Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 1/24/2005
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of January 24, 2005
- Comedian Snoussi not banned from Moroccan TV, minister
Moroccan communication minister and government spokesman, Nabil Benabdellah denied that Moroccan comedian Ahmed Snoussi, dubbed "Bziz," was banned from the two national TV channels, RTM and 2M. Morocco, Culture, 1/29/2005 - Morocco, Tunis set to boost bilateral cooperation
Ghannouchi underlined, however, that bilateral trade is still below joint aspirations, noting that the volume of exchanges in 2004 was estimated at around US $139 million. Tunisia-Morocco, Politics, 1/29/2005 - European MPs highlight reform process initiated under the leadership of King Mohammed VI
European representatives highlighted, in Brussels Thursday, the reform process initiated under the leadership of King Mohammed VI and the sovereign's political will to promote human rights in Morocco. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 1/29/2005 - UNSG renews call to free The Moroccans detained in Polisario Tindouf camps
UN secretary general, Kofi Annan renewed his call to free all the Moroccans the Polisario still detains in the camps in Tindouf, South-West Algeria. Morocco-UN, Politics, 1/29/2005 - Enrico Macias: King Mohammed VI continues tradition of tolerance and peace
Renowned French singer, Enrico Macias said King Mohammed VI of Morocco continues, like the great sultans of Morocco, to perpetuate the tradition of tolerance and peace, both within his country and all over the world." Morocco, Politics, 1/29/2005 - Tunisian president highlights need to enhance cooperation with Morocco
Tunisian president, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, has called for the development of the Moroccan-Tunisian cooperation, said official sources. Tunisia-Morocco, Politics, 1/28/2005 - American congress staffers get informed on Sahara issue in Laayoune
A delegation of staffers of the American congress held a series of talks with deputies and civil society representatives of the Moroccan Southern town of Laayoune as part of a visit meant to garner information on the real situation in the Southern provinces of Morocco. Morocco-USA, Politics, 1/28/2005 - Morocco urges for immediate release of Moroccans sequestered in Tindouf
Morocco called on Thursday for the immediate release of Moroccans that are sequestered in the Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps (southern Algeria), voicing concern over their degrading conditions. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 1/28/2005 - The three coming years decisive for the tourism sector in Morocco, minister
The three coming years will be decisive for the tourism sector in Morocco and it is imperative to double the construction of hotels to reach the 203,000 bed capacity by 2010 or 2012, tourism minister, Adil Douiri said. Morocco, Economics, 1/28/2005 - American business coalition satisfied at the conclusion of Moroccan-US FTA
The support coalition for the Middle East-American free trade zone voiced satisfaction at the conclusion of the FTA by Morocco and the United states. Morocco-USA, Economics, 1/28/2005 - Center for e-business management to be created in Casablanca Morocco, Education, 1/28/2005
- Amnesty International praises Morocco's 'Increasing openness on human rights'
Amnesty International has welcomed "greater openness (in Morocco) on human rights, including in public debates about the legacy of past violations, and encouraging signs of progress towards greater respect for the rule of law." Morocco, Politics, 1/27/2005 - NGO calls for 'Algerian commitment' to determine fate of disappeared Sahrawis
The Sweden-based Association for the Defense of the Population Sequestered in Tindouf (ADESETI) has called for Algeria's commitment to determine the fate of the Sahrawis who disappeared in Tindouf camps, southern Algeria. Morocco-Sweden, Politics, 1/27/2005 - EU allocates 1 million euro to Moroccan HM associations
The European Union launched, in Rabat Wednesday, a one million program destined to fund micro projects of Moroccan NGO operating in human rights, announced the Union's delegation. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 1/27/2005 - Morocco, Maersk-Akwa Holding sign convention on Tangier-Med container terminal concession
Moroccan Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, chaired, in Rabat Wednesday, the signing of a convention, between Tangier Mediterranean Special Agency (TMSA) and Maersk-Akwa holding, on the concession of the first Tangier Med container terminal. Morocco, Business, 1/27/2005 - Rural electrification reaches 72% in 2004
The rate of rural electrification in Morocco has reached 72% by the end of 2004 and is scheduled to be brought to 81% this year, said the Moroccan power office (ONE). Morocco, Economics, 1/27/2005 - Former Algerian president vows to militate for reopening of Moroccan-Algerian borders
Former Algerian president, Ahmed Ben Bella, vowed to fight for "the re-opening of Moroccan-Algerian land borders," closed in 1994 after it was established that a group of Algerian-born nationals were involved in the shooting of a luxury hotel in Marrakech. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 1/26/2005 - Next public hearing of human rights victims to be held in Figuig
The Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER) will start on January 29 in Figuig (south-eastern Morocco) the third session of public hearings into human rights abuses committed between 1956 and 1999. Morocco, Politics, 1/26/2005 - Morocco's Islamic party welcomes upgrading of religious realm
Secretary General of the Party of Justice and Development (PJD- only authorized Islamic party in Morocco) affirmed that he appreciates the evolutions registered in Morocco with regard to upgrading the religious realm. Morocco, Politics, 1/26/2005 - Moroccan human rights association denied existence of any spokesperson abroad
The Moroccan human rights association (AMDH/independent) said it has no official nor semi-official spokesperson abroad, denying a news items by French agency "AFP" that quotes what it calls an AMDH spokesman abroad. Morocco, Politics, 1/26/2005 - Southern associations denounce Polisario practices as contrary to ICRC recommendations
Three local associations in the southern provinces have denounced the Polisario practices as contrary to recommendations of the International Committee of the Red Cross, following the death on Monday of a Moroccan held captive by the separatist group after he was released on Saturday. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 1/26/2005 - Algerian business delegation in Morocco to boost bilateral cooperation Morocco-Algeria, Economics, 1/26/2005
- The Guardian: Progress in plan to build a tunnel linking Spain and Morocco
Talks between Morocco and Spain have given a new impetus to a plan to build a tunnel between the two countries, as the minister of Equipment and Transports, Karim Chellab, met Spanish development minister, Magdalena Alvarez, in Tangier last week within the framework of the visit to Morocco by King Juan Carlos of Spain, reported, Tuesday, The Guardian. Morocco-Spain, Economics, 1/26/2005 - New electrical inter-connection between Morocco, Spain
President of the Spanish electricity company "Red Electrica de espana" (REE), Luis Atienza, announced, in Madrid Tuesday, that works will start "on February or March 2005" to establish a new submarine cable to reinforce the electrical interconnection between Morocco and Spain. Morocco-Spain, Economics, 1/26/2005 - Moroccan soldier repatriated from Tindouf, dies
A Moroccan soldier held captive for 17 years by the Polisario separatist group in Tindouf camps (Algeria) and repatriated Saturday to Morocco, died Monday in the military hospital of "Avicenne" in Marrakech. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 1/25/2005 - Sahara: Parliamentary Assembly of Europe's Council for a a mutually accepted political solution
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has reaffirmed its "strong support" to the efforts made by the UN secretary general and his personal envoy to reach a "mutually acceptable political solution" to the Sahara conflict. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 1/25/2005 - Morocco cruises to semi-finals of African youth soccer championship
Morocco are through to the semi finals of the African Youth Championship after defeating 1-0 on Sunday Angola at the Rene Pleven stadium in Benin's capital. Morocco-Regional, Sports, 1/25/2005 - Media campaign against condemnation of former 'Diario 16' director, Jose Luis Guttierez, denounced
Chairman of the civil chamber at the Spanish supreme court, Roman Garcia Varela, denounced, on Friday, the media campaign against his decision confirming condemnation in 1999 of former "Diario 16" director, Jose Luis Guttierez, for harming the honor of the Late King Hassan II. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 1/24/2005 - European MP: IER a unique experiment in the Arab-Moslem world Morocco-European Union, Politics, 1/24/2005