Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 11/13/2000
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of November 13, 2000
- Morocco celebrates saturday 45th independence day
The kingdom celebrates today the 45th anniversary of independence recalling the armed struggle for freedom and founding values, sacrifices which marshaled identity and the epic of the Moroccan people and crown. Morocco, Local, 11/18/2000 - Tunisian commitment to work more for a united Maghreb
The Tunisian ambassador to Rabat Salah Bekkari renewed his country's commitment to work jointly with Morocco for the completion of a united Arab Maghreb. Morocco-Tunisia, Politics, 11/18/2000 - Youssoufi chairs ministerial commission on education reform
Morocco's Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi chaired in Rabat Wednesday the ministerial commission in charge of the follow-up and implementation of the education reform project. Morocco, Education, 11/18/2000 - Moroccan bar: referendum in Sahara has become outdated
Morocco's bar association said the referendum process in the Sahara has become "outdated," renewing a firm and constant stance of the professionals regarding the issue of Moroccan territorial integrity. Morocco, Politics, 11/18/2000 - Morocco-EU fishery talks, difficult and tense, says French minister
Talks between Morocco and the European Union on fishery cooperation are difficult and tense, said Friday French agriculture and fishery minister Jean Glavany adding the ministerial Council encouraged the Commission to carry on discussions. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 11/18/2000 - Drinking-water and sanitation projects get $ 62 million from Germany
Morocco and Germany signed in Rabat Friday several financing contracts worth $ 62.1 million destined to drinking-water and sanitation projects in the kingdom. Morocco-Germany, Economics, 11/18/2000 - MAP, radio and tv to get an adequate legal framework, minister says
A draft bill on the press-code will shortly be handed to the government to end conflicts and promote the sector consolidating freedom of speech and respect for the right to information, he said pointing out, however, the reform everybody is striving to can only be achieved by media-people. Morocco, Politics, 11/18/2000 - Travel and expatriates receipts increase against drop in foreign investments and private loans
Moroccan finance flows in the first nine months of the year recorded increases of 11.7% in travel receipts and 11.6% in remittances by Moroccan Residents Abroad (MRA). Morocco, Economics, 11/18/2000 - Mad-cow disease prevention measures assessed Morocco, Agriculture, 11/18/2000
- Government examines law on high court for ministers
A government meeting, held Thursday under the chairmanship of prime minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi, adopted a draft law creating and regulating the high court of justice. Morocco, Politics, 11/17/2000 - Moroccan, Chinese defense officials meet in Rabat
Morocco's Minister delegate to the prime minister in charge of national defense administration, Abderrahmane Sbai, held talks in Rabat Friday with a Chinese military delegation, led by minister of defense and vice-chairman of the Chinese military central committee, Army general Chi Haotian. Morocco-China, Politics, 11/17/2000 - Princess Lalla Meryem participates in Cairo Arab women summit Morocco, Culture, 11/17/2000
- European union should re-consider stand on immigration and fisheries, Fihri says
The European Union should re-consider its approach to cooperation with Morocco in the social sector and in immigration and sea-fisheries, said secretary of state to foreign affairs and cooperation Taieb Fassi Fihri. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 11/17/2000 - SOMEPI passes solar-energy partnership with US ENERCORP
Moroccan firm "SOMEPI" and American "ENERCORP" signed in Washington Thursday a partnership agreement under which a plant manufacturing solar panels will be built and operated in the Casablanca area. Morocco-USA, Business, 11/17/2000 - Arabs spoke as a single voice in Marseilles, Benaissa says
Morocco's Foreign affairs and cooperation minister Mohamed Benaissa voiced satisfaction saying that Arab delegations worked in a group and spoke as a single voice to their European partners during the Euro-Med conference held in Marseilles, southern France. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 11/17/2000 - Government adopts package of agreements with Mauritania
The Moroccan government adopted on Thursday a package of agreements concluded with Mauritania to promote cooperation in investments, information and culture. Morocco-Mauritania, Politics, 11/17/2000 - Protech 2000 environment exhibit opens in Casablanca
Protection of the environment and people is the main topic of the exhibition "Protech 2000" which opened in Casablanca Thursday to the public. Morocco, Politics, 11/17/2000 - European union ambassadors in Morocco visit Agadir region
The improvement of women's condition, promotion of the city infrastructure (water supply, roads networks, including a Marrakesh-Agadir highway…), tourism development, environment protection, and agriculture promotion were among the topics covered at the working session. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 11/17/2000 - US funds feasibility study on privatization of Moroccan airports
The US Trade and Development Agency (TDA) extended Morocco $ 200,000 Thursday to fund the feasibility study of Moroccan airports privatization. Morocco, Economics, 11/17/2000 - Morocco and Algeria to give relations a new start
Algerian state minister, interior and local communities minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni said Algeria and Morocco "have great hopes to go ahead for a new start and build new relations based on total trust and balanced and shared interest." Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 11/17/2000 - Lambarki on loan to Qatar's al Ittihad for $ 30,000
Head of the Qatari Football club Al Ittihad, Sheikh Jassem Ben Khalifa Al Thani, said the Moroccan football player Bouchaib Lambarki was on loan to his club for $ 30,000, not $ 60,000 as announced by some Arab media Qatar-Morocco, Sports, 11/17/2000 - Algerian interior minister arrives in Rabat
Algerian state minister, minister of the interior, Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni arrived in Rabat Thursday on a 24-hour work visit to Morocco. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 11/16/2000 - Morocco calls for EU action to guarantee human rights in occupied territories
Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, on Thursday called the European Union to take action for the respect of human rights in the occupied Arab territories. Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 11/16/2000 - Morocco keen on more economic overture and investment promotion
Morocco is keen on economic overture and further consolidation of a climate favorable to private investment, said minister of social economy, small and medium enterprise and handicraft, Ahmed Lahlimi, said Wednesday. Morocco, Economics, 11/16/2000 - Forest revived thanks to irrigation project
Chabab forest in Marrakesh will be revived thanks to an irrigation project, worth $ 636,000 (7 million DH). Morocco, Environment, 11/16/2000 - Lahlimi meets Eizenstat and other US officials
Morocco's Social economy, SME and handicraft minister, in charge of government's general affairs, Ahmed Lahlimi met in Washington Wednesday, in side-meetings to the Maghreban conference on trade and investment, several American officials. Morocco-USA, Economics, 11/16/2000 - Laayoun hosts new cities association forum next week
The works of the New-cities Association forum will open in Laayoun next week with delegates from 23 countries attending. Morocco, Local, 11/16/2000 - Saudi roving book exhibition opens Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Culture, 11/16/2000
- Two female athletes represent Morocco in Mediterranean conference on women and sports Morocco, Sports, 11/16/2000
- Morocco records sharp decline in tomato exports
Moroccan tomato exports suffered a 77% decline between October 2000 and October 1999, says the association of exporters. Morocco, Agriculture, 11/16/2000 - National athletics coach Aziz Daouda resigns Morocco, Sports, 11/16/2000
- Oil imports cost $ 1.14 billion end of september
Moroccan crude oil imports totaled $ 1.14 billion by the end of September when it stood at $ 580 million for the same period in 1999, an increase of 97.4 percent, figures of the Moroccan "Office des Changes" showed. Morocco, Economics, 11/16/2000 - UAE businessmen willing to set up joint ventures with Moroccan peers
Businessmen from the United Arab Emirates have voiced willingness to set up joint ventures with Moroccan peers and to contribute to enhancing cooperation between the two states. United Arab Emirates-Morocco, Economics, 11/15/2000 - International meeting on science and society opens in Mohammedia
An international meeting on "Science and Society" opened Mohammedia Tuesday to debate for three days scientific breakthroughs and problems they raise in society. Morocco, Science, 11/15/2000 - Morocco asks EU to reconsider fishery proposals
Fishery minister, Said Chbaatou, and foreign affairs and cooperation secretary of state, Taieb Fassi Fihri, asked Tuesday the European Union to reconsider its counter-proposals of November 8 in Rabat to the Moroccan fishery offer. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 11/15/2000 - Moroccan journalists mark national information day
The union also says this year has witnessed the continuation of practices restricting the freedom of opinion and speech in Morocco and behaviors interfering in the work of journalists, in addition to "contradictions" between discourse and practice. Morocco, Local, 11/15/2000 - Beijin to import more, invest more in Morocco, ambassador says Morocco-China, Economics, 11/15/2000
- European union ambassadors in Morocco visit Agadir region
The ambassadors of the European Union member countries in Morocco pay November 16-17 a working visit to the region of Agadir and Taroudant to show the union's interest for a close cooperation with the regions of southern Morocco. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 11/15/2000 - Morocco - Mozambique joint commission to be revived, says youssoufi
Morocco and Mozambique agreed to reactivate the soonest possible the two countries' joint commission which never convened short of a working frame, said premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi. Morocco-Mozambique, Politics, 11/15/2000 - 2001 finance bill meant to meet constraints, minister says
Economy, finance, privatization and tourism minister, Fathallah Oualalou, said Tuesday the 2001 draft finance bill is meant to meet constraints caused by drought, oil price hikes, debt-alleviation and human rights dossiers settlement. Morocco, Economics, 11/15/2000 - Car-sales slightly picking up end of september
Car-sales in Morocco, irrespective of category, slightly picked up in the early nine months of this year, announced the Moroccan employers' association (CGEM) in its latest bulletin "Info-CGEM." Morocco, Economics, 11/15/2000 - Speaker of Moroccan parliament meets Andalusian official Morocco-Spain, Politics, 11/14/2000
- International colloquy on al-Quds opens in Fez
An international colloquy on the holy city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) started proceedings in Fez, some 200 Km north-east Rabat, to debate the religious, civilizational and historical dimension of the city. Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 11/14/2000 - No suicidal fishery agreement with EU, says minister
Sea-fishery minister Said Chbaatou said in Rabat Monday there will not be a "suicidal" agreement with the European Union (EU) on fisheries. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 11/14/2000 - Moroccan, Gabon decide to promote sme
Morocco and Gabon signed in Rabat Monday three conventions on the promotion of small and medium enterprise (SME) and consolidation of bilateral trade ties. Morocco-Gabon, Economics, 11/14/2000 - Morocco takes preventive measures against Mad Cow disease
The Moroccan ministry of agriculture, rural development, water and forests has announced preventive measures to reduce contamination by BSE (Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy), known as the mad cow disease. Morocco, Agriculture, 11/14/2000 - Spain funds $ 2.4 mln drinking water projects in Morocco Morocco-Spain, Economics, 11/14/2000
- Moroccan association calls Arab leaders to work for international protection of Palestinians
The Moroccan association of support to the Palestinian people struggle on Monday called Arab leaders to "endeavor to ensure an international protection to the Palestinian people and take all needed measures to bring before justice Zionist criminals for crimes against humanity." Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 11/14/2000 - UNHCR Ogata satisfied with cooperation with Morocco
The United Nations High outgoing Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata voiced satisfaction at cooperation relations between Morocco and her organization. Morocco, Politics, 11/14/2000 - Tuna-fisheries ought to contribute to development, fishery minister says
Sea-Fishery minister Said Chabaatou underscored in Marrakesh Monday the necessity for developing countries to rely more on tuna-fisheries in social and economic development. Morocco, Economics, 11/14/2000 - Moroccan Jewish singer jailed for currency smuggling
A Casablanca court on Monday sentenced Moroccan Jewish singer, Cohen Benhass, to three years in jail for "attempt to illegally smuggle currencies." Morocco, Local, 11/14/2000 - Moroccan teachers go on 2-day strike in december
Moroccan Teachers affiliated to two trade unions have announced a two-day "warning" strike next December 13 and 14 at all education levels. Morocco, Education, 11/14/2000 - Socialist International calls Sahara two sides to political dialog
The Socialist International (SI) Council adopted a resolution in its meeting in Maputo, Nov.10-11, launching an appeal to both sides of the Sahara issue asking them to open "a political dialog reaching beyond agreements which could be reached in negotiations under way." Morocco, Politics, 11/13/2000 - Morocco calls for promoting inter-Islamic trade
Morocco on Sunday called on Islamic countries to promote trade exchanges and economic cooperation to face up new technologies challenges. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 11/13/2000 - Morocco calls Muslims to show solidarity with al-Quds inhabitants
Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Sunday called on Muslims to show solidarity with the inhabitants of Al-Quds, Jerusalem. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 11/13/2000 - Fez hosts an international conference on Jerusalem Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 11/13/2000
- Morocco, Iran to boost cooperation through ten agreements
Morocco and Iran have agreed on the contents of ten agreements and protocols that will be signed during the visit Moroccan Premier, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, is projecting to pay to Iran. Morocco-Iran, Politics, 11/13/2000 - Peace and democracy, prerequisites to growth in Africa, Youssoufi tells si
Peace and democracy are essential conditions to growth and development in Africa, said Moroccan premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi, vice-chairman of the Socialist International (SI) in the Mozambican capital. Morocco, Politics, 11/13/2000 - Northern provinces donated chinese construction engines Morocco-China, Economics, 11/13/2000
- EU response to Moroccan offer, no grounds for balanced partnership, minister says
The European Union response to the Moroccan offer made in Brussels does not translate commitment by the two sides to reach a new and balanced partnership, said Morocco's fishery minister Said Chbaatou. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 11/13/2000 - Young Sahrawis denounce ordeal in Tindouf camps
A group of young Sahrawis who fled recently from the Tindouf sequestration camps have denounced the dire living conditions in these camps and the ordeal of the sequestered populations that put at stake their own life to escape the Tindouf camps. Morocco, Politics, 11/13/2000 - King Mohammed chairs 2000 handi-sports events
Morocco's King Mohammed VI chaired here Saturday at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Sports Complex the closing ceremony of this year's Handi-Sports championships, held Nov.2-10 as part of the nationwide solidarity and fight against poverty week. Morocco, Culture, 11/13/2000 - Ministry of SME amazed at calls for revision of SME draft charter
The ministry of social economy, small and medium sized enterprises and handicraft voiced amazement at the statement made by the federation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) calling for a substantial revision of the draft charter on SME. Morocco, Business, 11/13/2000 - Moroccan artists commemorate 40th day of Palestinian child's assassination
An artistic and cultural event was held Friday evening in Casablanca in commemoration of the 40th day of the death of Palestinian child Mohamed Jamal Addora, assassinated by the Isreali army. Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 11/13/2000 - Suspicious death of Moroccan national in Moscow
A Moroccan national was found dead in Moscow and the police declined to reveal the circumstances of his death. Morocco-Russia, Local, 11/13/2000 - Youssoufi gets Spanish Famous Reader Atlantida Prize
The Prize handed Friday night rewards Youssoufi for "ardent liking of reading and his personal career as a statesman and as an editor for the promotion of values of culture and freedom of expression." Morocco-Spain, Culture, 11/13/2000