Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 6/23/2003
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of June 23, 2003
- Women's summit focused on many themes
The summit agenda of the international women summit, in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh Saturday and run for three days, will cover a variety of themes, atop of which the development of women, women social, economic and political role in he world of today, their rights and their contribution to making the world a better place to live in. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 6/28/2003 - Moroccan POW tells story of horror in Polisario jails
From the darkness of his cell in a Polisario jail, a Moroccan national, still jailed by the Polisario separatists in the camps of Tindouf (south-western Algeria), managed to send a book for publishing on his ordeal and that of hundreds of Moroccan POWs at the hands of the Algeria-backed group. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 6/28/2003 - Gnawa festival opens in Essaouira
This rite of possession that they indicate by the term of "derdeba" proceeds during the night. It is animated by a Master musician accompanied by his troop, by a conspicuous affiliated with the brotherhood of the gnaoua and her assistants. This night ceremony comprises a profane part intended for the entertainment during which there is no trance and a sacred part during which saints and supernatural entities are called upon (mlouk). Morocco, Culture, 6/28/2003 - Moroccan minister meets US under secretary for political affairs Morocco-USA, Politics, 6/28/2003
- Morocco, EU sign scientific, technical cooperation agreement Morocco-European Union, Science, 6/28/2003
- An extremist, wanted by the police, handcuffed in southern Morocco Morocco, Local, 6/28/2003
- Moroccan, European talks on Moroccan POWs in tindouf
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abdelouahed Radi, held talks here on Thursday with European parliament speaker, Pat Cox, on the fate of hundreds of Moroccan POWs detained in Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria). Morocco-European Union, Politics, 6/28/2003 - Morocco-Italy hashish network dismantled
An international network of Hashish traffic between Morocco and Italy via Spain was dismantled and all its members were arrested, the Italian police said on Wednesday. Morocco-Italy, Local, 6/28/2003 - Marrakech, World Women Capital from June 28 to 30
Marrakech will host this June 28-30 the world women summit where more than 600 women will exchange and share experiences in business and define future strategies. Regional-Morocco, Economics, 6/27/2003 - Declaration of Rabat urges for support of LDCs development efforts
Participants in the extraordinary ministerial conference of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) called on Wednesday developed countries to support their development efforts and live up to their commitments vis-a-vis LDCs. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 6/27/2003 - Foreign connection found in Casablanca attacks, justice minister
Authors of the terrorist attacks perpetrated last May 16 in Casablanca have "connections with several terrorist organizations abroad and with several financiers of international terrorism," Moroccan Justice Minister, Mohamed Bouzoubaa, said on Thursday. Morocco, Local, 6/27/2003 - Berber language teaching to start in 2003-2004 school year
Moroccan education and youth minister, Habib El Malki, announced on Wednesday that teaching the Berber language will start in the coming 2003-2004 school year. Morocco, Education, 6/27/2003 - Moroccan press group buys over state's shares in printing company
Moroccan press group "Maroc Soir" has bought all of the 92.97% shares held by the state in the printing company "Soci?t? Nouvelles des Imprimeries R?unies" (SONIR), for 22 million DH (US$ 2.3 million). Morocco, Business, 6/27/2003 - President Chirac in Morocco next October Morocco-France, Politics, 6/27/2003
- European Investment Bank to open office in Morocco Morocco-European Union, Business, 6/27/2003
- Tennis: Morocco's El-Aynaoui advances to third round in Wimbledon Morocco, Sports, 6/27/2003
- Moroccan Popular Banks institution sees consolidation of its presence in Canada
The Moroccan Popular Banks institution (GBP), which has been present in Canada for the last three decades, is seeking to consolidate its presence in Canada to better serve the Moroccan community living there. Morocco-Canada, Business, 6/27/2003 - Moroccan post office's sales rises by 20.2% in 2002
The sales achieved by "Barid Al-Maghrib," Moroccan post authority, reached in 2002 1.09 billion DH (US$ 117.6 million), which is a rise of 2% compared to the figures of 2001. Morocco, Business, 6/27/2003 - Only 1,000 heart cases benefit annually from surgical care in Morocco
Only 1,000 heart cases benefit annually from surgical care in Morocco, chairman of Grand CÏur (Great Heart) Association, Mohammed Agherbi, said on Thursday. Morocco, Health, 6/27/2003 - Labor Code set to reinforce partnership between social actors
The labor code, adopted this week by the two parliamentary chambers, will enhance partnership between social actors, labor, social affairs and solidarity minister, Mustapha Mansouri, said on Tuesday. Morocco, Economics, 6/26/2003 - Morocco, Algeria convene 1st session of joint consular, social affairs committee
The Moroccan-Algerian consular and social affairs committee, created this June 14-15 during the visit of Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister Mohammed Benaissa to Algeria, started its first session in Algiers on Wednesday. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 6/26/2003 - Moroccan human rights minister meets ICRC executive
Morocco's human rights minister, Mohamed Aujjar, renewed here on Wednesday, at a meeting with the regional representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Harald Smid De Grunicek, Morocco's call for the release of populations sequestered by secessionist group "Polisario" in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria). Morocco, Culture, 6/26/2003 - Rights association denies involvement in occupation of MAP office in paris
The France-based association of human rights in Morocco (ASDHOM) said it was not involved in any way in the occupation of the Paris office of the Moroccan news agency (MAP), and denied having decided or participated in this act. Morocco-France, Politics, 6/26/2003 - Morocco calls UNHCR to release moroccans sequestered in tindouf
Morocco called the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to extend a humanitarian assistance to the Moroccans sequestered in the Tindouf camps (southeastern Algeria) and promote their voluntary return to their homeland. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 6/26/2003 - Morocco's highway company posts 13% rise in sales
The Moroccan highways company (ADM) announced a 13% rise in 2002 of its sales which reached 463 million DH (US$ 49.7 million), including 440 million DH coming from tolls. Morocco, Business, 6/26/2003 - Court adjourns to next july trial of Salafia Jihadia members
The appeal court of Casablanca adjourned on Wednesday to next July 2 the trial of 31 members of a group named "Youssef Fikri," an offshoot of the Salafia Jihadia. Morocco, Politics, 6/26/2003 - Morocco's Ouaziz to vie for minimum performance at 5,000 m in Oslo
Moroccan athlete, Zahra Ouaziz, who will line up at women's 5,000 m race in Oslo will be vying for a minimum performance during the Golden League event. Morocco, Sports, 6/26/2003 - Moroccan and Spaniard arrested with 1.3 ton of Hashish Morocco, Local, 6/26/2003
- Morocco registers 3.5 percent economic growth in 2002
Morocco has registered a 3.2 percent economic growth in 2002 according to the latest estimations. Morocco, Economics, 6/26/2003 - Morocco moves forward in FIFA ranking
Morocco has won one standing, moving from the 38th to the 37th rank on FIFA ranking with a total of 613 points. Morocco, Sports, 6/26/2003 - Morocco's electricity sector liberalization for 2005
Morocco will maintain the liberalization of the electricity sector for 2005, director general of the National Office of Electricity (ONE), Ahmed Nakkouch said. Morocco, Economics, 6/25/2003 - Private sector urged to invest in housing
Hjira announced that the State is gradually withdrawing from its traditional role in housing and will play the role of supervisor. Morocco, Economics, 6/25/2003 - King Mohammed vows increased interest to NEPAD initiative
The sovereign also spelled out Morocco's intent "to make the most of the forthcoming discussions, to develop a road map which will enable it to defend the interests of all members and to voice their common concerns in the international forums, mainly WTO, the UN, and even within the Group of 77 and China." Regional-Morocco, Politics, 6/25/2003 - Twenty-two individuals fined for illegal religious grouping
The first instance court of Tangiers on Monday fined 22 people 3,000 dirhams, nearly US$ 300, on charges of illegally forming a religious group. Morocco, Politics, 6/25/2003 - Cement sales rise by 14% during january-april 2003 Morocco, Economics, 6/25/2003
- Tennis: Morocco's El-Aynaoui moves to second round in Wimbledon, Arazi Out Morocco, Sports, 6/25/2003
- BADEA governing council to meet in cairo Regional-Morocco, Local, 6/25/2003
- Moroccan mining sector posts over $431 mln in sales
The mining sector in Morocco achieved in the first quarter of 2003 sales estimated at more than 4.31 billion Dirhams (US $431 million), the mining and energy ministry announced. Morocco, Economics, 6/25/2003 - Marrakech international film festival in October
The third edition of the International Film Festival of Marrakech will be held next October 3-8, organizers announced. Morocco, Local, 6/25/2003 - Moroccan bank, French development agency fund mining project in niger
The Moroccan Bank of Trade and Industry (BMCI) and Proparco, an offshoot of the French development agency, loaned US $12.5 million to Managem group (mining firm of ONA, Morocco's largest private group) to exploit a gold mine in Niger. Morocco-France, Business, 6/25/2003 - King Mohammed VI Back to Morocco from Mauritania Morocco-Mauritania, Politics, 6/24/2003
- Chamber of advisor passes Labor Law
The chamber of advisors (upper parliamentary chamber) unanimously adopted this Monday the labor law, regulating relations between employers and employees. Morocco, Politics, 6/24/2003 - Morocco floats proposals for Arab Human Rights charter updating
Morocco submitted to the Arab standing commission of human rights' meeting in Cairo, a set of proposals to update the Arab human rights charter and adapt it to ongoing mutations worldwide. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 6/24/2003 - Moroccan king's visit to Mauritania set to boost already excellent relations
Morocco's King Mohammed VI's visit Sunday to Nouakchott after the failed coup attempt in Mauritania will boost the already solid relations that the Maghreban states enjoy, says observers in the Mauritanian capital. Mauritania-Morocco, Politics, 6/24/2003 - Ordeal of Moroccans sequestered in Tindouf under the spotlight in Belgium Morocco-Belgium, Politics, 6/24/2003
- Eight persons arrested for advocating and financing terrorism
The general prosecutor at the court of appeal of Rabat, Lahcen Laoufi, announced that eight persons were arrested for advocating terrorism, obtaining foreign funds to be used in terrorist acts, forging passports and hiding information that could have helped in the ongoing probe on last May 16 terrorist attacks in Casablanca. Morocco, Politics, 6/24/2003 - Morocco unveils comprehensive program to modernize administration
Morocco unveiled here on Monday a comprehensive plan to modernize public administration through several reforms. Morocco, Politics, 6/24/2003 - Tennis: Morocco's El Aynaoui plays British Hilton in Wimbledon first round Morocco, Sports, 6/24/2003