Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 10/20/2003
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of October 20, 2003
- EU greets Morocco's 'positive reaction' to 'Enlarged Europe' initiative
The European Union (EU) on Thursday greeted Morocco's "positive reaction" to the "enlarged Europe initiative in all its dimensions." Morocco-European Union, Politics, 10/25/2003 - The polisario was born in Rabat, not in the Sahara, says ex-member
The separatist movement "Polisario Front" claiming independence of the Moroccan Sahara, was born in Rabat and not in the then Spanish colony, a former Polisario member revealed on Friday. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 10/25/2003 - Spain-Based NGO, French HR foundation discuss situation of Moroccan POWs in Tindouf
The situation of Moroccan prisoners in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria) and the human rights violations committed by the Algeria-backed separatist group " Polisario" topped talks here Thursday between the Spain-based "Association of the Victims of Polisario" and the French foundation "France Liberte." Morocco-Spain, Politics, 10/25/2003 - Sahara issue: the pathetic politics of UN Security Council
How much longer will the large powers at the UN Security Council play politics with the Sahara issue? There was the old colonialism of the western countries and that of the Soviet Union, to be replaced by the US and the UN Security Council -- which are the modern and sophisticated version of divide and conquer methods, in which they keep regions and certain geographic patches in turmoil to their strategic goals and leverages. Morocco-UN, Editorial, 10/25/2003 - EU reiterates call for immediate release of Moroccan POWs Morocco-European Union, Politics, 10/25/2003
- Arab war veterans reject UN peace plan for sahara Morocco-UN, Politics, 10/25/2003
- Morocco poised to become crossroads for energy transit, official
Morocco is becoming a crossroads for energy transit thanks to the Gas and electric interconnections with Europe (Gazoduc Maroc Europe), Moroccan energy and mines minister, Mohammed Boutaleb, said Thursday. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 10/25/2003 - Court postpones hearing in case of Moroccan Jew killing
The court of appeal of Casablanca postponed Friday hearing in the case of the "Casablanca Group," sued for the murder of Moroccan Jew, Albert Rebibo. Morocco, Local, 10/25/2003 - Government examines practical measures for new family law enforcement
The weekly Moroccan government meeting held this Thursday looked into the draft family code that was announced on Oct.10 by King Mohammed VI at the opening of the parliament's fall session. Morocco, Politics, 10/24/2003 - Morocco expresses strong reservation over latest UN secretary general's report on sahara
Morocco, which remains ready for dialogue and negotiations, expresses strong reserves over any solution that would undermine its territorial integrity and national sovereignty. Morocco-UN, Politics, 10/24/2003 - El Jadida: court sentences 15 councilors to 3 months in jail
The Marrakesh tribunal of first instance sentenced Thursday 15 newly-elected councilors from the municipality of El Jadida to 3 months in jail and a 5,000 Dirham ($500) fine each for fraud in local elections. Morocco, Local, 10/24/2003 - Morocco adopts set of measures to reform economy, promote investments
Presenting Tuesday at the House of Representatives (parliament lower chamber) the finance law for 2004, minister of finance and privatization, Fathallah Oulaalou, announced a set of measures to speed up the upgrading of national economy and promote investments. Morocco, Economics, 10/24/2003 - Morocco calls for a quota system for immigration
Morocco has called for the regulation of immigration by establishing a quota system to help candidates to migration to Europe settle there in a legal way. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 10/24/2003 - US president praises king's reforms of family law Morocco-USA, Politics, 10/24/2003
- Association SOS hepatitis sees the light in Casablanca Morocco, Health, 10/24/2003
- Morocco holds Algeria responsible for violations against Moroccan POWs
Morocco is holding Algeria responsible for the serious breaches of the international humanitarian law against Moroccan servicemen held on its territory by the "Polisario" separatists. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 10/23/2003 - Tragic situation of Moroccan POWs in Tindouf exposed to Amnesty International and HCR
A group of Human Rights advocacy associations in the Sahara held, here Tuesday, meetings with officials from Amnesty International and the High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR) to discuss the tragic situation of Moroccan prisoners of war (POWs), persons sequestered in Tindouf (southern Algeria) and the problems of Sahrawis who disappeared in the camps of the Polisario separatist group. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 10/23/2003 - Morocco rejects 'erroneous' interpretation of UN resolution on Sahara
Morocco has rejected as "erroneous" the interpretation of the United Nations Security Council's Resolution on the Moroccan Sahara issue as contained in the recent report of UN Secretary general, as well as any attempt to impose a solution in the dispute without the agreement of the involved parties. Morocco-UN, Politics, 10/23/2003 - Morocco astonished at conclusions of Annan's latest report on Sahara
Morocco voiced astonishment at the conclusions contained in the UN secretary general's latest report on the Sahara and "rejects its recommendations," the ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation said in a release Wednesday. Morocco-UN, Politics, 10/23/2003 - Lebanese agriculture minister calls for promoting agricultural exchanges with Morocco Morocco-Lebanon, Economics, 10/23/2003
- Court adjourns to January journalist case Morocco, Politics, 10/23/2003
- Moroccan, French transport companies seal partnership
Moroccan transport company "La Voie Express" and its French peer "La Fleche" signed here Monday a partnership agreement to develop goods transport between the two countries and adopt a coordinated policy in the field. Morocco-France, Business, 10/23/2003 - Police arrest 32 sub-saharan illegal immigrants in northeastern Morocco Morocco-Regional, Local, 10/23/2003
- Sebta and Melillia must be retroceded to Morocco without haggling, Spanish former diplomat
The Spanish government must open "without haggling" dialogue with Morocco on the future of the two cities it is occupying, Sebta and Melillia, to reach acceptable solutions for both countries, said Maximo Cajal, a Spanish retired diplomat, currently international policy adviser at the Socialist Labor Party (PSOE). Morocco-Spain, Politics, 10/22/2003 - Moroccan political parties reject UN referendum proposal for Sahara as serious escalation
A group of 13 Moroccan political parties have expressed refusal of the referendum in the Sahara proposed by UN secretary general's personal envoy, James Baker, saying "it is a serious escalation in an artificial conflict," rather than "a peaceful solution to a regional conflict." Morocco-UN, Politics, 10/22/2003 - Syrian- Moroccan industrial cooperation talks Syria-Morocco, Politics, 10/22/2003
- Rabat authorities ban illegal press conference by terrorists' attorneys
The Rabat authorities announced this Tuesday they have decided to ban a press conference that attorneys of some persons convicted in connection with last May's terrorist attacks in Casablanca planned to hold this Tuesday. Morocco, Local, 10/22/2003 - French NGO grants equipment for Moroccan handicapped persons Morocco-France, Local, 10/22/2003
- Two Moroccan directors prized at montreal's new cinema, new media festival Morocco, Local, 10/22/2003
- Morocco announces pilot industry data network
A Moroccan official said Morocco is initiating a pilot project in Africa to set up a data base of industrial information to supply real-time data to public and private economic operators. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 10/22/2003 - EU's new neighborhood policy is no alternative to Euro-Mediterranean process, official
Morocco considers that the New Neighborhood Policy launched this year by Europe should not be an alternative to the Euro-Mediterranean process which is a reference, said here Tuesday an official from the Moroccan ministry of foreign affairs. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 10/22/2003 - Women grateful to Moroccan king for family law reform
A group of women figures representing women members of political parties, non-governmental organizations active in women and family issues and professional associations, expressed gratefulness to King Mohammed VI for "the particular interest" granted by the sovereign to the promotion of Moroccan women's rights. Morocco, Politics, 10/21/2003 - Polisario leadership exploits Sahara issue to gather wealth, former Polisario official
The leadership of the Polisario secessionist group are using the Sahara issue to obtain from Spain and the European Union (EU) aid that they are embezzling at the detriment of the people who should benefit from it, said Kaltoum Khayat, former Polisario official. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 10/21/2003 - UN, EU urged to act for immediate release of Moroccan captives in tindouf
Participants in a debate on the "humanitarian situation in Tindouf camps" (southern Algeria) called Saturday the United Nations Secretary General and the European Union to interfere for the immediate release of all Moroccan prisoners held in Tindouf and halt the suffering of the populations forcefully living in exile. Morocco-Regional-UN, Politics, 10/21/2003 - Belgian donates 4.3 million euro to development projects in southern Morocco Morocco-Belgium, Economics, 10/21/2003
- Morocco Wins Arab Golf Amateurs Championship
Moroccan Golf team has won the 24th edition of the Arab Golf Championship (Amateurs) played, here October 15-18 on the Links of Royal Golf Dar Es-Salam in Rabat. Regional-Morocco, Sports, 10/21/2003 - Tennis: Moroccan El Aynaoui Rolled out from Masters Series Semi-Finals
Morocco's champion, Younes Al Aynaoui, seeded 15, was eliminated Saturday in the semi-finals of the US 2.88 million Masters Series of Madrid. Morocco, Sports, 10/21/2003 - Women activists praise deep reforms in family law
A Moroccan association grouping women activists from the main political parties hailed the reform proposals made last week by King Mohammed VI as "deep" reforms that "meet legitimate aspirations of Moroccan women and constraints of social evolution and democratic construction while being in total harmony with the Sharia (Islamic law)." Morocco, Politics, 10/20/2003 - Morocco bets on modernity and development, says ambassador
Morocco is convinced that by lifting the juridical discriminations which were hampering women emancipation, it is betting on modernity, development and the right leadership, said, in New York Friday, Morocco's Ambassador to the United Nations. Morocco, Politics, 10/20/2003 - Chirac reiterates support to Morocco's king over Sahara issue
French president Jacques Chirac has reiterated his support to Moroccan King's efforts to reach a "realistic and lasting solution" to the Sahara dispute, in a message to the monarch at the end of his three-day state visit to Morocco last week. Morocco-France, Politics, 10/20/2003