Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 4/7/2003
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of April 7, 2003
- Moroccan upper house calls for preserving Iraq's independence
In a motion of solidarity, published at the opening of the spring session of parliament, the Chamber decried anew "of the cowardly aggression against Iraq, waged in blatant violation of the international legality." This aggression, the Chamber said, seeks to establish "a new type of international relations built on the logic of military power, paying no heed to the will of peoples." Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 4/12/2003 - Baghdad fall, war repercussions on Arab regimes make Moroccan headlines
L'Economiste deplores a feeling of "collective humiliation. A humiliation before history, because we have chosen to be fooled," insisting that US presence in Iraq is a threat to the whole region. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 4/12/2003 - Morocco's trade deficit reaches 48% end of February 2003
Moroccan exports were estimated at 13.19 billion DHs (US$ 1.3 billion) by end of February 2003, in comparison to 14.57 billion Dhs (US $1.45 billion) during the same period last year, i.e. a 9.4 percent drop. Morocco, Economics, 4/12/2003 - Rabat, Bamako keen on enhancing cooperation
Morocco and Mali decided to enhance bilateral cooperation by associating the Moroccan private sector in mining, agriculture, industry and construction projects in Bamako. Morocco-Mali, Politics, 4/12/2003 - Farming-usage dams filled up to 62% of capacity Morocco, Economics, 4/12/2003
- Tennis: Al-Aynaoui cruises to semi-final of Casablanca open Morocco, Sports, 4/12/2003
- Tennis: Morocco's Arazi moves to Casablanca Open semi-final Morocco, Sports, 4/12/2003
- Moroccan painter awarded French distinction Morocco, Local, 4/12/2003
- Morocco's overall citrus fruits exports grow by 6%
With 23,000 tons, potato exports regressed by 29% while exports of various other fruits and vegetables went up by 19% to stand at 97,000 tons. Morocco, Economics, 4/12/2003 - Port traffic in Morocco to increase by 3.9% in 2003
Port traffic in Morocco is expected to reach 60 million tons in 2003, that is a 3.9 percent increase compared to last year's estimates, said on Wednesday director general of the Moroccan ports office (ODEP), Mustapha Baroug. Morocco, Economics, 4/12/2003 - Morocco wishes end to Iraqi people sufferings
The Moroccan government wishes that an end will be put shortly to the sufferings of the Iraqi people so that they can freely make their choices, Moroccan communication minister, Nabil Benabdallah, said on Thursday. Iraq-Morocco, Politics, 4/11/2003 - Moroccan press on the fall of Iraqi regime
The Moroccan press, which run short of explanations to the fast and surprising fall of the Iraqi regime, wondered about the fate of the Iraqi people after US-British forces took over Baghdad. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 4/11/2003 - Spain for realistic solution to Sahara issue
"We share France's standpoint for a realistic and lasting solution" of the Sahara issue," said Spanish Foreign Minister, Ana Palacio Morocco-Spain, Politics, 4/11/2003 - French FM calls for realistic, lasting settlement of Sahara issue Morocco-France, Politics, 4/11/2003
- Enrolment on electoral lists unfold soundly, minister Morocco, Politics, 4/11/2003
- Tennis: Morocco's El Aynaoui qualified for quarterfinals in Casablanca open Morocco, Sports, 4/11/2003
- Some 40,000 persons take train daily in Morocco, executive
Some 40,000 persons take the train daily in Morocco and the number reaches 70,000 passengers during summer and religious holidays, said director general of the Moroccan railways office "ONCF," Karim Ghellab. Morocco, Economics, 4/11/2003 - Spain welcomes Moroccan-French document to 55 meeting
The three axes that the Spanish foreign minister described as excellent relate to the contribution of migration flows to the emergence of a feeling of belonging to a common Euro-Mediterranean space, gradual standardization of legal migrants statutes; free movement of people favoring the dynamism of North-South relations. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 4/11/2003 - Moroccan speaker urges for end of illegal and disproportionate war in Iraq
Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives (lower parliamentary chamber), Abdelouahed Radi, on Tuesday told the Inter-parliamentary union 108th session, held in Chile this Apr.06-12, the US-British "illegal, disproportionate and immoral war" against Iraq has to stop. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 4/10/2003 - Moroccan press says coalition trying to gag press to free field for propaganda
To sum up the situation, Al Bayane said "obviously, masks have fallen down." For the daily the message of George W. Bush and his administration is crystal clear: today law will no longer make power, it is power that will make law. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 4/10/2003 - Chile supports Morocco in Sahara issue
Speaker of the Chilean senate, Andres Zaldivar, said Tuesday his country supports Morocco in the Sahara issue and is ready to continue to back the Kingdom in the United Nations Organization. Morocco-Chile, Politics, 4/10/2003 - Moroccan premier rejects press reports challenging transparency of september's legislative polls
Moroccan premier, Driss Jettou, rejected this Wednesday claims by Moroccan weeklies "Le Journal Hebdomadaire" and "Tel Quel" that challenge the transparency of legislative elections held last September and that tend to discredit the upcoming communal elections. Morocco, Politics, 4/10/2003 - Moroccan, French FMs hold talks
Moroccan Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister, Mohamed Benaissa, conferred Wednesday with French peer, Dominique de Villepin, on the fringes of the 5"5 dialogue held in Sainte Maxime April 9-10. Morocco-France, Politics, 4/10/2003 - Morocco extends exceptional fishing license for Spanish fishermen
Morocco's King Mohammed VI has decided to extend, starting April 17, the exceptional license to the oil slick-affected fishermen of Galicia (northwestern Spain) to operate in Morocco's exclusion zone, it was officially announced this Wednesday. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 4/10/2003 - Morocco calls U.N. to move to free 1,160 Moroccans captive in Algeria
Morocco on Wednesday called on the United Nations Human Rights Commission to join ongoing international efforts to free 1,160 Moroccan nationals detained by the Polisario in south-western Algeria. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 4/10/2003 - Tennis: Morocco's Arazi Cruises to Quarterfinal in Casablanca Open Morocco, Sports, 4/10/2003
- Two Liberian nationals arrested for racket
The plaintiff said the two individuals pretended they possessed a considerable amount of money, in US dollars, and that they were looking for associates to invest in Morocco. They asked the man to give 55,000 DH (US$ 5.500) to pay for the money transfer fees. Morocco, Local, 4/10/2003 - Tennis: Morocco play Britain in Davis Cup play off
Morocco will play Britain in a play off for accession to the Davis Cup World Group, next September 19-21 in Marrakesh. Morocco, Sports, 4/10/2003 - Moroccan press union: killing machine now targets journalists
"The US-British killing machine has changed its target in Iraq to aim at journalists who shed the light, with sound and image, on its law of the jungle practices," the Moroccan Press Union (SNPM) said in a release Tuesday. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 4/9/2003 - Moroccan media reforms outlined
Moroccan communication minister, Nabil Benabdallah, on Tuesday outlined a Moroccan plan to reform the country's media part of its push for more democracy and progress. Morocco, Politics, 4/9/2003 - Invasion of Iraq augurs US hegemony on the world, Moroccan papers write
"It's crystal clear that the US-British aggression against brotherly Iraq does not solely aim to occupy and redesign the Middle-East in a way subservient to the vital interests of the United States and the Zionist entity, but also unveils Washington's intention to rule the world and control its destiny with an iron fist," writes daily paper Attajdid, of opposition Justice and Development party. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 4/9/2003 - Spanish official highlights Moroccan-Spanish will to consolidate ties Morocco-Spain, Politics, 4/9/2003
- Reform of the human rights consultative council meant to reinforce its independence
Reforms brought to the Moroccan human rights consultative council (CCDH) are meant to reinforce its independence and diversification in order to promote human rights in Morocco, said the council's chairman, Omar Azziman. Morocco, Politics, 4/9/2003 - Economia Exterior: Spain should exert more efforts to shore up entente with Morocco
"Economia Exterior," or External Economy, a reputed Spanish business magazine, has run a special edition on Moroccan-Spanish relations, urging Madrid to exert more efforts to shore up entente with Morocco. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 4/9/2003 - Hassan II tennis grand prix: El Aynaoui, Arazi move to 2nd round Morocco, Sports, 4/9/2003
- ISESCO, Arab World Institute agree to foster cooperation
The Rabat-based Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Paris Arab World Institute (IMA) signed Tuesday a protocol of cooperation. Morocco-Regional, Local, 4/9/2003 - Moroccan humanitarian aid to Iraqi people handed to ICRC in jordan Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 4/8/2003
- Chairman of Paris Arab World Institute visits Morocco this week Morocco, Local, 4/8/2003
- Moroccan NGOs condemn war on Iraq
Moroccan political organizations, associations and unions condemned the US-British war on Iraq. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 4/8/2003 - RAM airliner resumes Casablanca-Riyadh flights
The Moroccan domestic airliner (RAM) will resume flights between Casablanca and Riyadh (round trip) starting this April 30. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Business, 4/8/2003 - Casablanca hosts 8th conference of man-made weather changes
Casablanca is hosting this April 7-11 the 8th conference of the world meteorology organization on artificial modifications of weather. Morocco, Science, 4/8/2003 - Lalla Meryem Tennis GP: Italy's Rita Grante gets title
Italian tennis woman Rita Grande broke out of a two-year and half title drought with a three-set victory over Antonella Serra Zanetti in Saturday's all-Italian final of HRH Lalla Meryem Tennis Grand Prix. Morocco, Sports, 4/8/2003 - Morocco outs italy, qualifies for Davis cup play offs
The Moroccan national tennis team on Sunday ousted Italian counterpart, 3-2, and made it to Davis Cup qualifiers. Morocco, Sports, 4/8/2003 - Moroccan refugees in Ruweishid camp see years of labor in Iraq gone awry
Such is the fate of other Moroccan refugees in the Ruweishid Camp. All have left back in Iraq agricultural land plots granted them by virtue of an agreement signed in 1981 between Morocco and Iraq. Morocco-Iraq, Local, 4/8/2003 - World organization against torture urges Polisario to immediately free moroccan pows
The World Organization Against Torture (OMCT)(main international NGO against torture) urged in Geneva on Thursday the Polisario (Algeria-backed secessionist group) to immediately free all Moroccan POWs it is still detaining in Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria). Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 4/7/2003 - For Moroccan press, the world is at threshold of new colonial era
Several Moroccan dailies agreed this Monday that events unfolding in Iraq show that the world is at the threshold of a new colonial era that risks to plunge the entire globe into mayhem. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 4/7/2003 - Some 160 surgeries on facial malformations performed in southern city
Some 160 children suffering from various facial malformations were treated in the Moroccan southern city of Laayoune part of the Operation Smile, held March 27 through April 04. Morocco, Health, 4/7/2003