Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 4/21/2003
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of April 21, 2003
- President of Mauritania dedicates Moroccan-Mauritanian cement plant
President Mouaouiya Ould Sid' Ahmed Taya on Thursday dedicated two industrial units in the city of Nouadhibou (northeast) including "Ciments du Nord," a Moroccan-Mauritanian cement plant. Morocco-Mauritania, Business, 4/26/2003 - Sahrawi ngo to sue Polisario torturers at Spanish justice
The association of the Polisario victims in Spain (ASVIPO) announced Friday it will sue members of the secessionist group "Polisario" for atrocities committed against persons it is sequestering in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria). Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 4/26/2003 - EU launches risk-capital fund for Mediterranean
Three French financial groups and the European Investment Bank (EIB) launched on Thursday a joint fund dedicated to investments in risk-capital in Mediterranean countries. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 4/26/2003 - French group opens capital to Moroccan investors
French electronics group GESPAC decided to open 20 to 30 per cent of its capital to foreign and Moroccan institutional investors, part of a move to make of the Kingdom a turning plank of electronics industry, said in Casablanca on Thursday the company's CEO, Frantz-Pierre Bridoux. Morocco-France, Business, 4/26/2003 - NGO denounces Polisario's refusal of UNHCR initiative to open phone lines for sequestered population Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 4/26/2003
- Morocco sets objective of 10 million readers by 2010
RABAT, Apr.25 (MAP)- Moroccan minister of culture, Mohammed Achaari, called here Friday for new efforts to promote reading, and reach the objective of 10 million readers in Morocco by 2010. Morocco, Education, 4/26/2003 - ADB 110 mln euro loan to Morocco
The African Development Bank (ADB) granted on Friday a 110 million Euro loan to Morocco to support health coverage. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 4/26/2003 - 5th Arab song festival in Casablanca next June Morocco-Regional, Local, 4/26/2003
- Moroccan judiciary delegation meets president of French court of cassation
A Moroccan judiciary delegation, led by Chief Justice, Driss Dahak, currently on a four-day work visit to France, has met president of French court of Cassation, Guy Kanivet and other French magistrates. Morocco-France, Judicial, 4/26/2003 - Turkish business delegation to visit Morocco
The visit aims to explore business opportunities with Moroccan economic operators and develop bilateral trade exchanges currently estimated at US 150$ million which is below the two countries potentials Morocco-Turkey, Economics, 4/26/2003 - Moroccan researcher optimistic medicine will ultimately vanquish SARS
Ongoing medical research will ultimately vanquish the Severe Acute Respiratory Disease (SARS), said Moroccan doctor, Bensalem El Kohen, who authored fifty years ago in Paris a thesis on cases similar to SARS. Morocco, Health, 4/26/2003 - Moroccan develops dietetic Couscous
A Moroccan man said he has developed a couscous able to stabilize the blood sugar and cholesterol levels, Morocco's TV channel 2M reported Friday. Morocco, Health, 4/26/2003 - Three parties move to reunification as a strategic choice
Secretaries general of the Popular Movement (MP), the National Popular Movement (MNP) and the Democratic Union (UD) agreed to move towards reunification as a "strategic choice.." Morocco, Politics, 4/25/2003 - New sectors will open up to competition, Moroccan premier
The government will prepare other sectors for competition since their liberalization will help Morocco reap dividends, attract further foreign investment and highly improve the quality of services, he went on, adding that public industrial and trade services run by the state or local collectivities will be progressively "transferred to the private sector whenever this will draw profit in terms of investments, job opportunities and quality.." Morocco, Economics, 4/25/2003 - Date of local polls to be announced next Thursday
The date for local elections will be announced next Thursday following the government council meeting, communication minister and spokesman for the government, Nabil Benabdellah, said this Thursday at a press briefing after the government's weekly meeting. Morocco, Politics, 4/25/2003 - Canary Islands' president ends visit to Morocco
President of the Canary Islands' autonomous government, Roman Rodriguez, left Agadir on Wednesday after the end of a three-day visit to the country. Morocco-Canary Islands, Politics, 4/25/2003 - Morocco earmarks us$ 2 million to promote publishing, reading Morocco, Culture, 4/25/2003
- UN denies Algerian news reports on adoption of resolution on sahara
The UN information services in Geneva and the human rights commission secretariat denied news reports by Algerian news agency "APS" that the commission adopted in Wednesday a resolution on "Western Sahara." Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 4/25/2003 - Public-private body needed to promote moroccan investments in Africa
The promotion of Moroccan investments in Africa needs a joint public-private body, recommended participants in a conference held here on Wednesday on the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) by the Foreign Affairs and Cooperation ministry. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 4/25/2003 - Morocco's unemployment rate drops by 0.9% in 2002
RABAT, Apr.24 (MAP)- The unemployment rate in Morocco for 2002 is estimated at 11.6%, against 12.5% the previous year, recording a 0.9% drop, the statistics direction said. Morocco, Economics, 4/25/2003 - Morocco - sub-saharan trade reach $440 million
It imports oil products, cotton, wood, coffee and coal. In order to make up for the low level of trade exchanges with sub-Saharan countries, Morocco has adopted recently a set of encouraging legal texts meant to increase partnership ties between Moroccan and African business operators Morocco-Regional, Economics, 4/24/2003 - Moroccan experts work in African countries part of SPFS program (official)
"Moroccan assistance has brought simple and practical technologies that helped improve productivity," said the Moroccan official, adding that as a result of the success of this experience, other African countries are planning to use Moroccan cooperation, particularly Mauritania, Chad, Guinea, Cameroon and Gambia. The Republic of Central Africa and Djibouti have already made an official request for Morocco's assistance, he added. Regional-Morocco, Economics, 4/24/2003 - King Mohammed appoints new central bank governor Morocco, Local, 4/24/2003
- Tourism operators screen means to promote Moroccan tourism in Saudi arabia
Participants in this get-together underscored the weakness in the number of Saudi tourists in Morocco, asserting that the country annually attracts 33,000 Saudi tourists, i.e. 1 per cent out of the 4 million Saudis who travel abroad. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Economics, 4/24/2003 - GCC to organize 1st industrial fair in morocco
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will organize its first fair of industrial products on July 21-24 in Casablanca, assistant director of the Kuwaiti Trade and Industry Chamber, Hamad El Omar, announced Tuesday. Gulf-Morocco, Economics, 4/24/2003 - Anti industrial pollution project unveiled in Morocco
He noted in this respect that the implementation of these liquid waste norms depends on the adoption of a draft decree on storm and waste water. He added that his department has concluded partnership conventions with several industrial firms, including the phosphates company (OCP), the electricity board (ONE), cement plants and the Moroccan enterprise federation (CGEM). Morocco, Environment, 4/24/2003 - Encounter calls for media public service development
Participants to a conference held in Rabat under the theme: "Media, democracy and development: the stakes of reform" this Apr.21-22 highlighted the need to develop media public service and promote human rights and information rights. Morocco, Politics, 4/24/2003 - Morocco industrial production index posts 2.9% growth in 2002 Morocco, Economics, 4/23/2003
- Moroccan government committed to reform communication sector, official says
Morocco's Communication minister and Government Spokesman, Nabil Benabdellah, stressed on Monday the government's commitment to reform the communication sector and engrain media pluralism. Morocco, Politics, 4/23/2003 - Morocco renews call for release of Moroccans detained in southern algeria
Morocco on Tuesday renewed a call for the immediate release of Moroccan nationals detained by the Polisario separatists in the camps of Tindouf, south-western Algeria. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 4/23/2003 - Morocco moves to eradicate unhealthy housing in northern areas Morocco, Local, 4/23/2003
- Al Alam: Official says Morocco needs corruption-specialized justice
Chairman of the Moroccan human rights Consultative Council (CCDH), Omar Azziman, upheld the setting in place of a jurisdiction specialized in corruption and public funds embezzlement cases, arguing that Morocco needs such a court. Morocco, Judicial, 4/23/2003 - Asharq Al Awsat: Government comitted to hold local elections by october
The Chamber of Advisors is elected at the indirect suffrage by colleges comprising local councils, trade unions and professional associations. Morocco, Politics, 4/22/2003 - Lowering voting age is an important achievement, official
the Youth department has decided to create 500 libraries and 63 information centers to centralize all information that might help young people to choose their careers, school and university orientation. Morocco, Politics, 4/22/2003 - Morocco's democratization process unique in Arab world, D'alema says
Former Italian premier and chairman of the Democratic Party of the left termed Morocco's democratization process as a "unique" example in the Arab arena. Morocco-Italy, Politics, 4/22/2003 - Mali supports Morocco in Sahara Issue, Moroccan diplomat
Mali's stand on the Sahara issue has changed under president Alpha Omar Konare and now Bamako supports Morocco, said the Kingdom's ambassador to Mali, Mohamed Rachouk. Morocco-Mali, Politics, 4/22/2003 - Turkish trade delegation to visit Morocco Morocco-Turkey, Economics, 4/22/2003
- Judo: Morocco Wins International Tournament Morocco, Sports, 4/22/2003
- Tennis: Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui moves to 2nd round in Barcelona open Morocco, Sports, 4/22/2003
- Morocco vows to consolidate ties with Canary Island
Morocco on Monday vowed to consolidate economic cooperation with the Spanish Canary government. Morocco-Canary Islands, Politics, 4/22/2003 - 450g of heroin seized in northern Morocco Morocco, Local, 4/22/2003
- Moroccan company sells over shares in beverages branch
Moroccan company "Societe Nationale d'Investissement" (SNI) has sold over all of its shares in the alcohol and non-alcohol beverages branch to Belgian group "Castel." Morocco, Business, 4/22/2003