Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 8/4/2003
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of August 4, 2003
- Rights body hails intention to abolish capital punishment in Morocco
The Moroccan Association of Human Rights Defense (AMDH, independent) has lauded the intention expressed by the Moroccan government to abrogate capital punishment. Morocco, Politics, 8/9/2003 - Madrid Sahara standpoint casts doubts over Moroccan-Spanish ties, press
Al Oumma called Spain to "correct its mistake," rid itself of "colonial mentality," and engage in new negotiations with Morocco to avert rupture and warm up bilateral relations instead of encouraging mercenaries to work against Morocco's sovereignty and unity. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 8/9/2003 - Sahara: Muslims of Spain-occupied Sebta slam Madrid's position hostile to Morocco
The union of Muslims and the Group of Muslims in the Spain occupied Moroccan city of Sebta condemned strongly the Spanish government's position hostile to Morocco's territorial integrity, rejecting the settlement plan of the UN secretary general's personal envoy for the Sahara, James Baker. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 8/9/2003 - Morocco's popular movement parties believe Baker plan a dangerous setback Morocco-USA, Politics, 8/9/2003
- Spain micro loans to NGO six mln euro to fund micro-credits Morocco-Spain, Economics, 8/9/2003
- Basketball: Morocco lose to Tunisia in African championships Morocco-Egypt, Sports, 8/9/2003
- French prince exhibits aquarelles in Tangiers
Count of Paris, Prince Henry of Orleans is exhibiting his Water Color Paintings August 08 - September 05 at Tangiers' Contemporary Arts Museum. Morocco-France, Local, 8/9/2003 - Over three tons of chira seized in Tangier
Some 3,053 Kg of chira, cannabis extract, were seized by police and customs officers in the port of Tangier since the beginning of last July to this August 7, police sources said. Morocco, Local, 8/9/2003 - Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb: US draft resolution on sahara a backward step
The change in the US attitude "may ultimately shake the regional scene and bring potential threats to peace. It is not an evolution in the quest for peace but indeed a dangerous setback," Morocco-USA, Politics, 8/8/2003 - Baker Sahara plan holds great dangers for Maghreb, Algerian labor party warns
She said Baker's plan is part of an American logic to lay hand on the resources of wealthy countries. "The Setting up of an American base in southern Algeria will be a great danger and can only be motivated by the appropriation of oil resources," she noted. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 8/8/2003 - Court of appeal carries on hearing of two Salafia Jihadia alleged theoreticians
The court of appeal of Casablanca on Wednesday proceeded to the hearing of two defendants considered among the theoreticians of the banned Islamic movement "Salafia Jihadia" and who are allegedly involved in May 16 suicide bombings in Casablanca that left 44 dead. Morocco, Local, 8/8/2003 - Morocco to take part in international gardens festival in Montreal
Morocco was invited along with Spain and Italy to take part in the Mediterranean edition of the International Gardens Festival of Grand-Metis that will highlight the kingdom's customs and attractive peculiarities. Morocco, Local, 8/8/2003 - Morocco to abolish special court of justice
The Moroccan justice Minister on Wednesday announced that his country will abolish shortly the Special court of justice, a jurisdiction vested with exceptional powers. Morocco, Judicial, 8/7/2003 - Morocco's government, political parties join forces to shield kingdom's territorial integrity
Several Moroccan ministers and heads of the country's major political parties met here Tuesday upon the instruction of King Mohammed VI, to debate the latest evolution of the issue of Moroccan Sahara in light of the recent resolution of the United Nations Security Council Morocco, Politics, 8/7/2003 - Morocco's Islamist party points accusing finger to Algeria over Sahara
"Attajdid," daily of Morocco's recognized Islamist party of Justice and Development (PJD, 42 seats at the country's House of Representatives) editorially commented Wednesday the latest evolution of the Sahara issue, holding Algeria responsible for the artificial conflict over the Moroccan southern provinces. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 8/7/2003 - Human rights situation in Algerian rear base under fire
The human rights violations perpetrated by the Polisario separatists in the Algerian rear desert base of Tindouf, where they are sheltered, have come under fire during intensive contacts a Moroccan NGO delegation held with United Nations specialized agencies. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 8/7/2003 - Some 1,042 individuals sued in connection with May 16 terrorist attacks, minister
The number of people sued in connection with the terrorist attacks that rocked Casablanca May 16 reached up to last August 04, 1,042 including three foreigners, said here Wednesday justice minister, Mohammed Bouzoubaa. Morocco, Local, 8/7/2003 - Morocco has one judge per every 10,000 inhabitants
Morocco has one magistrate for every 10,123 inhabitants and each judge handles an annual average of 959 cases. Morocco, Judicial, 8/7/2003 - Moroccan cargo runs aground off Mauritania shores Mauritania-Morocco, Local, 8/7/2003
- Montreal tennis tournament: Morocco's El Aynaoui rolled out at 2nd round Morocco, Sports, 8/7/2003
- Morocco, Iceland probe fisheries cooperation
Moroccan fisheries minister, Tayeb Rhafes, is currently on a working visit to Iceland (August 5-9) at the invitation of his Icelander counterpart, Arni M. Mathiesen, to probe bilateral cooperation Morocco-Iceland, Economics, 8/7/2003 - Road accidents kill 24 people in Morocco last week
Some 24 people perished and 1,220 were wounded, including 86 seriously, in 908 road accidents in Morocco during the sole week running from July 28 to August 3, 2003. Morocco, Local, 8/7/2003 - Nights in Morocco's hotels rise by 35 percent
Nights spent in accommodation establishments participating in the first operation of "Kounouz Biladi," promotion campaign of national tourism extending from April 14 to May 18, increased by 35 percent compared to the same period in 2002. Morocco, Economics, 8/7/2003 - Terrorism: court starts hearing of extremist theoreticians
The criminal chamber at the court of appeal of Casablanca started Wednesday the hearing of four people, considered as the "theoreticians" of extremist groups in Morocco, allegedly involved in the terrorist attacks perpetrated last May 16 in Casablanca. Morocco, Local, 8/7/2003 - Two extremists, three journalists jailed for 10 to 1 year
The court of appeal of Rabat handed down Monday sentences ranging between 10 and 1 years against the extremist group of "Zakaria Boughrara." Morocco, Local, 8/6/2003 - L'Opinion: Sahara issue is 'a conflict between Morocco and Algeria'
The editorial noted the existence of "interest groups, people who are nostalgic to the cold war era and lobbies that consider the normalization of relations with Morocco likely to harm their political, economic and strategic interests." Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 8/6/2003 - Moroccan paper criticizes US, Spain positions in security council over sahara
The "Economist" newspaper strongly criticized Tuesday US and Spain for their positions during the debate in United Nations the Security Council over the Sahara, underlining that "our population is not scared of the United States of Bush, or his representative, Baker, nor of UN resolutions." Morocco-USA, Politics, 8/6/2003 - Casablanca hosts world congress of youth under theme 'be the change'
Morocco will hold the Second World Congress of Youth in Casablanca August 16-28, with the participation of some 1,000 young people who will share experience and draw up a declaration outlining a future path for youth involvement in sustainable development, to follow up the first Millennium Young People's Congress (MYPC) in Hawaii in 1999. Morocco, Culture, 8/6/2003 - Canada backs negotiated solution to Sahara issue
Ambassador of Canada in Rabat, Yves Gagnon, said his country is in favor of "a negotiated solution to the Sahara question." Morocco-Canada, Politics, 8/6/2003 - Man wanted part of terrorist attacks probe, arrested
The police of Meknes arrested in a rural local in central Morocco, Abdelouahab Rebaay, who was wanted part of the May 16 terrorist attacks probe. Morocco, Local, 8/6/2003 - Morocco, Saudi Arabia join efforts to up bilateral air traffic
Morocco and Saudi Arabia have agreed on a package of measures to shore up their bilateral air traffic in a bid to encourage Saudi nationals to visit Morocco. Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Economics, 8/6/2003 - Tennis: Morocco's El Aynaoui qualifies for 2 round of Montreal open Morocco, Sports, 8/6/2003
- Athletics: Morocco's El-Guerrouj runs for IAAF commission
The Moroccan Royal Athletics Federation has fielded the candidacy of Morocco's world record holder on 1500 m, Hicham El Guerrouj, to the Athletes Commission of the world athletics governing body IAAF. Morocco, Sports, 8/6/2003 - Morocco moves to crack down on unhealthy housing speculators
Morocco announced that a law is being devised to crack down on those responsible for the proliferation of unhealthy housing. Morocco, Environment, 8/6/2003 - Libre Belgique: young Moroccan dies while saving family from blaze in Belgium
A young Moroccan died suffocated while attempting to save his family from a blaze that raged through his cousin's house in Jurbise (western Belgium), said Tuesday the daily, Libre Belgique. Morocco-Belgium, Local, 8/6/2003 - Judo: Morocco's U-19 squad in african championships
Morocco's Under 19 judo team will participate in the third African championships, to be held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, August 7-10. Morocco, Sports, 8/6/2003 - Morocco to organize economic-trade week in Algeria
The Information and Broadcast Center (CDI) will organize next October 14-22 a Moroccan economic and trade week in Algeria in collaboration with Algeria's embassy in Rabat and the Algerian Company of Fairs and Exhibitions. Morocco-Algeria, Economics, 8/5/2003 - Al Bayane: Baker's plan to increase tension and instability in the region, Moroccan party
The Progress and Socialism Party (PPS) categorically rejected Baker's latest plan, deploring that it "increases tension and causes instability" in the region. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 8/5/2003 - Vivendi Universal to maintain shares in Moroccan phone operator capital
Vivendi Universal (VU) will maintain its participation in the capital of the Moroccan phone operator Maroc Telecom, Vivendi Universal CEO, Jean-Ren? Fourtou, told "Menara," denying information that VU is trying to sell 35 percent of Maroc Telecom capital because of financial difficulties. Morocco, Business, 8/5/2003 - Al Arabiya: Baker's latest peace plan on Sahara was stillborn, moroccan fm Morocco-UN, Politics, 8/5/2003
- Le monde unravels truth in Mandari swindling affair
French daily "le Monde" published in its Sunday-Monday edition a denial of several articles recently published in the newspaper claiming that Mandari was "former advisor" to late King Hassan II. Morocco, Local, 8/5/2003 - Morocco hosts session of Arab teachers union Regional-Morocco, Education, 8/4/2003
- Security Council resolution on Sahara matches Morocco's request (minister)
Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, said UN Security Council's resolution lives up to Morocco's request, underlining that the Kingdom is satisfied with the resolution. Morocco-UN, Politics, 8/4/2003 - Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb: Morocco deplores Spain's stand over sahara
Moroccan delegate-minister for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taieb Fassi Fihri, deplored Spain's role at the UN Security Council underlining that Madrid mobilized in favor of "a thesis that does not correspond at all to that clarified by Morocco." Morocco-Spain, Politics, 8/4/2003 - Polisario, a front serving Algerian interests, former polisario officials
Three former officials of the Polisario (Algeria-backed secessionist guerrilla movement that claims the independence of Morocco's southern provinces), who recently returned to Morocco, said "the Polisario is a mere front that serves Algeria's interests and that is hostile to Morocco's territorial integrity." Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 8/4/2003 - Morocco, Ukraine sign minutes of discussions on fisheries partnership
According Rhafes, the materialization of this partnership will bring about the creation of joint companies via the reinforcement of relations between the two countries' private sectors. The minister also highlighted the role of the sector in economic development Morocco-Ukraine, Economics, 8/4/2003 - End of hearing of group allegedly involved in May 16 attacks
The appeal court of Casablanca ended Friday the hearing of 19 people belonging to Hassan Taoussi group that is allegedly involved in May 16 terrorist attacks. Morocco, Local, 8/4/2003 - House of representatives' commission probes latest developments on sahara row Morocco, Politics, 8/4/2003