education and youth training. Morocco, Culture, 9/12/2000
• Morocco signs multilateral treaties including Child rights
  Morocco signed international treaties on the fringes of the millenium summit, held September 6-8 at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York. Morocco, Politics, 9/12/2000
• Former Ukraine president leads business delegation to Morocco
  Former President of Ukraine, Leonid Kravtchouk, is currently visiting Morocco, heading a business delegation. Morocco-Ukraine, Economics, 9/12/2000
• Spanish skin-heads kill Moroccan man in Barcelona
  A young Moroccan was shot dead Sunday in Barcelona (Spain) by a group of skin-heads. Morocco-Spain, Local, 9/12/2000
• Morocco's oil bill to exceed one billion dollars
  Last month, Lone Star Energy Corporation, off-shoot of the US Skidmore Inc. Announced the discovery of oil and gas reserves at Talsint, assessed at 1.5 to 2 billion barrels and 100,000 barrel of oil reserve ay the Sidi Belkacem I well. Morocco, Economics, 9/12/2000
• Moroccan dams filled at 37.9%
  Moroccan dams were filled at 37.9% up to last Aug. 1st, with 5.30 billion cubic meters of water, the Moroccan equipment department said in its monthly newsletter. Morocco, Agriculture, 9/12/2000
• Maroc-telecom sales increase by 32%
  Maroc-Telecom company has posted sales of 5.42 billion DH ($ 542 million) up to last June 30, marking a growth of 32% compared to the corresponding period of 1999, said the company's Chief Executive Officer, Abdeslam Ahizoune. Morocco, Business, 9/12/2000
• Morocco, Tunisia sign draft agreement on revising cooperation legal frame
  Morocco and Tunisia signed in Rabat on Friday a draft agreement providing for the amendment of legal provisions regulating bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Morocco-Tunisia, Judicial, 9/11/2000
• Pilot human rights teaching program in high schools starts this year
  For chairman of the Moroccan human rights advisory council, Driss Dahhak, human rights violations in the Arab world are due to a poor training and education. Morocco, Politics, 9/11/2000
• Prince Moulay Rachid returns home after millenium summit
  The United Nations Millennium Summit that was attended by nearly 150 heads of state and government, adopted a Declaration wherein the heads of state and government pledged to establish a just and lasting peace all over the world in accordance with the objectives and principles of the Charter, to solve disputes by peaceful means and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms Morocco, Politics, 9/11/2000
• Agriculture, fish professionals protest fuel price hike
  The associations of citrus fruits, fruits and vegetables producers will stage marches on September 18 throughout all Moroccan cities to protest the difficult situation the sector is going through. Morocco, Agriculture, 9/11/2000
• Teamsters' federations diverge on strike movement to protest fuel price hike
  The national federation of trade unions of Morocco's teamsters (FNSTRM) on Saturday decided to suspend the strike movement initially scheduled for Tuesday while the National Confederation of Teamsters (CNTR) decided to stage the strike slated for this Monday and Tuesday to protest the government's decision to increase fuel prices. Morocco, Economics, 9/11/2000
• Verdi opera performed for 1st time in Morocco Morocco, Culture, 9/11/2000
• Morocco adopts new phone dialing system starting october 13 Morocco, Local, 9/11/2000
• Morocco to wage anti-trachoma campaign
  Morocco will start on September 15 a campaign against trachoma in its south-eastern areas, the health department announced. Morocco, Health, 9/11/2000
• Morocco earmarks $ 900,000 for underground water in south Morocco, Economics, 9/11/2000
• Oil Company Employees Postpone Strike Morocco, Business, 9/11/2000
• Congolese president in Morocco Morocco-Congo, Politics, 9/11/2000
• King Mohammed on official visit to Spain Sept.18-20 Morocco-Spain, Politics, 9/11/2000
• Thousands of migrant seagulls die on their Europe - Morocco transhumance
  Over 150 white seagulls have died recently in the region of Seville (southern Spain) as they bumped into electric wires. Morocco-European Union, Environment, 9/11/2000

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