Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 12/30/2002
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of December 30, 2002
- Algerian-Moroccan problems continue to hinder holding Maghreb summit
Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, said in Algiers Saturday that the date of a Maghreban summit will be set by the five states' heads of state. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 1/4/2003 - Micro-credits soar by 65% in 2002
He further explained that the state has earmarked both local and international donations to encourage micro-loaning institutions and adopted a legal framework to regulate and develop the activity. This legal framework provides for the creation of a micro-finance advisory council which held its first session this Friday. Morocco, Economics, 1/4/2003 - Morocco's fm sees any contact with Spain as positive step
The Moroccan official further said in connection to the Moroccan Sahara issue that he sensed during his recent visit to Madrid "willingness on the part of our Spanish interlocutors to understand the Moroccan stand, bearing in mind that Spain will become (starting this month) a member in the Security Council and will have to address this issue." Morocco-Spain, Politics, 1/4/2003 - US Department Of State official to visit Morocco Morocco-USA, Politics, 1/4/2003
- Moroccan government says no delay in communal elections
the electoral system will differ from one commune to another according to its demographic density: the proportional list voting system will be adopted for communes where the population exceeds 25,000 inhabitants and the uni-nominal voting system with the proportional majority will be used for communes whose population is less than 25,000 inhabitants Morocco, Politics, 1/3/2003 - Arab Maghreb federation discusses convening a summit
Diplomatic sources in Algeria said that the long-waited summit of the leaders of the Arab Maghreb federation is on the front list of the work agenda of the meeting of the foreign ministers of the federation's five member states meeting today in Algiers. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 1/3/2003 - Moroccan NGO sees continuation of Intifada as unique alternative to face Zionist arrogance
The association further conveys an urgent appeal issued on December 19th to the Moroccan people "from Palestinian widows, orphans, sick people, students and the unemployed who suffer from poverty and exclusion and are in need of assistance." Morocco-Palestine, Politics, 1/3/2003 - Qatari businessmen prospect Moroccan market
A group of businessmen from Qatar, led by chairman of the administrative board of the Qatari real estate investments company -Sheikh Kaled Ben Thani Al-Thani, undertook from December 19 through 31 a prospecting mission in Morocco. Qatar-Morocco, Economics, 1/3/2003 - Some 900,000 Moroccans turned back at Melilia's checkpoint in 2002 Morocco-Spain, Politics, 1/3/2003
- Trial of 9/11 suspect resumes in Hamburg
According to them, Motassadeq can't be judged because he simply knew the authors of the Twin Center attacks, much less because he traveled to Afghanistan for training and arms handling. Regional-Morocco, Local, 1/3/2003 - Moroccan committee decries human cloning
The Moroccan Committee of Ethics of Casablanca on bio-medical research on Tuesday decried human cloning as a "crime against humanity." Morocco, Health, 1/2/2003 - Moroccan NGOs to stage protest march against military strike in iraq
Soufiani reiterated his call for the boycott of American and British products Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 1/1/2003 - Moroccan-Senegalese airliner, great success of Rabat-Dakar cooperation
President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal on Tuesday lauded the Moroccan-Senegalese air company "Air Senegal International" as "the greatest success of our cooperation with Morocco." Morocco-Senegal, Business, 1/1/2003 - Morocco attends Maghreban foreign ministers meeting Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 1/1/2003
- Morocco, Ghana probe fisheries cooperation Morocco-Ghana, Economics, 1/1/2003
- Aznar: Relations with Morocco are a priority for Spain
Spanish Premier, Jose Maria Aznar, on Sunday said Spain sees relations with Morocco as a "priority," voicing hope that Madrid and Rabat will develop "stable" ties marked by "deep friendship." Morocco-Spain, Politics, 12/31/2002 - Assahraa Al Maghribia: Morocco rules out fishing accord with EU for the time being
Morocco's fisheries minister, Mohamed Tayeb Rhafes, said "a new fishing accord with the European Union is not projected for the time being." Morocco-European Union, Politics, 12/31/2002 - Association of human rights victims of polisario meets international hr federation
The association of victims of human rights breaches perpetrated by the Algeria-backed secessionist Polisario met in Paris last Friday secretary general of the international human rights federation, Driss El Yazami. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 12/31/2002 - El Pais: Spanish phone operator runs tele-marketing center in morocco
The call center of the Spanish phone operator, Telefonica, in Tangiers, will specialize in tele-marketing, reports spanish daily "El Pais." Morocco-Spain, Business, 12/31/2002