Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 11/27/2000
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of November 27, 2000
- UN committee hails human rights promotion initiatives in Morocco
The committee cited in particular the creation of a human rights ministry, the Human Rights Advisory Council and plans to launch the Ombudsman institution in Morocco. Listing other positive steps, the committee went on the enforcement in 1997 of a national women emancipation strategy and the crafting of an action plan for women integration in development, the dissemination of provisions of the international human rights conventions in the judiciary system and ongoing efforts to alleviate indebtedness. Morocco, Culture, 12/2/2000 - Minister calls for implementation of international recommendations on disabled rights
Moroccan Minister of women affairs, family and childhood protection and disabled integration Nezha Chekrouni called for further mobilization to implement international recommendations on the rights of handicapped persons and their true integration in development. Morocco, Culture, 12/2/2000 - No accord would be a missed opportunity for Moroccan fisheries, fischler says
Failing to pass a fishing agreement between Morocco and the European Union "would be a missed opportunity for the Moroccan fishery sector," said European commissioner of agriculture and fisheries Franz Fischler after delegation parted Thursday with no "real" progress made. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 12/2/2000 - BBC correspondent refutes report on clash with shopping-center cashier in rabat
The reporter said that after argument over a defective telephone, under valid guarantee and which Marjane refused to honor, security agents beat him up, kicked him and dragged him on the floor 150 meters adding this was an aggression by security agents who seemed to "act in impunity." Morocco, Local, 12/2/2000 - Unemployment drops by 0.9 point in july-sept. 2000
The number of unemployed persons nationwide reached 1.45 million in July-Sept 2000, marking a small decline compared to the figures of the same period of 1999 when 1.53 million were unemployed. Morocco, Economics, 12/2/2000 - Delta to begin code-share flights to Morocco and France
Delta Air Lines announced it will begin on December 15 code-share service between two destinations in France and two destinations in Morocco with Sky-Team partner Air France. Morocco, Business, 12/2/2000 - Morocco produces 74,000 tons of dates in 2000 Morocco, Agriculture, 12/2/2000
- 809 AIDS cases officially reported in Morocco since 1986
Since the first AIDS case appeared in Morocco in 1986, the number of persons affected by the diseases in Morocco has reached 809 cases officially reported up to September 30, 2000. Morocco, Health, 12/2/2000 - Head of sahrawi republic post, telephone returns to Morocco
The director of the post and telephone company of the So-called Sahrawi republic (SADR) returned to Morocco on Friday in response of the royal call: "the country is clement and forgiving." Morocco, Politics, 12/1/2000 - New mexican president gets message from king Mohammed
New Mexican president Vicente Fox Quessada received a message from King Mohammed VI. Morocco-Mexico, Politics, 12/1/2000 - Government adopts law creating social foundation for education staff
The government adopted on Thursday a law creating a social works foundation of the education and training staff, to which 2% of the education and higher education departments salary mass was allotted. Morocco, Education, 12/1/2000 - Meeting in Morocco probes relation between cinema and human rights
The local branches of Amnesty International and cinema-clubs will hold this Dec.11-18 in Settat (central Morocco) a conference on cinema and human rights. Morocco, Culture, 12/1/2000 - Moroccan-European parliamentary group set up
A friendship group between the European parliament and the Moroccan parliament has been set up to consolidate ties and promote exchanges between the two institutions. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 12/1/2000 - Government decries information published by Le Journal weekly
The government decried information published by Le Journal Weekly, terming them as "a serious attempt against constitutional institutions and the great symbols of Morocco." Morocco, Politics, 12/1/2000 - Morocco rules out currency devaluation
Morocco on Thursday ruled out projects to devaluate its national currency, Dirham ($ 1 = roughly 11 Dirham). Morocco, Economics, 12/1/2000 - Popular rally in Fez calls for boycott of American products
Participants at a solidarity rally with the Palestinian people, held Thursday here by the Moroccan League for Human Rights Defense (LMDH), called for boycotting American products. Morocco-USA, Politics, 12/1/2000 - Biological rest as of january 1st for cephalopods Morocco, Economics, 12/1/2000
- King chairs meeting on preparations for child international summit Morocco, Culture, 12/1/2000
- 10,600 young promoters received loans, says minister
Morocco's Secretary of state to the minister of social economy, small and medium enterprise and handicraft Abdelkrim Benatik said that up to last October, 10,600 young promoters benefited from loans. Morocco, Economics, 11/30/2000 - New round of Morocco-EU fishery talks in Rabat
Morocco and the European Union held in Rabat Wednesday and Thursday a new round of fishery talks. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 11/30/2000 - Ittisalat al maghrib passed no agreement with Israeli konvers
Secretary of state in charge of posts and telecommunications and information technologies Nasar Hajji denied news that Ittisalat Al Maghrib has passed an agreement with the Israeli firm "Konvers." Morocco-Israel, Economics, 11/30/2000 - Oil drilling licenses signed
The Office national de Recherche et d'Exploitation Petrolieres (ONAREP) and a grouping of three firms (US, British and south African) concluded in Rabat Wednesday an accord on oil prospecting off-shore Sidi Ifni, in south-western Morocco. Morocco, Economics, 11/30/2000 - King Mohammed, President Bouteflika hold phone conversation Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 11/27/2000
- Colloquium notes positive evolution of freedom in Morocco
Participants also noted the serious challenges facing democratic evolution in Morocco, resulting from difficulties to cope with "a heavy legacy of human rights breaches and the crumbling of the electoral process, in addition to the justice and administration poor performances." Morocco, Politics, 11/27/2000 - Morocco, best democratic experiment in mideast, US ambassador
Morocco is the best democratic experiment in the Middle-East, US ambassador to Morocco, Edward Gabriel, said. "We in the U.S. State Department believe that Morocco probably is the best democratic experiment that is currently going on in the Middle East," Gabriel told the State Department, adding "Morocco's number one strength is its civil society." Morocco-USA, Politics, 11/27/2000 - Calls to boost Casablanca stock market
However, they noted that foreign investors blame the lack of transparency, over-liquidity as the major brakes to the flourishing of the Casablanca financial place. Morocco, Economics, 11/27/2000 - Morocco determined to extend information technologies use
Morocco said it is determined to extend the use of new information technologies in economic, social and cultural sectors. Morocco, Politics, 11/27/2000 - Safari, leisure park in Marrakesh
The city of Marrakesh will be endowed with a 200-hectare safari and leisure park. Morocco, Local, 11/27/2000 - Southern local elects undertake study trip to US
A delegation of local elects from Morocco's southern regions undertook a study trip to a number of US cities and counties to learn about US local management. Morocco-USA, Politics, 11/27/2000