Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 6/11/2001

Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of June 11, 2001

• Sea life protection body set up Morocco, Environment, 6/16/2001
• Football: Morocco's Raja Club in Saudi tournament Saudi Arabia-Morocco, Sports, 6/16/2001
• Desert encroachment jeopardizes 280,000 hectares of palm groves, minister Morocco, Environment, 6/16/2001
• American University to open in Tangiers Morocco-USA, Education, 6/16/2001
• Italy swaps $ 55 mln of Moroccan debt
  Italy has swapped 550 million dirhams, nearly $ 55 million, of Moroccan debt to Rome, the Italian embassy in Rabat announced on Friday. Morocco-Italy, Politics, 6/16/2001
• Morocco's phosphates sales on the rise
  Morocco exported up to last April the equivalent of 4.7 billion dirhams (nearly $ 470 million) of phosphates and by-products exports. Morocco, Economics, 6/16/2001
• Most operations at Rabat child hospital made by video-surgery
  Some 70 percent of operations are currently made by video-surgery at the Rabat child hospital, said Fouad Attaybi, a child surgeon. Morocco, Health, 6/16/2001
• Indian Business Delegation In Morocco Shortly
  A delegation of Indian businessmen will pay a visit to Morocco June 24-27 to explore opportunities of partnership and means to bolster trade exchanges, announced India's ambassador in Rabat, Indrajit Singh Rathore. Morocco-India, Business, 6/16/2001
• Moroccan parliament calls international community to shoulder responsibility in 'Israeli slaughters'
  Radi, who described Israel's acts as war crimes, said the international community must shoulder its responsibility in protecting the Palestinian people in line with the principles of the Geneva fourth convention that provides for the protection of civilians in time of war. Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 6/15/2001
• King Mohammed receives Gabon's defense minister Morocco-Gabon, Politics, 6/15/2001
• King Mohammed receives Togo's foreign minister Morocco-Togo, Politics, 6/15/2001
• Moroccan, Spanish home ministers meet in Valencia
  The two ministers surveyed the problems of concern to the two countries, in the frame of normal consultations between the interior departments, and voiced satisfaction over the understanding prevailing between these departments. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/15/2001
• Moroccan association calls for boycott of Israeli products
  Secretary general of the Moroccan association of support to the Palestinian struggle, Khaled Sefiani, called on Wednesday for the boycott of Israeli products. Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 6/15/2001
• European Union official visits Morocco on Monday
  The source says Patten will propose a technical assistance to support the recent agreement between Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan for a close economic integration. The commission sees this agreement as likely to give a new impetus to the Barcelona process. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 6/15/2001
• Belgium to finance Moroccan project to fight child labor
  Belgium will finance a program to fight child labor, by granting micro-loans to parents who renounce making their children work and send them to school instead, a Belgian official said. Morocco-Belgium, Economics, 6/15/2001
• Prince Moulay Rachid attends marriage of Libyan leader's son
  Morocco's Prince Moulay Rachid, younger brother of King Mohammed VI, on Thursday paid a short visit to Tripoli where he attended the marriage ceremony of the Libyan leaders' son Saadi Mouammar Kadhafi. Libya-Morocco, Local, 6/15/2001
• Morocco participates in Dakar airport construction Morocco-Senegal, Economics, 6/15/2001
• Morocco's growth rate forecast decreased to 5 or 6% due to drought
  Drought, which has affected 90% of Moroccan territory, has forced Morocco to revise its growth rate forecast downwards, from an expected 8% to a rate ranging between 5 and 6%. Morocco, Economics, 6/15/2001
• Textile, leather exports rise by 8.3% up to April Morocco, Economics, 6/15/2001
• Morocco grain imports rise by 39% in Jan-Apr 2001 period
  Moroccan imports of cereals were worth up to April 2001 3.15 billion DH, (US$ 286 million) increasing by 39% compared to the 2.26 billion DH-worth of imports recorded last year (US$ 205.4 million). Morocco, Economics, 6/15/2001
• Europe supports strategic backing to south-Mediterranean countries
  The European Union is projecting to extend strategic backing to its partners in the south Mediterranean, as part of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership new orientation, said Thursday Chris Patten, European foreign relations Commissioner, expected in Morocco on Monday. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 6/15/2001
• Korean president meets Moroccan speaker
  Okacha, who is leading a delegation from the chamber of advisors to the second assembly of the international parliamentarians' association for agriculture, fisheries and forests, currently held in Seoul, Korea, had also conferred with speaker of the Korean national assembly on the consolidation of cooperation between the two countries' parliaments, mainly through exchange of experience and information. Morocco-South Korea, Politics, 6/15/2001
• Lahoud's visit, a new impetus to Moroccan-Lebanese ties, Youssoufi
  The official visit President Emile Lahoud is currently paying to Morocco will give a new impetus to the Moroccan-Lebanese ties, Moroccan prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoui, said Wednesday. Morocco-Lebanon, Politics, 6/14/2001
• Morocco, UAE joint commission meets in Rabat
  Several cooperation accords, relating to the creation of a free exchange area, air transportation, sea fisheries and information will be signed during the meeting, Moroccan ambassador to the UAE, Abdellah Azmani Morocco-United Arab Emirates, Economics, 6/14/2001
• Morocco's democratic experience outlined in cairo Morocco, Politics, 6/14/2001
• Princess Lalla Meryem confers with U.N. officials Morocco, Local, 6/14/2001
• Moroccan-British ties to be boosted, ambassador
  Cooperation ties between Morocco and Britain will be given a strong impetus in the three coming years, British ambassador to Morocco, Anthony Layden said. Morocco-UK, Politics, 6/14/2001
• Moroccan employment minister in Brussels
  The two sides will assess implementation of the Moroccan-Belgian joint statement on employment and labor signed last October in Rabat. Morocco-Belgium, Economics, 6/14/2001
• Morocco wants to reform university scholarships system
  Morocco said it intends to reform its higher education scholarships system, which grew inefficient in view of the growing number of university students. Morocco, Education, 6/14/2001
• Jorf lasfar power plant, a great success, US corp. says
  The Jorf Lasfar power plant is a great success for CMS-Energy, said William Mccornick, president of the governing board of the US corporation, which built the plant in Jorf Lasfar port (220 km south of Rabat). Morocco-USA, Business, 6/14/2001
• Morocco allots 48 percent of state budget to social fields
  Morocco earmarks 48 percent of the state budget to social fields, a fact evidencing the importance the Kingdom grants to the population's social conditions. Morocco, Economics, 6/14/2001
• Drought will not impact drinking water supply, official
  A Moroccan official has denied that the drought, which currently hits Morocco, would adversely impact drinking water supply in the years to come. Morocco, Economics, 6/14/2001
• Lebanese president starts official visit to Morocco
  The visit is seen in Morocco and Lebanon as a new step towards the consolidation of privileged cooperation and friendship ties. Morocco-Lebanon, Politics, 6/13/2001
• Czech finance minister meets Moroccan officials
  Czech finance minister, Jiri Rusnok, met in Rabat Tuesday Moroccan premier, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, who stressed Morocco's keenness to develop relations with East European countries, candidates to become members of the European Union. Morocco-Czech Republic, Economics, 6/13/2001
• Slight drop of unemployment in Morocco in first three months of 2001
  The rate of unemployment has recorded a slight drop of 0.8 percent at the national level in Morocco during the first three months of 2001, standing at 12.7 percent compared to 13.5 percent during the same period last year. Morocco, Economics, 6/13/2001
• Moroccan carrier to service Paris-Agadir Daily, Paris-Fez four times a week Morocco, Business, 6/13/2001
• Head of UN child summit preparatory committee hails Morocco's exemplary action
  Morocco's action in favor of the cause of children was hailed as "exemplary" by head of the Preparatory Committee for the UN extraordinary general assembly on children, Partricia Durrant. Morocco, Culture, 6/13/2001
• Moroccan MPs call for more international backing to agriculture
  The delegation from the chamber of advisors (upper house of the Moroccan Parliament) which is participating in the second assembly of the international parliamentarians' association for agriculture, fisheries and forests, currently held in Seoul, Korea, called for more international backing to the sectors of agriculture and fisheries in developing countries. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 6/13/2001
• Moroccan judge elected to war crimes court for ex-Yugoslavia
  Morocco's Mohamed El Habib Fassi Fihri was among the 27 judges elected by the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. Morocco, Local, 6/13/2001
• Japan loans Morocco $ 114,5 mln for northern road project
  Japan has extended Morocco a loan worth 12.76 billion Yens (About 1.26 billion DH or US$ 114.5 million) to finance a 120 km-long stretch of the Mediterranean ring. Morocco-Japan, Economics, 6/13/2001
• Princess Lalla Meryem stresses children's rights to dignity
  Morocco's Princess Lalla Meryem, chairwoman of the Moroccan observatory of children rights on Monday stressed children's right to live in dignity and the need to shield them against any discrimination. Morocco, Culture, 6/12/2001
• Royal palace spokesman: Saudi crown prince's visit was successful at all levels
  Aourid said the visit was an opportunity to share with king Mohammed VI views on all the Arab states issues, mainly the situation in the Middle East which experiences an unprecedented aggression by the Israeli occupation forces, requiring support to the Palestinian people and joining efforts. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 6/12/2001
• Togo's president winds up visit to Morocco
  RABAT, June 12 (MAP)- President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo left Morocco this Tuesday at the end of a three-day visit during which he was received by King Mohammed VI. Morocco-Togo, Politics, 6/12/2001
• Princess Lalla Meryem visits UNICEF, UNDP in New York
  Princess Lalla Meryem and the UNDP general manager surveyed cooperation ties between Morocco and the UNDP and stressed the need to further develop this cooperation at a time Morocco has embarked on an ambitious program to reduce social gaps and disparities, especially between rural and urban areas. Morocco, Culture, 6/12/2001
• Morocco, Togo set up joint commission
  Morocco and Togo signed on Monday a convention of understanding and consultation providing inter-alia for the setting up a joint cooperation commission. Morocco-Togo, Politics, 6/12/2001
• Andalusian government prospects fisheries joint venture with Morocco
  The autonomous government of Andalusia has crafted a project to set up a fisheries joint venture with Morocco, to allow more than one hundred small boats to operate in Moroccan waters, through the signing of private deals with Moroccan sides. Morocco-Spain, Economics, 6/12/2001
• Investments commission approves conventions worth dh 1.8 billion
  The Moroccan inter-ministerial commission of investments approved six investment conventions in the sectors of tourism, industry, cinema and fisheries, worth 1.83 billion Dirhams (about $159.73 million). Morocco, Economics, 6/12/2001
• Saudi crown prince pays official visit to Morocco
  Saudi heir apparent, deputy-chairman of the ministers council and commander of the national guard, Prince Abdallah Ibn Abdelaziz, started Sunday a two-day official visit to Morocco at the invitation of King Mohammed VI. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Politics, 6/11/2001
• UN calls for emergency assistance to Sahrawi populations sequestered in Tindouf
  Two leading United Nations agencies on Friday called for an emergency assistance to the Sahrawi populations sequestered in Tindouf, in south-western Algeria. Morocco, Politics, 6/11/2001
• King Mohammed receives Togo president
  King Mohammed VI, who was accompanied by prince Moulay Rachid, received here on Monday president of Togo Gnassingbe Eyadema who started on Sunday a three day visit to Morocco. Morocco-Togo, Politics, 6/11/2001
• King Mohammed congratulates Iran's Khatami on re-election Morocco-Iran, Politics, 6/11/2001
• Morocco, Czech republic sign investment promotion accord
  Morocco and the Czech Republic signed here on Monday an agreement on investments protection and promotion and a convention on avoidance of double taxation. Morocco-Czech Republic, Economics, 6/11/2001
• UAE economy minister to dedicate Made-In-UAE fair in Morocco United Arab Emirates-Morocco, Economics, 6/11/2001
• Morocco to invest 500 mln dh in water prospecting by 2004
  Morocco's equipment minister, Bouamour Taghouane, announced that his department is planning a 500 million Dirham-investment (US$ 45.5 million) in water prospecting by 2004, while the Drinking Water Office (ONEP) will earmark 11 million DH (US$ one million) to consolidate drinking water production and extend the supply network. Morocco, Economics, 6/11/2001
• Moroccan MPs in parliamentary meeting on agriculture in Korea Morocco-South Korea, Agriculture, 6/11/2001
• Saudi extends Morocco $ 28 million loan for university hospital
  The Saudi Development Fund has extended Morocco a loan worth 90 million Saudi Riyals (US$ 28 million) to finance the construction of a university hospital in Fez. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Economics, 6/11/2001

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