Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 3/21/2005
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of March 21, 2005
- Morocco concerned after liberalization of textile sector
Moroccan officials have voiced concern after the drop of the country's exports of textile products following the liberalization of the sector and the elimination of the quota system in January. Morocco, Economics, 3/26/2005 - USAID to help Moroccan Audit Court promote transparency
Under the accord, the USAID will train judges on issues of public finance and will organize seminars for local officials and administrators on the principles of transparent financial management and reporting. Morocco-USA, Judicial, 3/26/2005 - $ 1.64 billion investments in Morocco in 2004
Investments in Morocco in 2004 have reached, according to temporary estimates, MAD 14 billion (around USD 1.64 Billion), said a senior official in the Finance Ministry. Morocco, Economics, 3/26/2005 - King Mohammed, President Bouteflika meetings prelude to political thaw, press
Meetings King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria held on the sidelines of the Arab Summit are a sign of political thaw and a prelude to reactivate the Maghreb Arab Union process, said the main headlines of Moroccan newspapers Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/25/2005 - Moroccan HR activists shed light on human tragedy in Tindouf Camps
Moroccan Human Rights Organisation (OMDH) on Thursday briefed international human rights organisations on the human tragedy in the Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps, south-western Algeria. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/25/2005 - Jounalist Lmrabet should amend for his serious mistakes toward journalism profession, SNMP SG
Journalist Ali Lmrabet should amend for the serious mistakes he made vis-a-vis the journalism profession by slandering colleagues from the Moroccan news agency, Moroccan press union (SNMP) Secretary General, Younes Moujahid said on Thursday. Morocco, Politics, 3/25/2005 - Vanco announces deepwater 3-D seismic acquisition offshore Morocco
Vanco Morocco Ltd. has announced the commencement of a 700 square kilometer 3-D seismic acquisition program offshore Morocco over the deepwater Safi Haute Mer Permit, reported on Thursday OilOnline. Morocco, Business, 3/25/2005 - Association condemns human organs trafficking by 'Polisario'
The association "For the Liberation of the Moroccan Prisoners of Tindouf" condemned, Thursday, the "traffic of the organs of Moroccan Sahrawi children" by the Algerian-backed Polisario mercenaries. Morocco-France, Politics, 3/25/2005 - Congress staffers informed on several issues on Sahara in Laayoune
American Congress staffers held a series of meetings Wednesday and Thursday, in the Southern city of Laayoune, with several local officials, deputies and civil society representatives. Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/25/2005 - King voices pride at Moroccan-Algerian brotherly and immutable ties
Morocco's King Mohammed VI voiced pride at the "brotherly and immutable ties" that unite the sovereign to the Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the Moroccan and Algerian peoples. Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 3/25/2005 - Morocco eyes Russian tourism market
Morocco hopes to attract Russian tourists part of its plan that aims to attract 10 million tourists by 2010. Morocco-Russia, Economics, 3/25/2005 - ONA Holding sales stood at MAD 22.72 billion in 2004
The sales The North African Omnium Group (ONA) stood at MAD 22.72 billion in 2004, recording a 7.4 percent increase compared to the previous year, ONA Managing Director Said Bendidi said here Thursday. Morocco, Business, 3/25/2005 - Over 5 tons of hashish seized in Tangier
Customs officers seized, in Tanjier Thursday, 5.353 tons of cannabis extract, locally known as hashish, that were hidden in a freight truck. Morocco, Local, 3/25/2005 - Sebta inmates were allegedly plotting to bomb ferry, daily
The two inmates that were questioned, Tuesday, by the Spanish authorities on alleged involvement in terrorist acts, had a detailed plan of a ferry that plies between Algeciras and the Spanish colony in northern Morocco, Sebta. Morocco, Local, 3/25/2005 - Morocco's El-Aynaoui rolled out of NASDAQ-100 Open Morocco, Sports, 3/25/2005
- Moroccan invention to use video-telephony through GSM
Majid El Bouazzaoui, a young Moroccan engineer, patented his new invention that consists in the use of video-telephony techniques through the classical networks. Morocco, Science, 3/24/2005 - Financial problems undermine press companies, TV magazine
Morocco is lagging behind in terms of newspapers production, and journalists are far underpaid, according to a TV weekly program aired Wednesday evening by national TV "TVM." Morocco, Economics, 3/24/2005 - Large autonomy would help settle Sahara dispute, former UN official
Former chief of the UN mission in the Sahara, Erik Jensen has suggested that the three-decade long Sahara dispute opposing Morocco to Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario" could be settled through granting a large autonomy to these Moroccan Southern Provinces. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/24/2005 - Zapatero: Sahara dispute among main obstacles to UMA
Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Rodriguez Zapatero, said on Tuesday the Sahara dispute opposing Morocco to the Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario" is among the main obstacles facing the regional integration process of the Maghreb, and the full development of the Arab Maghreb Union. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 3/24/2005 - Piracy costs Morocco around $ 253 Mn
Piracy costs Morocco MAD 2 billion of economic losses with an average rate of over 70pc in the sectors of software, music and cinema, it was revealed, here Tuesday, at a meeting on counterfeiting and piracy, organized by the Communication Ministry and Le Bureau Marocain du Droit d'Auteur (Moroccan Office for Authors' Rights). Morocco, Economics, 3/24/2005 - Belgium removes last legal obstacle for extradition of Moroccan Youssef Belhadj
A Belgian court rejected Wednesday an appeal lodged by Moroccan Youssef Belhadj to the Cassation Court regarding his extradition to Spain where he is wanted for suspected involvement in the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people last year. Morocco-Belgium, Local, 3/24/2005 - Moroccan cinemagoers declined to 6 millions in 2005
Morocco cinemagoers declined to 6 million in 2005 compared to 20 million in the 90's, said Moroccan cinema critic and historian, Ahmed Sijilimassi. Morocco, Economics, 3/24/2005 - Spain investigates with two inmates for terrorism
Spanish authorities questioned Tuesday two alleged terrorists that were serving sentences in the prison of the Spanish colony of Sebta (northern Morocco). Morocco-Spain, Local, 3/24/2005 - Moroccan El-Aynaoui to take on Georgian Labadze in 1st round at Miami
Younes El-Aynaoui will take on Georgian, Irakli Labadze in the singles first round of the US$ 3.450-million Nasdaq-100 Open WTA Tour tennis event in Miami, USA (March 23- April 3). Morocco, Sports, 3/24/2005 - Indian Tata Chemicals to acquire stake in Indo Maroc Phosphore SA
Indian KK Birla and Moroccan Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP) have agreed to induct Indian Tata Chemicals Ltd (TCL), as a third partner in the joint venture IMACID by disinvesting one third of their holding to the Indian company "Tata Chemicals Ltd" (TCL). Morocco-India, Business, 3/24/2005 - Moroccan cinema stars at Mar del Plata Film Festival
The Moroccan cinema has won several awards at the 20th edition of Mar del Plata Film Festival, held on March 10-20 in Argentina. Morocco, Local, 3/24/2005 - Over 16 tons of Hashish seized in Nador in 2004 Morocco, Local, 3/24/2005
- Harley Davidson Touring to cross Morocco Morocco-USA, Local, 3/24/2005
- King Mohammed and Presdient Bouteflika expected to hold talks today in Algiers
The announcement was made Tuesday evening at a press conference by Algeria's Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem who said "the climate is favorable for the holding of such meetings." Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 3/23/2005 - Forests in Morocco seriously threatened, official
A Moroccan official has warned against the "serious threats" facing forests in Morocco where some four million people live, directly or indirectly, on forest products, according to figures released by the High Commission for Water, Forest and Anti-Desertification. Morocco, Environment, 3/21/2005 - Moroccan king expected Monday in Algiers to attend Arab Summit Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/21/2005
- Marital dispute leads to murder-suicide in Morocco
A former policeman killed his wife and then himself, in Casablanca Saturday, Police said. Morocco, Local, 3/21/2005