Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 5/10/2004
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of May 10, 2004
- Washington not seeking to impose solution on Sahara dispute, Burns
The US Assistant Secretary for Near eastern affairs has "re-emphasized President Bush's commitment to a political solution to the "difficult Western Sahara issue," stressing that his government is not seeking to impose such a solution to the parties. Morocco-USA, Politics, 5/15/2004 - Ethiopian speaker regrets Morocco's noticeable absence from African Union
Speaker of the Ethiopian parliament, Dawit Yohannes, who is currently visiting Morocco, deplored Friday the kingdom's "noticeable absence from the African Union." Morocco-Ethiopia, Politics, 5/15/2004 - Sit-in in Rabat to protest abuses against Iraqi prisoners
The Group of National Action to Support the Struggle of the Palestinian and Iraqi peoples staged on Thursday a sit-in before the UN representation in Rabat to protest US soldiers abuses against Iraqi prisoners. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 5/15/2004 - Morocco, leader of reforms in the region, Burns Morocco-USA, Politics, 5/15/2004
- King 'proud' of Morocco's reforms, in particular Family Code, interview
Morocco's King Mohammed VI of Morocco said he was "proud" of the reforms he undertook in Morocco since his enthronement almost five years ago, in particular the reform of the former "Mudawana" (Family law) which has been replaced by the so-called "Family Code." Morocco, Politics, 5/14/2004 - Morocco, Algeria resolved to encourage 'business partnership'
Morocco and Algeria, "aware of the numerous opportunities of trade and partnership provided by their respective economies," have voiced resolve to encourage "business partnership" between the two countries' private sectors. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 5/14/2004 - Only 25 pct of cancer cases detected at early stage in Morocco, Official
Only 25 percent of cancer cases in Morocco are detected at an early stage, said chairman of the Moroccan Anti-Cancer Association, Youssef Boutaleb. Morocco, Health, 5/14/2004 - Festival de Cannes 2004: Two Moroccan movies to be screened
The prestigious Festival de Cannes will be screening two Moroccan movies this year: Hassan Benjelloun's "Derb Moulay Cherif" and "A Casablanca les anges ne volent pas (In Casablanca, angels don't fly) by Mohammed Asli. Morocco, Local, 5/14/2004 - King receives US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs Morocco-USA, Politics, 5/14/2004
- 140 specialized judges to enforce new code
Moroccan Justice Minister, Mohammed Bouzoubaa, announced, here Tuesday, the appointment of 140 judges specialized in family and matrimonial cases to enforce the new family code in 180 centers set up in first instance courts. Morocco, Judicial, 5/13/2004 - International community supports Morocco's call for release of POWs detained in Algeria Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 5/13/2004
- It is urgent to disseminate Democracy in Africa to guarantee stability, APU
Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives (lower parliament chamber), Abdelouahed Radi, underlined Tuesday the urgency to establish democracy in Africa in order to overcome the problems it is facing. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 5/12/2004 - Senate approves law dismantling special court of justice
The House of Advisers (Parliament's Upper House) on Monday passed a law dismantling the more than three decade old special court of Justice. Morocco, Judicial, 5/12/2004 - Moroccan Speaker condemns as 'immoral' US military abuse against Iraqi Detainees
Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives, Abdelouahed Radi, condemned Tuesday as immoral the mistreatment by US military forces of Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad. Morocco-Iraq, Politics, 5/12/2004 - Religious extremism harms Islam, experts
Experts meeting here in a seminar to discuss "extremism and its manifestations in the Moroccan society," were unanimous in underlining that religious extremism harms Islam and its humanitarian values. Morocco-Regional, Religion, 5/12/2004 - Senate passes draft law on orphans in state care
The House of Advisers (Parliament Upper House) on Monday passed a draft law on the status of "Orphans in State Care" granted early March by Morocco's King Mohammed VI to all children who lost their parents in the earthquake that struck the northern region of Al Hoceima on February 24. Morocco, Local, 5/12/2004 - Morocco visit, a further step towards consolidating bilateral ties (Iranian fm) Morocco-Iran, Politics, 5/12/2004
- Morocco's hard currency reserves exceed $12.5 billion by end of march 2004 Morocco, Economics, 5/12/2004
- Italy cancels 20 million Euro debt owed by Morocco
Italy has cancelled 20 million Euros of debts owed by Morocco, announced this Monday Moroccan delegate-minister for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taib Fassi Fihri, following a meeting with an Italian official. Morocco-Italy, Economics, 5/11/2004 - Morocco, Iran eye creation of joint ventures and business council
Morocco and Iran are willing to create a joint business council and to launch joint ventures in industry and other economic sectors, given Morocco's status as a gateway to Europe and west Africa. Morocco-Iran, Politics, 5/11/2004 - Italian company to assist children of Moroccan war veterans
Italian company "Asia" will be providing assistance to social and economic projects carried out to the benefit of children of Moroccan former resisters and war veterans, under an agreement signed this Monday between the company and the high commissioner for former resisters and members of the liberation army. Morocco-Italy, Local, 5/11/2004 - Moroccan Jews celebrate Hailoula Festival in Ouazzane
The Hailoula festival, celebrated every year by the Moroccan Jewish community, started Saturday at the Amran Ben Diwan mausoleum in Ouazzane, north of Morocco. Morocco, Religion, 5/11/2004 - Message from King Mohammed to Amir of Qatar Qatar-Morocco, Politics, 5/11/2004
- Morocco counts on Italy to consolidate advanced status within EU, Minister Morocco-Italy, Politics, 5/11/2004
- Over 5 pct increase of Moroccan expatriates remittances Morocco, Economics, 5/11/2004
- 12,000 requests of Sahara natives in polisario-controlled camps to visit Morocco
Hamid Ghabar, Governor in charge of coordination with MINURSO -French acronym for the UN mission in the Sahara- said some 12,000 requests were filed by Sahara natives in the Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps (south-western Algeria) to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to return to Morocco "even for a few days." Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 5/10/2004