Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 2/17/2003
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of February 17, 2003
- Sit-in in Rabat against anti-terrorism draft
Some 100 people staged Thursday a sit-in in front of the Parliament building, to protest the anti-terrorism draft submitted to the legislative institution. Morocco, Politics, 2/22/2003 - Liberalization of audio-visual media, fundamental to democratization process (moroccan official)
The liberalization of the audio-visual media sector in Morocco is "fundamental" to the democratization process under way in the Kingdom, said Morocco's Communication minister and government spokesman. Morocco, Politics, 2/22/2003 - Morocco paid $ 80 mln in compensation to disappearance victims (official)
Morocco has paid, until end of January 2003, more than $ 80 million dollars to compensate 3700 victims of disappearances and arbitrary detention. Morocco, Politics, 2/22/2003 - King Mohammed receives Tunisian premier Morocco-Tunisia, Politics, 2/22/2003
- Women politicians call on Moroccan people to march in support of iraq Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 2/22/2003
- Moroccan premier underscores women's role in development
Moroccan Premier, Driss Jettou, underscored on Thursday the important role women play in Morocco's development. Morocco, Economics, 2/22/2003 - Trial of Al-Qaeda Operatives: Three Saudis Sentenced to ten Years
Three Saudi nationals, members of a dormant cell of Al Qaeda, were sentenced on Friday to ten years in jail each by the Casablanca court of appeal. Morocco, Local, 2/22/2003 - Morocco-UAE company appoints new chairman Morocco-United Arab Emirates, Business, 2/22/2003
- Five tons of drugs seized in Meknes Morocco, Local, 2/22/2003
- Human rights effected by unclear definitions of terrorism and other concepts
Morocco's Secretary General of the Party for Progress and Socialism (PPS, in government), Ismail Alaoui, called the government to present a declaration on its commitment to defend human rights and democracy. Morocco, Politics, 2/21/2003 - Morocco renews commitment to African development initiative
King Mohammed VI underlined that Morocco is convinced that the proposed reforms, especially those in connection with good governance and the democratisation process, will stimulate the necessary energies and mobilize regional and continental potentialities in order to make the principles and objectives of NEPAD a concrete reality. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 2/21/2003 - Morocco calls for fair use of water
King Mohammed VI deplored that "Africa is lagging behind," when it comes to water management and availability. To highlight the seriousness of the situation, the king quoted figures showing that "only half the African population has access to drinking water, and some 400 million Africans will need this essential commodity by the year 2015." Morocco-Regional, Politics, 2/21/2003 - Morocco moves to elaborate children rights code, official
Morocco's State Secretary of family, solidarity and social action, Yasmina Baddou, said her department is probing the elaboration of a children rights code taking into account conditions of children in Morocco. Morocco, Culture, 2/21/2003 - Morocco issues new coinages Morocco, Local, 2/21/2003
- Third international music contest in Morocco next march
The third edition of the international music contest will be held next March in Casablanca, with the participation of seven pianists from Germany, Poland, Japan, Russia, Yugoslavia, Romania and Italy. Morocco-Regional, Local, 2/21/2003 - Morocco decries alarming state of fisheries resources in Mediterranean Sea
This cooperation, according to him, should zero in on the consolidation of the Southern bank's scientific structures according to a comprehensive vision on the management of fisheries resources. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 2/21/2003 - King Mohammed holds phone talks with Spain's aznar Morocco-Spain, Politics, 2/20/2003
- Morocco-Russia ties excellent, trade still modest (diplomat)
Though political and diplomatic ties between Morocco and Russia are deep-rooted in history (2nd half of 18th century), the two countries' economic and trade exchanges remain modest, and below their potential, said Monday Russian ambassador to Rabat, Youri Kotov Mikhailovich. Morocco-Russia, Politics, 2/20/2003 - Russia rejects partition of Sahara
Russia Rejects the thesis on the partition of the Sahara and continues to back a political solution to the issue, said Russian ambassador to Morocco, Youri Kotov Mikhailovich. Morocco-Russia, Politics, 2/20/2003 - Moroccan premier meets Mauritanian fisheries minister Mauritania-Morocco, Politics, 2/20/2003
- World Bank confident in Morocco's potential
Morocco's enormous potentials could be instrumental in ensuring the Kingdom's economic take off provided they be mobilized in an efficient manner, said Leila Zlaoui, adviser to WB's Vice President. Morocco, Politics, 2/20/2003 - Maximum sentence requested for suspected members of dormant al-Qaeda cell
The public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal of Casablanca on Tuesday requested maximum sentence for suspected members of a dormant cell of the Al-Qaeda network. Morocco, Local, 2/20/2003 - German court convicts Moroccan El Motassaddeq for involvement in 9/11 attacks
A Hamburg court on Wednesday sentenced Moroccan Mounir El Motassadek, to 15 years in jail for aiding in the 9/11 terror attacks against the US. Morocco-Germany, Local, 2/20/2003 - French expert praises morocco's efforts in fighting AIDS
Director of French public interests body "ESTHER," Ms. Anne Petit-Girard praised Morocco's "convincing results" in fighting AIDS and sexually transmissible diseases. Morocco-France, Health, 2/20/2003 - King Mohammed, President Ben Ali want peacful solution to Iraq issue
Morocco's King Mohammed VI and Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali endeavour relentlessly to find a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis and avoid war, Morocco's Foreign Affairs and Cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa told MAP news agency. Tunisia-Morocco, Politics, 2/19/2003 - Morocco to train 72,000 professionals in tourism related sectors by 2010
Moroccan tourism training centres will train 72,000 professionals by 2010, a date set by Morocco to gain 10 million tourists per annum. Morocco, Economics, 2/19/2003 - Morocco, well prepared to win development stakes, WB chief Morocco, Politics, 2/19/2003
- Liberation daily: one nurse for every 1426 Moroccans, survey
Morocco has a nurse for every 1426 persons, according to a study by the National Union of Public Health on Paramedical Personnel, published Monday. Morocco, Health, 2/19/2003 - L'Opinion daily: After 16 years in captivity, Moroccan serviceman escapes Polisario jail (daily)
A Moroccan soldier, captured by the Polisario in 1987, managed to escape the separatists' jails in Tindouf (south-western Algeria) in January after 16 years of captivity, L'Opinion daily reported on Tuesday. Morocco-Algeria, Local, 2/19/2003 - Moroccan FM calls Arab states to push aside artificial disagreements
Speaking at a program aired by Morocco's first TV channel TVM, the head of the Moroccan diplomacy deplored the time, energy and human and material efforts wasted by the Arab states in their internal disagreements Morocco-Regional, Politics, 2/18/2003 - King Mohammed , UAE president hold phone conversation United Arab Emirates-Morocco, Politics, 2/18/2003
- King Mohammed attends France-Africa, NAM summits Morocco-France, Politics, 2/18/2003
- King Mohammed meets WB president
King Mohammed VI underlined that these priorities translate Morocco's ambition to build a modern, open and competitive economy. The king stressed his firm determination to make this development sustainable and to ensure its supervision by institutions and instances observing the rule of law in economic affairs. Morocco, Economics, 2/18/2003 - Construction of new Tangier port begins
The deep sea harbor will handle activities of container transshipment, international road transport, and conveyance of general goods and passengers. Morocco, Economics, 2/18/2003 - Creation of network of African sea sciences institutes probed in Morocco
The new network will coordinate action among specialized laboratories and promote regional and international partnership with similar institutions based in developed countries. Regional-Morocco, Economics, 2/18/2003 - Moroccan first female pharmacist receives French president's distinction
Morocco's first female pharmacist, Fawzia Fassi-Fihri-Benarfa, received in Paris a prestigious distinction awarded by French president, Jacques Chirac. Morocco-France, Local, 2/17/2003