Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 2/23/2004
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of February 23, 2004
- King Mohammed underlines compatibility between Islamic ideals and universal human rights standards
Morocco's King Mohammed VI underlined this Friday before human rights ministers from French-speaking countries that "Islamic ideals and values, which are based on the respect for human dignity, freedom, equality, justice and solidarity, are in line with universal standards and principles," stressing that the set of bold measures taken in Morocco illustrate this. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 2/28/2004 - Aid dropped in Mountainous regions, relief supply gains momentum
Copters have started to drop humanitarian aid in several hamlets and localities in most difficult areas of the Al Hoceima province, jolted on Tuesday by a powerful quake that killed at least 570 people and injured hundreds of others. Morocco, Local, 2/28/2004 - Morocco opens account at foreign banks to collect funds for quake victims
Morocco's central bank "Bank Al-Maghrib" has opened a bank account at foreign banks for people wishing to make donations to help victims of the powerful earthquake that jolted last Tuesday the Moroccan eastern region of Al-Hoceima, killing at least 571 people, injuring over 400 and leaving thousands of others homeless. Morocco, Local, 2/28/2004 - Morocco-Mauritania road to be ready in time, contractors Mauritania-Morocco, Economics, 2/28/2004
- Morocco, Spain move to activate labor agreement
Morocco and Spain recently adopted in Marrakesh a labor agreement which they have signed in July 2001 in Madrid, to regulate the flow of labor and fight the exploitation of illegal workers, said Morocco's employment promotion agency -ANAPEC. Morocco-Spain, Economics, 2/28/2004 - Spanish cabinet adopts Moroccan driving licenses homologation Morocco-Spain, Local, 2/28/2004
- Government to unveil emergency plan to rebuild quake-stricken area, Minister
The Moroccan Government will unveil, early next week, an emergency plan to reconstruct buildings damaged by Tuesday's powerful earthquake in the region of Al Hoceima (northeastern Morocco), said Thursday, Moroccan Minister of Communication and Government's spokesman. Morocco, Local, 2/27/2004 - Activists denounce human rights abuses in Polisario-controlled Camps in Algeria
Participants in a conference on human rights in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria) denounced in Rome Tuesday human rights abuses in those camps controlled by the separatist movement "Polisario." Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 2/27/2004 - International aid continue to rush to Morocco, as quake-stricken populations spent 2nd night out
Populations of the northeastern region of Al-Hoceima, caught in their sleep on Tuesday (2:30 am GMT and local time) by a powerful 6 magnitude quake, spent their night in the open or inside tents, as planeloads of international aid continue to land in the major city's airport. Morocco, Local, 2/26/2004 - Drug lord case: temporary release granted to one individual
The Special court of justice granted Wednesday temporary release to one defendant, A.K, sued in the case of drug lord Mounir Erramach. Morocco, Judicial, 2/26/2004 - Illegal immigration: Morocco, Spain carry on joint sea patrols
The second operation of Moroccan-Spanish joint sea patrols aimed at fighting illegal immigration was held Wednesday between Morocco's southern provinces and Spain's Canary Islands. Morocco-Spain, Local, 2/26/2004 - Moroccan airline to contribute to creation of central african airline
Moroccan airline "Royal Air Maroc" and the economic and monetary community of Central Africa (EMCCA) signed in Rabat on Thursday a partnership convention Morocco-Regional, Business, 2/26/2004 - Morocco, Malaysia probe cooperation in IT use in administration Morocco-Malaysia, Local, 2/26/2004
- New 4.8 aftershock quake reported in northeastern region Morocco, Local, 2/26/2004
- Women jog in Marrakesh to foster awareness of breast cancer Morocco, Local, 2/26/2004
- Four Arab states Sign in Rabat FTZ agreement
Foreign ministers of Morocco, Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt signed in Rabat this Wednesday the Agadir declaration that provides for the creation of a free trade zone between the four Arab south Mediterranean states. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Scenes of desolation in quake-hit Al Hoceima region
The town of Imzouren, 16 km from the northeastern Mediterranean city of Al Hoceima, offers a scene of desolation after the 6.5 magnitude quake that jolted the region on Tuesday at 2:30 am, as people were sleeping, making at least 564 dead and 300 wounded. Morocco, Local, 2/25/2004 - International aid start to reach Morocco's quake-stricken areas
International emergency aid and rescue teams from around the world started to reach the Moroccan northeastern region of Al-Hoceima, to bring support to the populations and help in the search operations, following the powerful earthquake that left at least 560 dead people and over 300 others injured. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 2/25/2004 - Brazil's Scolari lends support to Morocco World Cup bid
Luiz Felipe Scolari, who is coaching Euro 2004 hosts Portugal, has lent his support to Morocco's bid to host the 2010 finals. Morocco-Brazil, Sports, 2/25/2004 - Quake Death Climbs to 226, 120 wounded
At least 226 people died and 120 others were wounded in the tremor, measuring 6 degrees on the Richter scale, that rocked on Tuesday at 2.30 am the northern region of Al-Hoceima (more than 440 km northeast of Rabat), according to the still-provisional death toll. Morocco, Local, 2/24/2004 - Morocco at the heart of America's strategic alliance in Middle east, Congressmen
"Morocco has always been at the heart of America's strategic alliance in the Middle east'" and has " repeatedly proven its friendship with the United States," a group of Congressmen said in a letter sent recently to President George W. Bush. Morocco-USA, Politics, 2/23/2004 - Police probe in case of former governor, mayor unveiled breaches, Minister
The police probe in the case of a former governor and a former president of the Casablanca urban Community, who are sued, along with 16 other individuals, for embezzlement and other charges, unveiled breaches to the law, said justice minister, Mohamed Bouzoubaa. Morocco, Local, 2/23/2004 - Morocco eyes 2 million Tons/year fish production by 2007
Morocco's new fisheries strategy will enable a 2 million ton annual production by 2007, including 15,000 T in aquaculture, with a rise in fish exports that can reach 200 billion dirhams (US$ 22.2 billion). Morocco, Economics, 2/23/2004 - Ten members of underground extremist group get 8 years in jail
The court of appeal of Rabat on Friday handed down a ten-year prison sentence against ten members of the underground extremist group Salafia Jihadia. Morocco, Local, 2/23/2004 - US ambassador launches construction of American school in Casablanca suburb
US ambassador to Rabat, Thomas Riley, on Friday laid the foundation stone of an American school in Dar Bouazza, a Casablanca suburb. Morocco-USA, Local, 2/23/2004 - Marrakesh hosts in march international festival of magic arts
The International Festival of Magic Arts of Marrakesh will be held this March 18-21, the regional tourism council announced. Morocco, Local, 2/23/2004