Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 6/30/2003
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of June 30, 2003
- US ambassador: Morocco will remain strategic partner for USA
Morocco will remain "a strategic partner" for the USA, said Margaret Tutwiller, US ambassador in Morocco in an interview published this Friday by Moroccan dailies "Le Matin du Sahara et Du Magrheb" and "Assahra Al Maghribya." Morocco-USA, Politics, 7/5/2003 - Palacio in Morocco, Spanish education, agriculture ministers due next in Morocco
Spanish foreign minister, Ana Palacio, also arrived this Friday in Tetuan (Northern Morocco).The head of the Spanish diplomacy will dedicate, together with Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, the maternity ward of the city's Spanish hospital and the refurbished Spanish "Cervantes" cultural center. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/5/2003 - Tangiers free zone woos Portuguese enterprises
A Moroccan official delegation has met on Thursday over one hundred Portuguese enterprises to talk them into opening businesses in the free zone in the Moroccan northern city of Tangiers, reassuring them that all arrangements were taken to help businesses succeed. Morocco-Portugal, Economics, 7/5/2003 - Moroccan destitute children get help from world soccer stars
Soccer stars from the best European championships made the trip to Morocco, for the lofty cause of helping children, in an admirable gesture of solidarity and generosity. Morocco, Culture, 7/5/2003 - King Mohammed receives Tunisian foreign minister Morocco-Tunisia, Politics, 7/5/2003
- Fourteen suspected terrorists stand trial at court of appeal
A group of 14 individuals, involved in preparing terrorist operations, were referred on Thursday to the investigating judge at the court of appeal of Rabat, general prosecutor, Lahcen Laoufi, announced on Friday. Morocco, Local, 7/5/2003 - Truck drivers end strike after meeting with transport minister
Moroccan trucks drivers agreed on Thursday night to end their strike, which they started last June 16, after a meeting with equipment and transport minister, Karim Ghellab. Morocco, Economics, 7/5/2003 - Court resumes trial of 31 Salafia Jihadia members
The Casablanca court of appeal resumed Friday hearing in the case of 31 alleged members of the so-called "Salafia Jihadia" extremist group. Morocco, Local, 7/5/2003 - Trial of Moroccan journalist arrested in connection with casablanca attacks probe adjourned
The court of Rabat decided Wednesday to adjourn to July 9 the trial of director of "Al Ousboue" weekly, Mustapha Alaoui, and rebuffed the defense's request to grant him temporary release. Morocco, Politics, 7/4/2003 - House of representatives adopts Labor Code unanimously
The House of Representatives (parliament lower chamber) on Thursday unanimously passed the labor code Morocco, Economics, 7/4/2003 - Moroccan FM received by Romanian president
Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohammed Benaissa, who is currently on a two-day visit to Romania, was received here on Wednesday by Romanian president, Ion Iliescu, on the sidelines of the Moroccan-Romanian joint commission. Morocco-Romania, Politics, 7/4/2003 - Morocco uses regulatory power to direct private phone operator to meet GSM market needs
The government is projecting to propose fines against phone companies that do not invest 2% of their turnover to extend the GSM network to remote areas, it was officially announced here on Wednesday. Morocco, Economics, 7/4/2003 - Tunisia FM arrives in Morocco Morocco-Tunisia, Politics, 7/4/2003
- Rabat hosts month of Arab cinema
The "Month of Arab Cinema" started Wednesday in Rabat, part of activities scheduled for the Moroccan capital city that was proclaimed Arab cultural capital for 2003. Morocco-Regional, Culture, 7/4/2003 - Morocco opens toll-free phone number for religious information Morocco, Religion, 7/4/2003
- Three quarters of scholarship applications satisfied in 2002-2003, minister
Alioua added next year will be the outset for the first phase of pedagogic reforms, aimed at adapting curricula to the job market Morocco, Education, 7/4/2003 - Seminar on Moroccan-Spanish relations to be organized in Spain Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/4/2003
- French association pays solidarity visit to terrorism-stricken sites Morocco-France, Local, 7/4/2003
- Morocco, recipient of US General System of Preferences expansion
Morocco is among the countries that will benefit from the expansion of the US GSP (generalized system of preferences) proclaimed Tuesday by US president George W. Bush, said a press statement by the bureau of US trade representative. Morocco-USA, Economics, 7/4/2003 - Two individuals involved in Casablanca attacks before court
Two individuals stood on Wednesday before the public prosecutor of the appeal court of Rabat, part of the ongoing probe to identify persons involved in the terrorist attacks that hit Casablanca on May 16, the public prosecutor of the appeal court of Rabat, Lahcen Laoufi said in a release. Morocco, Local, 7/4/2003 - Morocco extends Djibouti financial assistance to support medical sector Morocco-Regional, Politics, 7/3/2003
- Moroccan minister meets delegation of international rehabilitation council for torture victims
Moroccan human rights minister, Mohamed Aujjar, held talks in Rabat on Tuesday with a delegation of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), currently on a visit to the kingdom. Morocco, Culture, 7/3/2003 - Human rights process in Morocco confronted to serious tests in 2002, Arab human rights organization
The process of human rights and liberties consolidation in Morocco was confronted to serious tests in 2002 and the first 6 months of 2003, says the Arab Human Rights Organization in its annual report made public last week. Morocco-Regional, Culture, 7/3/2003 - Morocco, Syria agree to create joint arts and crafts academy Morocco-Syria, Local, 7/3/2003
- Moroccan expats association donates medical equipment to cancer hospital
An association of Moroccan expatriates has handed out a donation of medical equipment to the Rabat cancer hospital in Rabat (INO). Morocco, Culture, 7/3/2003 - Spain calls for consensual solution to Sahara issue
King Juan Carlos of Spain, whose country took over this month the UN Security council presidency, called on Tuesday for a "consensual and swift" solution to the Sahara conflict within the United Nations. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/3/2003 - Trial of 31 members of Salafia Jihadia adjourned
The appeal court of Casablanca decided Wednesday to adjourn the trial of 31 members of "Salafia Jihadia" group, including a group leader -Youssef Fikri, to this July 4 to give lawyers time to prepare their argument. Morocco, Local, 7/3/2003 - Arab culture permanent commission meets in Rabat Regional-Morocco, Local, 7/3/2003
- Colombian deputy-speaker announces reopening of Colombian embassy in Rabat Morocco-Colombia, Politics, 7/3/2003
- Over $ 140 million projects to be launched shortly in Casablanca
Five major projects in tourism, real estate and leisure will be launched shortly in the Moroccan economic and financial capital, Casablanca, set to increase the city's economic competitiveness and upgrade investments. Morocco, Economics, 7/3/2003 - Finance, privatization minister meets delegation of US council of young politicians Morocco-USA, Local, 7/3/2003
- Moroccan tourism minister: managing juncture without affecting structural projects
Concerning the present juncture, he said while the gulf war had limited impact on trade with a 13% drop last April in the number of nights spent at Moroccan hotels, the terrorist attacks in Casablanca have yielded a drop of 8%. The French market was not affected but the number of British tourists dropped by 11% and other foreigners' visit regressed by 25 to 50%. Morocco, Economics, 7/3/2003 - Morocco creates committee to prevent plague creeping in from Algeria
The Moroccan health department announced this Wednesday it has set up a committee to prevent plague creeping into Morocco after an outbreak of the epidemic in Western Algeria. Morocco-Algeria, Local, 7/3/2003 - All-star soccer game to support Morocco's candidacy to host 2010 world cup
An all-star soccer game will be held in Rabat Thursday part of the support campaign of Morocco's candidacy to host the 2010 soccer World Cup. Morocco, Sports, 7/3/2003 - Some 3,000 new cases of chronic kidney failure recorded in Morocco annually
Some 3,000 new cases of chronic kidney failure are recorded in Morocco every year, the Moroccan association of nephrologists (SMN) said in a release Wednesday. Morocco, Health, 7/3/2003 - World Women Summit calls for favorable environment for better participation of women
The World Women Summit called for a clear political commitment to guarantee democracy and good governance and provide a favorable environment for a better political and economic participation of women. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 7/2/2003 - Morocco, Libya probe bilateral cooperation Libya-Morocco, Politics, 7/2/2003
- Morocco, Catalonia create economic development foundation Morocco-Spain, Economics, 7/2/2003
- Marrakech hosts international conference on IT introduction in education, training Morocco, Local, 7/2/2003
- Frenchman arrested, 200 kg of hashish seized in Tangiers port Morocco, Local, 7/2/2003
- More individuals before court in connection with Casablanca blasts
Twelve individuals appeared Monday before the public prosecutor of the Rabat court of appeal part of the probe in the terrorist attacks perpetrated last May 16 in Casablanca. Morocco, Local, 7/2/2003 - King Mohammed leads the way to LDCs to development, Benin's official Morocco-Regional, Politics, 7/1/2003
- King Mohammed hosts dinner for participants in world women summit Morocco, Local, 7/1/2003
- Literacy key to better conditions for Moroccan women, official
Improving the situation of Moroccan women can only be achieved through fighting illiteracy, secretary of state in charge of literacy and informal education, Najima Rhozali, said in Marrakesh on Saturday. Morocco, Culture, 7/1/2003 - Amnesty International to move toward the liberalization of moroccan POWs in Algeria
Amnesty International (AI) will start on September 6 a train of actions to free the Moroccan POWs sequestered in Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria), a representative of the organization announced here on Saturday at a forum part of the "Moroccan Sahara Week" that is organized in Brussels Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/1/2003 - Ireland ready to defend Morocco's request to have advanced status with EU
Ireland, which will take up as of next January the rotating chairmanship of the European Union, said it is ready to defend Morocco's request to have an advanced status with the European Union (EU). Morocco-Ireland, Politics, 7/1/2003 - Morocco, Portugal agree to boost strategic partnership Morocco-Portugal, Politics, 7/1/2003
- Moroccan minister participates in workshop on US-Morocco FTA Morocco-USA, Economics, 7/1/2003
- ICRC to activate international humanitarian law in morocco
Regional delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the Maghreb, Harald Schmid De Gruneck, said here on Saturday the current mission of his organization in Morocco is to promote international humanitarian law, particularly in the academic realm. Morocco, Education, 7/1/2003 - US Partnerships for Learning' Programs to be implemented soon in Morocco
The US Partnership for Learning, destined to Arab states, has started to yield fruit in Morocco and cultural exchanges programs will be launched this summer, Patricia Harrisson, Assistant of the US secretary of state for cultural and educational affairs, said in Marrakesh on Saturday. Morocco-USA, Education, 7/1/2003 - Annual average of medicines' consumption in Morocco is no more than us $17 by person
The annual average of medicines consumption in Morocco does not exceed 170 Dhs (US $17) by person, which is very low compared to the average in other Mediterranean countries, President of pharmacists' Union of Al Jadida, Nezha Hefti, said here on Friday. Morocco, Economics, 7/1/2003 - Morocco, Japan review fisheries cooperation
Means to upgrade cooperation ties between Morocco and Japan in fisheries and related sectors topped talks held here Monday by Moroccan fisheries minister, Tayeb Rhafes, and Japanese deputy agriculture, forests and fisheries minister, Toyoaki Ota. Morocco-Japan, Economics, 7/1/2003 - E-Morocco strategy outlined Morocco, Local, 6/30/2003
- King Mohammed underlines pledge to women's promotion
He added "We are also endeavouring to rid women of all the forms of injustice they are subjected to, and we seek to upgrade the existing legislation, taking into account the fact that women have shown a keen awareness of their rights and obligations, and that Morocco has made significant progress in all fields, thus, as Amir al Muminin, defender of the faith and its followers, I have set up a special committee and instructed its members to pay heed and carefully examine all the grievances voiced by women's associations Morocco, Politics, 6/30/2003 - Morocco raises 400m in Eurobond issue as investors shrug off fears, FT Writes
The first 400m ($457m, £275m) eurobond Morocco raised Friday in London was seen by The Financial Times (FT) as showing that investors were undaunted by last month's multiple suicide attacks in the Moroccan financial capital Casablanca. Morocco, Economics, 6/30/2003 - Morocco, France ties praised as model Morocco-France, Politics, 6/30/2003
- Tennis: Morocco's El Aynaoui edged out at Wimbledon Morocco, Sports, 6/30/2003