Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 7/14/2003
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of July 14, 2003
- Human rights organization makes mitigated assessment of rights respect in Morocco
The Moroccan human rights organization (OMDH) praises progress covered in Morocco in the promotion of political and cultural rights and calls for a definitive settlement of pending issues related to serious past human rights abuses. Morocco, Politics, 7/19/2003 - Morocco and Pakistan sign package of agreements
Morocco's King Mohammed VI and President Pervez Musharraf co-chaired in Rabat on Friday at the Royal Palace the signing of three cooperation agreements between Morocco and Pakistan The agreements were signed on the second day of the Pakistani president's official visit to Morocco. Morocco-Pakistan, Politics, 7/19/2003 - Trials in connection with may 16 attacks are respectful of law, justice minister
All trials held in connection with May 16 terrorist attacks are respectful of the law and the prosecuted enjoy their full rights, Moroccan justice minister, Mohamed Bouzoubaa said in Rabat on Thursday. Morocco, Local, 7/19/2003 - Customers' bank deposit increase by 6% in 2002 Morocco, Business, 7/19/2003
- Morocco's El Aynaoui rolled out of Stuttgart quarter finals Morocco, Sports, 7/19/2003
- Moroccan athlete wins 1,500m race in Algiers international meet
Morocco's Youssef Baba won in Algiers on Thursday the 1,500m race in Algiers international meet with a timing of 3:40.09. Morocco-Algeria, Sports, 7/19/2003 - Textile-clothing sector posts us $2.8 billion in sales in 2002
According to Mezouar, apart from the Spanish, Portuguese and UK markets that registered respectively 15%, 24% and 5% rises, drops were recorded in all the other markets in the European Union. Nevertheless, the textile-clothing sector is still the largest employer and exporting industry enterprise Morocco, Economics, 7/19/2003 - Morocco denies it is hindering Sahara settlement plans
He explained that Morocco has also reserves on "the referendum" as this proposal had, in the past, been fruitless. "Why go back to this option, if we are to discuss a political solution that secures to each party its rights and, at the same time, guarantees security and stability?, he wondered. Why bring up again an option on which all parties had reserves and that the United Nations did not succeed to set forth"?, he went on. Morocco, Politics, 7/18/2003 - Morocco: we are always willing for normal and deep relations with Algeria
Morocco has always been keen on having normal, fruitful and deep relations with Algeria, said this Thursday Moroccan communication minister and spokesman of the government, Nabil Benabdellah. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/18/2003 - Most Security Council members oppose Baker's plan on Sahara
Most members of the U.N. security council confided to MAP correspondent in the United Nations that they oppose the "Baker plan" as experts met on Wednesday to discuss a draft resolution approving the plan submitted last Friday. Morocco-UN, Politics, 7/18/2003 - Morocco, Sierra Leone agree to upgrade cooperation and consultations
Morocco and Sierra Leone signed in Rabat on Thursday a protocol setting up a mechanism of political consultations between the two countries' foreign ministries and agreed to create a joint commission for cooperation. Morocco-Sierra Leone, Politics, 7/18/2003 - Government spokesman renews Morocco's refusal of any proposal leading to yielding national kingty Morocco, Politics, 7/18/2003
- King Mohammed chairs official ceremony to welcome Pakistani president Morocco-Pakistan, Politics, 7/18/2003
- King Mohammed holds phone talks with British prime minister Morocco-UK, Politics, 7/18/2003
- Casablanca court hands out 10-year prison sentence against 5 members of extremist underground group
The court of appeal of Casablanca handed out on Wednesday 10-year prison sentences against five members of the underground extremist group "Salafia Jihadia" and acquitted one person standing trial in the same case. Morocco, Local, 7/18/2003 - Women associations call Moroccan government to honor its commitments
A group of women non-governmental organization called on Tuesday the government to live up to its commitments in women issues. Morocco, Politics, 7/17/2003 - Morocco reiterates resolve to fight all forms of injustice against women
Morocco reiterated in New York on Tuesday before the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) its resolve to endeavor for fighting all forms of discrimination against Moroccan women. Morocco, Culture, 7/17/2003 - Morocco refuses any imposed solution on Sahara issue
Morocco reiterated on Tuesday its categorical refusal of any solution that would be imposed on it in the Sahara issue. Morocco, Politics, 7/17/2003 - Arab League's reform tops talks between Moroccan FM, Arab League's chief
The reform of the Arab League was the focus of discussions held in Rabat on Tuesday between Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, and Arab League's secretary general Amr Moussa who arrived on a two-day visit to the kingdom. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 7/17/2003 - Morocco, Tunisia probe means to reinforce cooperation in energy
Moroccan energy and mining minister, Mohamed Boutaleb, and his Tunisian peer, Moncef Ben Abdellah, probed in Rabat on Monday means to reinforce cooperation in energy and mining between the two Maghreban states. Morocco-Tunisia, Economics, 7/17/2003 - Morocco's El Aynaoui cruises to 3rd round of Stuttgart tennis tournament Morocco, Sports, 7/17/2003
- Paris opposes any solution to Sahara issue without consent of all parties
France said on Tuesday it opposes any settlement to the Sahara issue that does not enjoy the consent of all the parties. Morocco-France, Politics, 7/15/2003 - King Mohammed holds phone talks with French president Morocco-France, Politics, 7/15/2003
- King Mohammed holds phone talks with US president Morocco-USA, Politics, 7/15/2003
- King Mohammed receives Arab League secretary general Morocco-Regional, Politics, 7/15/2003
- Tunisian prime minister in Morocco for Moroccan-Tunisian high commission
Tunisian prime minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi, arrived Monday in Rabat where he will co-chair with Moroccan peer, Driss Jettou, the 11th session of the Moroccan-Tunisian High Commission scheduled this July 14-15. Morocco-Tunisia, Economics, 7/15/2003 - Morocco denies news on security council decision over Sahara issue
Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohammed Benaissa, denied new reports that the UN Security Council took a decision over the Sahara issue, stressing that consultations are still ongoing. Morocco-USA, Politics, 7/15/2003 - Sequestered Moroccans in Tindouf arrested and tortured
A group of Moroccans sequestered in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria) by the Polisario have recently faced a wave of arrests and torture after they rose up against inhumane practices in the camps, controlled by the Polisario secessionists. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/15/2003 - King Mohammed receives director Ridley Scott and Producer Branko Lustig
Morocco's King Mohammed VI received this Monday afternoon at the royal palace of Rabat director Ridley Scott and producer Branko Lustig. Morocco, Local, 7/15/2003 - Gateshead Meet: Morocco's El Guerrouj wins 1,500 M race Morocco, Sports, 7/15/2003
- Bogus plane tickets sold to moroccans expats in France Morocco-France, Local, 7/15/2003
- Morocco to cancel some reservations on international conventions
Moroccan human rights minister, Mohamed Aujjar, said on Friday his department is preparing a project to cancel reservations expressed by Morocco on some international conventions, provided that they do not contradict Islam and the constitution. Morocco, Politics, 7/14/2003 - Moroccan journalist gets one-year suspended sentence
The first instance court of Casablanca sentenced on Friday night, Mustapha Alaoui, manager of "Al Ousboue" weekly to one year suspended prison term and to a fine of 500 DH (US$ 52.6). Morocco, Politics, 7/14/2003 - UN Security Council starts consultation on Sahara issue
The UN security council held on Friday a session behind closed doors to examine the Sahara issue. Morocco-UN, Politics, 7/14/2003 - Morocco's El Gerrouj signs 1,500 m world season's lead in golden gala meet
World 1,500 m champion, Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj, signed on Friday the year's best performance in the 1,500 m race which he covered in 3.29.76 in the Golden Gala meet, third stage of the Athletics Golden League. Morocco, Sports, 7/14/2003 - Morocco arrests 564 illegal immigrants in 5 days
A total of 564 illegal immigrants were arrested in Morocco between July 7 and 11, the police department announced. Morocco, Local, 7/14/2003 - Court hands out 11 capital punishment sentences in case of extremist underground group
The court of appeal of Casablanca on Friday night handed out 10 capital punishment sentences in the case of 31 members of the underground extremist group "Salafia Jihadia." Morocco, Local, 7/14/2003 - Eleven wedding killjoy Islamic extremists get prison sentences
The court of appeal of Meknes (150 km northeast of Rabat) handed out on Thursday sentences ranging between 4 years and one year in prison in the case of eleven Islamic extremists who assaulted last August a wedding party in the city. Morocco, Local, 7/14/2003