Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 2/7/2005
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of February 7, 2005
- Creation of Algeria-Morocco economic zone will make border issue 'futile', Algerian political leader
"If Morocco and Algeria manage to create an economic zone at their borders and if Algeria and Tunisia succeed in doing the same, the borders issue will become quite futile, said Houcine Ait Ahmed, leader of Algerian Socialist Forces Front (FFS). Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 2/10/2005 - Morocco, Algeria should work together to settle Sahara dispute, British MPs
A visiting delegation of British MPs has called on Morocco and Algeria to find a solution to the three-decade long Sahara dispute opposing the kingdom to the separatist movement "Polisario." Morocco-UK, Politics, 2/10/2005 - UN chief report on Sahara confirms persisting difficulties to settle the dispute, Minister
The latest report of United nations' Secretary General Kofi Annan on the Sahara confirms the persistence of difficulties facing the search for a solution to the three-decade long dispute opposing Morocco to the Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario," said, in Rabat Wednesday, the Moroccan Minister of communication and Government spokesman. Morocco-UN, Politics, 2/10/2005 - Morocco, Poland to strengthen economic relations
Polish businessmen convened, in Cassablanca Wednesday, with members of the Casablanca Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services to discuss means to reinforce bilateral trade cooperation. Morocco-Poland, Economics, 2/10/2005 - Poland eyes energy cooperation with Morocco, Polish official Morocco-Poland, Economics, 2/10/2005
- WB approves US$ 80 million loan to support Morocco's Basic Education Reform
The World Bank's Board of Directors approved on Tuesday a US$ 80 million loan to support a Basic Education Reform Support Program, also known as PARSEM, in Morocco. Morocco, Education, 2/10/2005 - Mexican President expected Friday in Morocco Morocco-Mexico, Politics, 2/10/2005
- Moroccan justice says terrorist suspects extradited by Syria wanted in Morocco
The general prosecutor at the Rabat court of appeal said the two Moroccan nationals extradited by Syria were actually wanted in Morocco. Morocco-Syria, Local, 2/10/2005 - France: Sahara conflict resolution crucial to improve Morocco-Algeria relations
Spokesman of the French foreign Ministry, Herve Ladsous, deemed that the resolution of the Sahara conflict is crucial for the improvement of Moroccan-Algerian relations. Morocco-France, Politics, 2/9/2005 - Morocco and Bahrain sign agreement to boost trade
Morocco and Bahrain signed a memo of understanding providing for a package of joint actions to mutually showcase their products and boost bilateral trade. Morocco-Bahrain, Economics, 2/9/2005 - Poland supports UN initiatives on Moroccan Sahara issue, Polish official
Polish Senate Speaker, Longin Pastusiak, voiced here Tuesday his country's support to UN Secretary-General's initiatives to find a solution to the Sahara issue. Morocco-Poland, Politics, 2/9/2005 - King Mohammed VI dedicates vocational training center at Ait Melloul prison
Morocco's King Mohammed VI dedicated on Tuesday a vocational training center which will provide training to the inmates of the prison of Ait Melloul, South-West Morocco. Morocco, Local, 2/9/2005 - Defense lashes out at US treatment of Moroccan former Guantanamo detainees
The defense of the Moroccan former detainees in Guantanamo lashed out Monday at US the authorities' treatment of the five men who were transferred to the US base after their arrest in Afghanistan, and handed over to Moroccan authorities last August. Morocco-USA, Politics, 2/9/2005 - Morocco, Poland's 'strategic partner', Speaker Morocco-Poland, Politics, 2/9/2005
- Moroccan MPs urge British peers to help release prisoners in Tindouf Morocco-UK, Politics, 2/9/2005
- Teacher victim of torture in 80s: I preferred torture to hearing my students moan
Abedlkader Souidi, a teacher from the Middle Atlas city of Azrou who was arrested in 1984 and tortured together with a group of student who went on strike to claim heating in the high school, said during his detention he preferred to be tortured than hear his students moan as a result of the sufferings they were inflicted. Morocco, Politics, 2/8/2005 - I was inflicted all forms of physical and psychological torture, human rights abuse victim
Ms Fatema Ameziane narrated in the 5th session of public hearings in past human rights victims how she and her children were inflicted all forms of physical and psychological torture, including death threat. Morocco, Politics, 2/8/2005 - Former woman detainee says: 'the price to pay for the love of the motherland is extremely high'
"The price to pay for the love of the motherland is extremely high and only the people whose homes were violated by night visitors know that," said Mrs Touria Tanani, arrested in 1984 for contribution to the creation in Fkih Bensaleh, Central Morocco, of a branch of the "Organisation de l'Action democratique populaire" (OADP). Morocco, Politics, 2/8/2005 - Former detainee: I lived with donations of good-doers after my husband's execution
Fadma Oulkhlef, Former detainee and spouse of Ahmed Assil who was executed after the events of March 1973, stated during the 5th session of public hearings into human rights violations Morocco, Politics, 2/8/2005 - Fatema Zhiri: I almost miscarried under torture Morocco, Politics, 2/8/2005
- Sahara: Mexico for a solution 'satisfactory to all parties'
Mexican president, Vicente Fox Questada, said his country encourages a solution to the Sahara conflict that is "satisfactory to all parties." Morocco-Mexico, Politics, 2/8/2005 - King Mohammed launches construction of handicapped children center in Agadir
Morocco's King Mohammed VI launched this Monday construction works of a center for handicapped children in the southern Atlantic city of Agadir. Morocco, Local, 2/8/2005 - The world is now aware the Sahara issue is a Moroccan-Algerian dispute, party leader
The world is now aware the Sahara issue is a Moroccan-Algerian dispute and that the balance of power is in favor of Morocco, said Abbas El Fassi, secretary general of the Istiqlal party (PI). Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 2/8/2005 - Morocco, Pakistan to sign a preferential accord
A Moroccan business delegation, that visited Pakistan from January 31 to February 4, has agreed with Pakistani officials to hold next April an experts' meeting in the prospect of signing a preferential agreement between the two countries in June 2005. Morocco-Pakistan, Economics, 2/8/2005 - Istiqlal Party: Lemrabet's statements on Sahara profit only to Algeria
Secretary General of the Istiqlal Party (PI), Abbas El Fassi, said the statements of journalist Ali Lemrabet on Sahrawi populations in Tindouf camps will only profit to one party, Algeria. Morocco, Politics, 2/8/2005 - Prince Moulay Rachid holds talks with Malian president Morocco-Mali, Politics, 2/8/2005
- Moroccan tourism minister announces the construction of 50 hotels unit per year
Moroccan Tourism, Craftsmanship and Social economy, Adil Douiri, has announced a plan to build 50 hotels unit per year up to 2010, as well as the realization of new sea resorts in the Mediterranean and Atlantic shores. Morocco, Economics, 2/8/2005 - Morocco volleyball junior team wins Porto international tournament Morocco, Sports, 2/8/2005
- Amnesty International welcomes Morocco's draft law on torture Morocco, Politics, 2/7/2005
- Moroccan and Algerian business operators consider ways to re-launch economic cooperation
Means to re-launch economic cooperation between Morocco and Algeria was the major theme of a meeting held on Friday between the two North African countries' businessmen. Morocco-Algeria, Economics, 2/7/2005 - Sahrawi human rights advocacy association protests Reporters sans frontieres release
The Sahrawi human rights advocacy association (ASADEDH) expressed on Saturday "astonishment" and "indignation" over a "reporters sans frontiers" release saying that pro-government news media in Morocco are waging a campaign to disparage journalist Ali Lmrabet. Morocco, Politics, 2/7/2005 - Fifth session of public hearings into human rights violations this Sunday in Khenifra
The 5th session of public hearings into most serious violations of human rights will be held this Sunday in the Middle Atlas city of Kenifra. Morocco, Politics, 2/7/2005 - Italian judge turns down decision to expel Moroccan suspected of terrorism
An Italian judge turned down on Friday the expulsion decision against a Moroccan national, Mohamed Daki, whose presence in the Italian territory was considered by the interior minister as "a serious threat to public order and a danger for the state security." Morocco-Italy, Local, 2/7/2005