Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 10/27/2003
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of October 27, 2003
- King Mohammed dedicates inmates vocational training center in Casablanca
King Mohammed VI also launched a pilot project of post-release re-integration with the assistance of psychologists and lawyers. He also visited a handicraft show by inmates of different rehab centers, and attended a music performance by the center's musicians. Morocco, Judicial, 11/1/2003 - Sahara dispute, an issue between Morocco and Algeria, says ambassador
"We are not playing ping pong here. Algeria and Morocco must bear together a common responsibility in preparing a better future for the people of the Maghreb." Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 11/1/2003 - Women MPS, associations support family law reforms proposed by Moroccan king
Several women associations and women parliament members have voiced support to the proposed family law (Mudawana) reforms announced by the Moroccan king on October 10, describing the amendments as "an initiative that would contribute to the edification of a modernist and democratic society." Morocco, Politics, 11/1/2003 - Moroccan, Spanish women NGOs seal partnership accord
The Moroccan association of support to Small and Medium Enterprises signed recently a partnership agreement with Spain's "Intermon Oxfam" to carry out the 2nd phase of a program to support women business. Morocco-Spain, Economics, 11/1/2003 - King Mohammed launches 6th nationwide solidarity week
In a bid to reinforce its participation and mutual assistance policy, the foundation is projecting to encourage initiatives geared to encouraging the spirit of citizenship among young people through the creation of networks to spearhead voluntary activities and deepening citizenship values. Morocco, Local, 11/1/2003 - Paris-Bercy tournament: Arazi's dreams frustrated at quarter-finals Morocco, Sports, 11/1/2003
- Morocco's olive production expected around 800,000 tons
Morocco's olive production is expected to reach around 800,000 tons this year, compared to 450,000 Tons last year, which makes a 78% rise, according to first estimates of the agriculture and rural development ministry. Morocco, Economics, 11/1/2003 - Nearly 100 kg of cannabis seized in tangier port in 48 hours Morocco, Local, 11/1/2003
- Extension of UN sahara mission mandate confirms Security Council's attachment to political solution, official
The extension of the United Nations Sahara Mission mandate (known by its French acronym MINURSO) to January 31 2004 confirms the Security Council's attachment to a "negotiated political solution accepted by all parties," said Wednesday Moroccan delegate minister for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taib Fassi Fihri. Morocco-UN, Politics, 10/31/2003 - King Mohammed launches annual fast-breaking meal distribution operation
1,299,000 meals will be distributed to old people, handicapped persons, widows and destitute persons while in rural areas the operation will consist in donating 20 kg of flour, 5 litters of edible oil, and 4 kg of sugar to needy families. Morocco, Local, 10/31/2003 - Moroccan scholars to preach in Belgium mosques during Ramadan
The Muslim Community in Belgium is to benefit during Ramadan (fasting month) from the presence in this European country of Moroccan preachers who will give lectures in the different mosques. Morocco-Belgium, Religion, 10/31/2003 - Study finds 82% of two million Moroccan immigrants live in EU countries
Almost 82% of two million Moroccan migrants are settled in the European Union countries, says a joint study by Organization for international Migration (OIM) and the Hassan II foundation for Moroccans living abroad. Morocco-European Union, Local, 10/31/2003 - Twenty members of extremist group brought to justice
Twenty additional members of the underground extremist group "Salafia Jihadiay" were brought on Tuesday to the court of appeal of Rabat for charges of plotting terrorist acts. Morocco, Local, 10/31/2003 - Bercy: Morocco's Arazi cruises to quarter-finals Morocco, Sports, 10/31/2003
- Woman MP chairs parliament session for first time in Morocco
Second deputy-speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs Fatna El Kihel (from the Popular group), chaired on Wednesday a session of the House of Representatives, (the parliament's lower chamber), in the first time in Morocco that a woman is chairing a parliament's session. Morocco, Politics, 10/30/2003 - Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki: USFP Leader, Youssoufi, resigns from party and politics
Leader of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP/in government) and former prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, resigned from his party and from political life. Morocco, Politics, 10/30/2003 - Morocco seeks end of Sahara conflict through political solution, sahrawi dignitary
Morocco wants to bring the Sahara conflict to a halt and is attached to a political and peaceful solution to the issue, a Sahrawi dignitary who was part of a delegation of heads of Sahrawi tribes that visited Mexico recently, told Mexican press agency "Notimex." Morocco-Mexico, Politics, 10/30/2003 - Security Council extends UN Sahara Mission term for three months
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Tuesday Resolution 1513 that extends by another three months the MINURSO term (French acronym for the UN mission in the Sahara), that is until 31 January 2004. Morocco-UN, Politics, 10/30/2003 - Sheik of Al Azhar mosque to deliver 2nd Ramadan lecture Morocco-Egypt, Religion, 10/30/2003
- UN official inquires about treatment of sub-saharan illegal immigrant in eastern morocco
Visiting United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Gabriella Rodriguez, met Tuesday local officials in Oujda to inquire about how Moroccan authorities treat Sub-Saharan illegal immigrants arrested in Morocco. Morocco-UN, Local, 10/30/2003 - France to repatriate Moroccan stowaways intercepted in marseille
A group of 22 Moroccans who arrived in the French Mediterranean port city of Marseille, hiding in a Cargo owned by a Moroccan company, will be repatriated in the same boat. Morocco-France, Local, 10/30/2003 - Banker gets three-years in jail for embezzlement
A court in Rabat sentenced Monday a former employee in a bank in Khmisset (east of Rabat) to three years for embezzlement. Morocco, Local, 10/30/2003 - Morocco takes preventive measures against locust invasion
A ministerial meeting was held to probe the threat of a locust outbreak and take preventive measures. Maghreb-Morocco, Economics, 10/30/2003 - King Mohammed receives Burns Morocco-USA, Politics, 10/29/2003
- Moroccan Human Rights NGO lauds family code reform
The Moroccan Organization of Human Rights has lauded the reforms of the Mudawana (family law) announced by King Mohammed VI in his speech at the opening session of the parliament fall. Morocco, Politics, 10/29/2003 - Morocco pleads for adoption of a UN reform strategy
Morocco's delegate to the United nations Mohamed Bennouna called on Monday for the adoption of a new strategy to reform the United Nations. Morocco-UN, Politics, 10/29/2003 - Moroccan minister of public sectors modernization visits Canada
Moroccan minister of public sectors modernization, Najib Zerouali, started this Monday a 5-day visit to the Canadian French-speaking province of Quebec where he will be meeting local officials on promoting bilateral cooperation in civil service. Morocco-Canada, Politics, 10/29/2003 - Washington encourages Morocco-Algeria direct talks on Sahara issue
US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs William Joseph Burns, said in Rabat this Tuesday the US administration encourages Morocco and Algeria to engage in direct talks for a political settlement of the Sahara issue. Morocco-USA, Politics, 10/29/2003 - Moroccan official holds talks with German defense minister Morocco-Germany, Politics, 10/29/2003
- King Mohammed to chair first religious lecture in Ramadan Morocco, Religion, 10/29/2003
- Bercy Tennis Tournament: Hicham Arazicruises to 3rd round
Moroccan tennis player Hicham Arazi qualified Tuesday for the third round of the 2.45 million Euro Paris-Bercy Tennis tournament after the withdrawal of co-citizen, 12th seeded, Younes El Aynaoui. Morocco, Sports, 10/29/2003 - Moroccan FM receives Cuban FM's rnvoy Morocco-Cuba, Politics, 10/28/2003
- 2004 holidays for all will benefit 150,000 children
Morocco's secretary of state for youth, Mohamed El Gahs, said next year's "holidays for all" program will benefit 150,000 children, up by 50% compared to the first campaign held in 2003. Morocco, Culture, 10/28/2003 - Former deportee in Cuba tells bitter stories of despicable torture
Saadani Maalainine, a Sahrawi woman who was deported by the Polisario separatist group to Cuba at the age of five, told participants in a conference held over the week end "commitment for liberty" her bitter experience with polisario leadership and conditions of her deportation. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 10/28/2003 - King Mohammed congratulates Muslim leaders on Ramadan
The king also calls on the Islamic nation to translate in fact the lofty values preached by Islam so as to reflect the true image of Islam, its lofty goals, the universality of its message, its calling as a religion that upholds the happy medium and moderation and rejects extremism, violence, ignorance and under-development. Morocco-Regional, Religion, 10/28/2003 - Family law reform in Morocco prepares new ground for democratization process, diplomat
The proposed reforms of the Moroccan Family Law (Mudawana) announced by King Mohammed VI on Oct.10 prepares new ground for the process of democratization and modernization in Morocco, Moroccan ambassador in Washington Aziz Mekouar said. Morocco, Politics, 10/28/2003 - Morocco-EU informal working group on 'advanced status' to meet early next year Morocco-European Union, Politics, 10/28/2003
- Morocco needs to explain lawful retrieval of its southern provinces, former fm
Morcco's Former foreign minister, Mohammed Boucetta, called for using all means at the diplomatic, parliamentary, political and popular means to explain that the Moroccan southern provinces have been retrieved lawfully. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 10/28/2003 - Morocco purchases two mobile water labs
Morocco has purchased two on-wheel labs ($270 thousand) to control water behavior and quality in places that are not covered by its water-monitoring stations network. Morocco, Environment, 10/28/2003 - Some 5,000 athletes to take part in Marrakech international marathon
Some 5,000 athletes from several countries will participate in the 15th edition of the Marrakech international marathon to be held next January 18, said organizers. Morocco-Regional, Sports, 10/28/2003 - Moroccan, sub-saharan illegal immigrants arrested Saturday
The Royal Navy on Saturday intercepted an inflatable dinghy carrying 22 Moroccan would-be illegal immigrants off the town of M'diq (near occupied Sebta). Morocco-Regional, Local, 10/28/2003 - Moroccan famed painter passes away Morocco, People, 10/28/2003
- Morocco and China 45 years of diplomatic relations
China's embassy in Morocco held on Friday a function marking 45 years of Moroccan-Chinese diplomatic relations. Morocco-China, Politics, 10/27/2003 - Moroccan political parties reject Baker's plan for sahara as dangerous escalation
Over 10 Moroccan political parties reiterated on Friday their refusal of the plan for the Sahara issue, crafted by the UN secretary general's personal envoy, James Baker, as "a dangerous escalation in an artificial conflict." Morocco-UN, Politics, 10/27/2003 - Sahara is not East Timor, French academic
French doctor of geopolitics at the War School and at the Sorbonne University, Aymeric Chauprade told a conference in Naples that drawing a parallel between the Sahara and East Timor issues is not a scientific approach. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 10/27/2003 - Morocco, EU agree on gradual liberalization of agriculture trade
Morocco and the European Commission initialled here Friday an agreement on mutual liberalization of agriculture products trade which will be enforced as of December 2003. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 10/27/2003 - Princess Lalla Hasna chairs opening of horses and horsemen exhibition Regional-Morocco, Local, 10/27/2003