Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 1/13/2003
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of January 13, 2003
- Allowing Galicia ships into Moroccan waters, a royal donation not an accord
Morocco's King Mohammed VI's decision to allow Spanish ships into the Moroccan Exclusive Economic Zone, is "a royal donation" meant to help Galician peoples affected by sunken tanker Prestige oil slick, said Morocco's Fisheries minister, Tayeb Rhafès. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 1/18/2003 - Morocco, Spain hail task groups meeting's atmosphere in rabat
Morocco and Spain hailed "the atmosphere of cordiality and mutual understanding" that marked in Rabat on Thursday meetings, held in camera, of three task groups tackling segments related to politics, emigration and maritime borders. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 1/18/2003 - Casablanca courts carries on trial of suspected al-Qaeda operatives
The defense attorneys complained about flaws in the arrest procedure, the preliminary investigation, the minutes writing and the preventive detention period. Morocco, Politics, 1/18/2003 - Spanish farmers seek to ban entry of Moroccan fruits, flowers to europe
Farmers and stock breeders from southern Spain have called their peers in the southern town of Almeria to block the passage of Moroccan fruits and flowers to Europe. Morocco-Spain, Economics, 1/18/2003 - Baker to request extension of MINURSO mandate
James Baker, personal envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for the Sahara, said Thursday he will request to the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of MINURSO (French acronym for the UN Mission for the holding of referendum in the Sahara), Algerian news agency (APS) reports. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 1/18/2003 - King Mohammed gets message from President Hussein
"Inspectors don't undertake their mission in a professional manner, no matter what they pretend," Aziz said, adding that they "visit certain plants and scientific institutions that might have a link with the alleged WMD, but in fact they are searching for data on industrial, technological and conventional defense armament potential, which are not prohibited by international customs." Iraq-Morocco, Politics, 1/17/2003 - Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki: Moroccan government to propose law for clear definition of terrorism
Moroccan human rights minister, Mohamed Aujjar, said the government will propose a draft law that will clearly define terrorism. Morocco, Politics, 1/17/2003 - Spanish region of Catalonia to open economic representation in Morocco
The Spanish regional government of Catalonia will open in the coming months a commercial representation in Morocco, said a local official. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 1/17/2003 - Mauritanian secretary of state starts visit to Morocco
Mauritanian secretary of state in charge of the Arab Maghreb Union, Hammou Ould Salem, started this Wednesday a visit to Morocco. Mauritania-Morocco, Politics, 1/16/2003 - L'Inter: Air Senegal, top sub-saharan airliner, Senegalese president says
"When elected at the presidency of state, I was ready to sell Air Senegal at a symbolic Franc to get rid of it as a matter of fact, until I met the Moroccans and we both decided to launch this company that's today the top Sub-Saharan airliner," said Wade Morocco-Senegal, Economics, 1/16/2003 - UN envoy for Sahara says he delivered new initiative for political settlement of Sahara issue
It is now clear that when Algeria and Spain keep on kindling this artificial conflict, they are, in fact, delaying a whole package of multilateral progress, the only factor likely to put the Mediterranean region on the track of growth, development and prosperity. Since the time when Baker was entrusted with this issue, we will not dare to say that he does not know the reality of facts, the paper concludes. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 1/16/2003 - More negotiations are needed for balanced Morocco-EU agriculture accord
Morocco want the reciprocity principle to be applied with all the shades of meanings contained in the agreement, they said. This means that Morocco's development level should be taken into account as more than half of the population lives in rural areas, in addition to the labor force of the agri-food industry and of other associated activities. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 1/16/2003 - Morocco okays building of Roche lab in Casablanca
The Moroccan Health department has okayed the building in Casablanca of a laboratory by the World-famed Roche company. Morocco, Business, 1/16/2003 - Morocco moves to liberalize Tobacco sector
The Moroccan House of Representatives (lower chamber of parliament) on Tuesday passed a draft bill for the liberalization of the tobacco sector. Morocco, Economics, 1/16/2003 - Vivendi's financial problems will not affect Moroccan phone operator, minister
The financial problems of the French Group "Vivendi" will not affect the future of Morocco's phone operator, Maroc Telecom, minister of finance and privatization, Fathallah Oulaalou, said Tuesday. Morocco, Business, 1/16/2003 - Morocco takes over G77 chairmanship
Morocco will take over from Venezuela the chairmanship of G77 plus China at a ceremony this week in New York. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 1/16/2003 - Aujourd'hui le Maroc: Morocco determined to make handicapped persons full-fledged citizens
Morocco's Secretary of State in charge of family, solidarity and social action, Yasmina Baddou, said that Morocco is determined to make of its handicapped persons, full-fledged citizens, enjoying the society's full gamut of rights. Morocco, Culture, 1/15/2003 - Morocco says it will constructively study Baker's proposals
Moroccan Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister, Mohamed Benaissa, on Tuesday said Morocco will study "in a constructive spirit" the proposals made by James Baker, Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for the Sahara. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 1/15/2003 - Iraq, proud of Morocco's Support to its Legitimate Cause (Aziz) Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 1/15/2003
- Cote D'ivoire's parliamentary delegation briefs moroccan officials on country situation
A visiting parliamentary delegation from Cote D'Ivoire, led by vice-speaker of the national assembly, Siki Blon Blaise, held on Monday work sessions with several Moroccan officials to brief them on the situation in their country. Morocco-Cote D'Ivoire, Politics, 1/15/2003 - Australia open tennis tournament: Morocco's el Aynaoui passes, Arazi ousted
Morocco's top tennisman, Younes El Aynaoui, had a hard time in the second day of the US$10.54 million Australian open, and only managed to go to the 2nd round after the retreat of U.S. Justin Gimelstob (2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0). Morocco, Sports, 1/15/2003 - Thousands of Moroccans march in support of Iraq
a member of the organizing association read out a communique that "denounces strongly the new criminal aggression being prepared by the US-British-Zionist terrorism against Iraq." The communique considers that the campaign is "seeking to occupy Iraq and subdue its people." Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 1/14/2003 - Moroccan-Saudi Business Council opens meeting
Abdellah Kaaki, President of the Mecca Chamber of Commerce and Industry who chairs the Saudi side at the Council, deplored, in a speech at the opening of the meeting, the low level of trade exchanges which remain short of the excellent relations between the two states. He also regretted the low level of investments. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Economics, 1/14/2003 - Sahrawi association decries human rights violations by Polisario
A Sahrawi Association has sent an open letter to James Baker, Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary General for the Sahara, attracting his attention to the serious human rights violations committed by the Polisario leadership in the Tindouf camps, south-western Algeria. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 1/14/2003 - Spanish fm upbeat about Morocco-Spain future relations
Spain's foreign affairs minister, Ana Palacio voiced on Saturday optimism concerning normalization of Morocco-Spain future relations and the return of ambassadors to their respective posts in Rabat and Madrid. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 1/14/2003 - Moroccan-French trade talks
Means to increase trade exchanges between Morocco and France topped talks held in Rabat Monday between Moroccan minister in charge of economic and general affairs and economic upgrading, Abderrazaq El Mossadeq, and French delegate minister of foreign trade, Francois Loos. Morocco-France, Economics, 1/14/2003 - International Forum in Casablanca on Female Managers
"Female heads of Enterprise: Investment and partnership" is the theme of an international forum to be held February 20-22 in Casablanca with several businesswomen from Morocco and abroad attending. Morocco, Local, 1/14/2003 - Morocco marks independence manifesto anniversary
The new reality was faced with an intensified repression by the colonial powers, a repression that peaked with the exile of the Late King Mohammed V and the Royal Family. The move only ignited more the anger of Moroccans, who expressed their rejection of the occupiers' schemes with more resistance Morocco, History, 1/13/2003