Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 7/21/2003
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of July 21, 2003
- King Mohammed receives french premier Morocco-France, Politics, 7/26/2003
- France says it shares Morocco's vision on the sahara issue Morocco-France, Politics, 7/26/2003
- France reaffirms its position in the Sahara issue is unchanged
French premier, Jean-Pierre Rafarrin, who is paying this July 24-25 an official visit to Morocco, reaffirmed that France's position in the Sahara issue is clear and unchanged and that it is very close to Morocco's stance. Morocco-France, Politics, 7/26/2003 - Morocco and France agree on work program focusing on Morocco's priorities
Morocco and France agreed this Friday at the end of the high-level heads of government meeting held in Rabat this July 24-25, to implement a joint work program that focuses on the Moroccan government's two priorities: economic modernization and proximity policy that means to meet the Moroccans' social needs. Morocco-France, Politics, 7/26/2003 - Moroccan-Spanish task group on delimitation of maritime spaces to meet before mid-october
The Moroccan-Spanish task group on delimitation of maritime spaces will hold its upcoming session before next October 15 in Rabat, it was officially announced here this Friday. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/26/2003 - Palestinian PM to visit Morocco Palestine-Morocco, Politics, 7/26/2003
- Morocco, US to hold 5th round of FTA negotiations in october
Morocco and the United States agreed to hold the 5th round of negotiations for a free trade agreement next October in Morocco, Morocco's delegate-minister of foreign affairs and cooperation and chief negotiator for an FTA with the US, Taieb Fassi Fihri announced Thursday. Morocco-USA, Economics, 7/26/2003 - Supreme court adjourns ruling in request to grant expats voting right
Morocco's supreme court on Thursday adjourned for further consultation its ruling on a request by associations of Moroccan expatriates to grant Moroccans living abroad the right to vote and to run for Moroccan elections. Morocco, Judicial, 7/26/2003 - Morocco wins African youth athletics championship
Morocco's athletics team won its 3rd title in African Youth championship (north Zone) that ended Thursday in Rabat. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 7/26/2003 - King Mohammed appoints top officials at interior ministry
Morocco's King Mohammed VI appointed this Friday at the royal palace of Tetuan (northern Morocco) several top officials at the interior ministry. Morocco, Local, 7/26/2003 - French premier starts visit to Morocco
French prime minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, arrived in Rabat this Thursday for a two-day official visit to chair with Moroccan peer, Driss Jettou, the 5th bilateral encounter of prime ministers. Morocco-France, Politics, 7/25/2003 - Security Council members disagree over draft resolution to support Bakers' plan on Sahara
The UN security council, meeting on Wednesday at the level of experts, failed to agree on a draft resolution to support the latest plan for the Sahara floated by the UN secretary general's personal envoy, James Baker. Morocco-UN, Politics, 7/25/2003 - Three Polisario cadres return to homeland Morocco
Three executive cadres of the Polisario (Algeria-backed secessionist guerrilla movement that claims the independence of Moroccan southern provinces) serving in diplomacy and external relations have returned to Morocco in response to the royal call, "the homeland is clement and merciful," that promises exemption from sanctions and questioning to separatists who chose to return to their homeland. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/25/2003 - Morocco voices readiness to carry on efforts for peace in Mano River region
Morocco is ready to carry on efforts to restore peace in the Mano river region part of the Rabat process, Morocco's ambassador to the United Nations, Mohamed Bennouna, told on Wednesday UN secretary general, Kofi Annan. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 7/25/2003 - Moroccan and French prime minister meet in rabat Morocco-France, Politics, 7/25/2003
- Morocco's Aynaoui withdraws of Austria open Kitzbuchel (Austria) Morocco, Sports, 7/25/2003
- Blast-damaged plant of Mohammedia refinery restarts activity
Production unit N. 3 of "la Samir" refinery in Mohammedia (40km north of Casablanca) that was out of order for about 8 months because of a blast that also damaged several other fittings restarted its activities again, la Samir said in a release. Morocco, Business, 7/25/2003 - Central African fm holds talks with speakers of parliament chambers
Central African foreign affairs, regional integration and Francophonie minister, Abdou Karim Meckassoua, who started Monday a visit to Morocco, held here Tuesday separate talks with speakers of the Moroccan Chamber of Advisors and House of Representatives, respectively Mustapha Oukacha and Abdelouahed Radi, on means to reinforce bilateral economic cooperation and the Sahara question. Morocco-Central African Republic, Politics, 7/24/2003 - King Mohammed receives message from Senegalese president Morocco-Senegal, Politics, 7/24/2003
- King Mohammed launches construction of national library in rabat
Morocco's King Mohammed, who was accompanied by Prince Moulay Rachid, launched this Wednesday construction of the national library of the Kingdom of Morocco, part of the "Rabat, capital of Arab culture" celebrations. Morocco, Culture, 7/24/2003 - Prince Moulay Rachid receives equatorial Guinea president Morocco-Equatorial Guinea, Politics, 7/24/2003
- US Congress announces creation of congressional morocco caucus
The US Congress announced Tuesday the creation of a Congressional Morocco Caucus that aims to promote strategic relations binding Morocco and the US. Morocco-USA, Politics, 7/24/2003 - Two trials of underground groups postponed
Trials of two groups of persons suspected of being members of extremist groups were postponed to July 28 by the appeal courts of Fez and Casablanca Morocco, Local, 7/24/2003 - Angelina Jolie to star in Alexander movie shot in morocco
Angelina Jolie who stars in Lara Croft 2: The Cradle Of Life, joins Colin Farrell and Anthony Hopkins in Oliver Stone's Alexander to be shot in Morocco. Morocco, Local, 7/24/2003 - Morocco's El Aynaoui qualifies to 3rd round of Austria open Morocco, Sports, 7/24/2003
- Morocco's water company projects to invest $ 2 billion by 2007
The Moroccan state-owned drinking water company (ONEP) said it is projecting to invest 20 billion DH (US$ 2.1 billion) in its 2003-2007 work plan in order to develop the supply of water resources nationwide. Morocco, Business, 7/24/2003 - Rabat initiates households waste selective disposal
The Rabat town hall of Agdal-Ryad has started a trial selective waste disposal in some locations in the capital to get inhabitants accustomed to dispose of various kinds of households waste in different bins. Morocco, Environment, 7/24/2003 - Japan donates Morocco $1.8 million to complete fishing village
Japan has donated Morocco 18 million Dirhams (US$ 1.8 million) to complete the second phase of the Sidi Hsain fishing village in the northeastern province of Nador. Morocco-Japan, Economics, 7/24/2003 - France says a solution to the sahara conflict should enjoy consent of concerned parties
France said on Monday that a solution to the Sahara conflict "will only be possible with the consent of the concerned parties." Morocco-France, Politics, 7/23/2003 - Swedish NGO expresses concern to International Criminal Court over polisario crimes
The Swedish Association for the defense of Sahrawi refugees in Tindouf (ADESETI) expressed on Monday concern to the public prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo, over the crimes perpetrated by the Polisario (Algeria-backed secessionist group) against the Sahrawi population sequestered in Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria). Morocco-Sweden, Politics, 7/23/2003 - Moroccan and US FTA negotiators cite important headway
Moroccan-US negotiations a free trade agreement started in Washington on Monday are making important headway, said Moroccan and US negotiators Morocco-USA, Economics, 7/23/2003 - Morocco criticizes Le Monde for reproducing mandari's lies
Morocco's legal consultant, Ralph Boussier, wrote to French "Le Monde" daily criticizing its stories that reproduce fictions created by Hicham Mandari who pretends that he served as "advisor of the late King Hassan II" and that he holds a Moroccan diplomatic passport. Morocco, Politics, 7/23/2003 - Central Africa reaffirms support to Morocco's position in Sahara conflict Morocco-Central African Republic, Politics, 7/23/2003
- Morocco denies press reports that Pakistan ever recognized sahrawi republic Morocco-Pakistan, Politics, 7/23/2003
- Gulf products expo opens in Casablanca
The first Gulf Industries and Products Exhibition opened Monday in Casablanca in the presence of Moroccan external trade minister, Mustapha Mechahouri, and UAE minister of economy and trade, Cheikh Fahem Ben Soltane Al Kacemi Morocco-Gulf, Economics, 7/23/2003 - Leader of Moroccan socialist party urges end of US occupation in Iraq to build democratic state
First secretary of the Moroccan Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Abderrahmane Youssoufi, said last week in Rome "respect of human rights and civil liberties in Iraq depends on the end of occupation, giving Iraqis rule over their own destiny and building a sovereign, democratic and unified Iraq." Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 7/22/2003 - Central African foreign minister starts visit to Morocco Morocco-Central African Republic, Politics, 7/22/2003
- Helping Morocco in democratic transition serves Andalusia's interests, spanish official Morocco-Spain, Politics, 7/22/2003
- Teaching Arabic language and culture, a must to maintain moroccan expats children's links with home country
Moroccan delegate minister in charge of Moroccans living abroad, Nezha Chekrouni, said teaching Arabic language and culture to children of Moroccan expatriates is a must to maintain links between this community and their home country. Morocco, Culture, 7/22/2003 - UAE president undergone surgery in Switzerland Morocco-United Arab Emirates, Politics, 7/22/2003
- Morocco's El Guerrouj gets palestinian sports reporters' merit medal
Moroccan athlete, triple world champ, Hicham El Guerrouj, was awarded the Palestinian sports reports union's merit medal, in recognition of his "lofty stances." Morocco-Palestine, Sports, 7/22/2003 - Morocco grabs Tae-Kwondo francophone championship
Morocco grabbed the Francophone tae-kwondo championship, with three gold and three silver medals in the 2nd championship of tae-kwondo held here on Sunday Morocco, Sports, 7/22/2003 - Morocco's athlete dedicates victory in marathon to Nelson Mandela
Moroccan athlete, Jaouad Charib, who won Sunday the Johannesburg half-marathon, said he dedicates his victory in the name of all Moroccans to Nelson Mandela as a birthday gift. Morocco-South Africa, Sports, 7/22/2003 - Moroccan justice minister probes justice reforms with international ngo law group
Moroccan justice minister, Mohamed Bouzoubaa, probed here on Friday with a delegation of the International Law Group non-governmental organization means to back efforts to reform justice in Morocco. Morocco, Judicial, 7/21/2003 - US volunteer corps financial experts in Morocco to promote economic growth
A US delegation of the Financial Services Volunteer Corps (FSVC) visited Morocco this July 13-18 in a mission meant to better target US technical assistance to the Moroccan financial and business sectors. Morocco-USA, Economics, 7/21/2003 - Pakistan supports peaceful settlement of Sahara issue Morocco-Pakistan, Politics, 7/21/2003
- Morocco's Raja club rolled out at arab clubs cup semi-finals Morocco-Regional, Sports, 7/21/2003
- Second handling company operates in Moroccan airports
A second handling operator will start next January passenger services and luggage and passenger registration activities in Moroccan major airports. Morocco, Business, 7/21/2003