Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 4/4/2005
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of April 4, 2005
- Moroccan customs revenues increased 6.1% in 2004
The ADII limited the customs clearance duration in 46 minutes and set up a strategy to fight fraud and disloyal competition to clean up business environment and improve companies competitiveness. Morocco, Economics, 4/9/2005 - Demonstrators denounce Polisario crimes, in Geneva nations square
A demonstration was staged in Geneva Friday morning at the Nations square to denounce the crimes and violations perpetrated by the Algeria-backed Polisario against the populations of Tindouf camps, South-West Algeria. Morocco-Switzerland, Politics, 4/9/2005 - Morocco, Mauritania sign two educational cooperation accords
Morocco and Mauritania signed, in Nouakchott Thursday, two accords to develop cooperation in education and illiteracy eradication for the three coming years. Mauritania-Morocco, Education, 4/9/2005 - Moroccan GDP to reach 2.8 percent growth in 2005
The growth rate of the Moroccan real gross domestic product is expected to reach 2.8 percent based on an added value of the agricultural output, which, however, is expected to decrease 1.4 percent. Morocco, Economics, 4/9/2005 - Over 60 Moroccan illegal emigrants intercepted off Spanish coast
Spanish Guardia Civil intercepted, Friday, off the coasts of Tarifa (Southern Spain) 66 Moroccans trying to illegally cross to Europe, said official source. Morocco-Spain, Local, 4/9/2005 - 4.7% increase in Moroccan expatriates' remittances in January, February 2005
Moroccan expatriates' remittances stood at MAD 6.02b (about Euro 602m) in January and February 2005, achieving an increase of 4.7% compared to last year's performance in the same period. Morocco, Economics, 4/9/2005 - Less than 40,000 Moroccan 'undocumented' immigrants applied for regularization in Spain
Only 38,968 undocumented Moroccans have applied for the regularization of their situation in Spain, compared to the expected 100,000 at the beginning of the process, announced, in Madrid Thursday, Spanish Minister of Work and Social Affairs, Jesus Caldera. Morocco-Spain, Local, 4/9/2005 - World Bank lends Morocco 31 million euros for road construction Morocco, Economics, 4/9/2005
- Morocco receives $ 2.92 m to eliminate vitamins and minerals deficiencies
Morocco obtained a 2.92 million dollars grant from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to counter iron deficiency anemia and vitamin A and D deficiency related problems among women and young children. Morocco-USA, Health, 4/9/2005 - Government, parliament greet Madagascar's decision to freeze recognition of so-called Sahrawi Republic
The Moroccan Government and Parliament on Wednesday greeted Madagascar's decision to "freeze" diplomatic recognition of the so-called Sahrawi republic, a puppet state proclaimed by the Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario" on the Algerian soil. Morocco-Madagascar, Politics, 4/8/2005 - Up to 10 years in prison for drug trafficking network, including policemen and gendarmes
The Rabat-Court of Appeal on Wednesday issued prison sentences ranging from 1 to 10 years against members of a drug trafficking network, including policemen and gendarmes. Morocco, Local, 4/8/2005 - Over 200 women die while giving birth in Morocco
The total fertility rate is barely 2.5 children per woman, and life expectancy has appreciably increased to stand at 70 years in 2001. Morocco, Health, 4/8/2005 - RAJA, FAR to resume their African Champions League quest
Moroccan teams, RAJA and FAR will take up African competition as the African Champions League resumes this weekend. Morocco-Regional, Sports, 4/8/2005 - Madagascar freezes recognition of so-called Sahrawi Republic
Madagascar decided to freeze its recognition of the so-called Sahrawi republic "SADR," visiting Malagasy President Marc Ravalomanana announced in Rabat Wednesday. Morocco-Madagascar, Politics, 4/7/2005 - Imams, Rabbis call for synergies between religion and politics
The Judeo-Muslim Permanent Committee, convened Tuesday in Marrakech, called for associating the political action to the efforts of the clergy to promote relations between Islam and Judaism. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 4/7/2005 - Tindouf camps 'forgotten victims' 'shame' on international community, conference
"It is a shame that such a case of 'forgotten victims' by the international community can exist in the new millennium" aired, in denunciation of the Moroccans sequestered in Tindouf camps (Southwest Algeria), the representative of Centrist Democratic International (CDI) in Italy. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 4/7/2005 - Morocco willing to help in Madagascar development, PM
Moroccan Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, on Tuesday voiced Morocco's willingness to contribute to Madagascar development, at a meeting with visiting President Marc Ravalomanana. Morocco-Madagascar, Politics, 4/7/2005 - Government earmarks over 650 million euro to promote Morocco's eastern region
The Moroccan government has earmarked over 600 million euro to promote Morocco's eastern region, under two conventions signed, in Rabat Wednesday, under the chairmanship of King Mohammed VI. Morocco, Economics, 4/7/2005 - Essaouira to host Gnaoua and World Music Festival
Top world spiritual musicians are expected to turn out at the 8th Gnaoua and World Music Festival slated for June 23 to 26. Morocco-Regional, Local, 4/7/2005 - Morocco's RAJA crowned Zayed Cup champion after beating Sao Paulo
The Morocco's RAJA grabbed, in Abu Dhabi Tuesday, the 11th Zayed Youth Cup (U-16) after beating the Brazilian team of Sao Paulo 3-1. Morocco-Regional, Sports, 4/7/2005 - Libya appreciation of close ties to Morocco Libya-Morocco, Politics, 4/6/2005
- Malagasy president pleads for 'freezing' recognition of self-proclaimed Sahrawi republic
President of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, pleaded in Rabat Tuesday, for "freezing" the diplomatic recognition of the Sahrawi republic "SADR" proclaimed by the Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario." Morocco-Madagascar, Politics, 4/6/2005 - Malagasy president's visit to Morocco evokes 'vivid, moving memories', says King
The visit to Morocco of President Marc Ravalomanana evokes "vivid, moving memories," for Moroccans, according to King Mohammed VI who was speaking at an Exchange of Toasts at a dinner hosted in honor of the Malagasy leader Tuesday evening in Rabat. Morocco-Madagascar, Politics, 4/6/2005 - Morocco pleads for negotiated political solution to Sahara issue, King
King Mohammed VI of Morocco on Tuesday reiterated his country's resolve to reach a political solution to the Sahara dispute opposing the North African country to the Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario." Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 4/6/2005 - NGOs stress the need to help sequestrated populations in Polisario camps
Members of several Moroccan human rights NGOs stressed here Tuesday the need to upgrade their actions in favour of the populations held against their will in the Polisario Tindouf camps. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 4/6/2005 - Moroccan terror suspects freed by Spanish justice
Spanish justice in charge of investigating about March 11 Madrid terror attacks, Juan del Olmo, released, Tuesday, the four Haddad brothers, arrested Friday for alleged involvement in the attacks, said court sources. Morocco-Spain, Local, 4/6/2005 - Paris to host 1st Amazigh aong festival
The 1st Amazigh Song Festival will take place, in Paris on April 23 at the Conference center of Montreuil (Paris suburb). Regional-Morocco, Local, 4/6/2005 - NGOs stage sit-in to denounce Ali Lmrabet statements
Representatives of several Sahrawi human rights organisations staged in Rabat a sit-in to denounce the statements of journalist Ali Lmrabet ran last January by "Al Moustakil" weekly. Morocco, Politics, 4/6/2005 - Morocco needs to firmly counter piracy, Minister
It is necessary to firmly counter piracy and counterfeiting in the audiovisual domain through the dissemination of moral awareness and the spirit of responsibility and citizenship among the population, said Tuesday, Communication Minister, Nabil Benabdallah. Morocco, Economics, 4/6/2005 - Young girl hit by anti-personnel mine doing well, hospital
Mahjouba Aouimir, 11, stepped in March 2004 on a buried anti-personnel mine which shattered her right foot. Morocco, Local, 4/6/2005 - Morocco's RAJA to take on Sao Paulo at Zayed Cup Final
Moroccan team of RAJA will take on the Brazilian team of Sao Paulo at the final of the 11th Zayed Youth Cup (U-16) that will take place in Abu Dhabi Tuesday. Morocco-Brazil, Sports, 4/6/2005 - Morocco's El-Aynoui falls to Italien Volandri Morocco, Sports, 4/6/2005
- Media welcomes Algeria's decision to lift visa requirements for Moroccans
The Moroccan media on Monday welcomed the announcement by Algeria's President Abdel Aziz Butaflika to waive visa requirements for Moroccan nationals, a move that was described by a newspaper as the beginning of the normalization process between the two states Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 4/5/2005 - Judeo-Moslem Committee to hold first meeting on April 5-6 in Marrakech
The Judeo-Moslem Permanent Committee is to hold its first meeting on April 5-6 in the Moroccan town of Marrakech (Central South), the Swiss "Hommes de Paroles" Foundations said in a communique released in the Belgian capital city. Regional-Morocco, Religion, 4/5/2005 - King orders investigation into deterioration of first Islamic Charity House
Morocco's King Mohammed VI has ordered an investigation into the deterioration of the building housing the first Islamic charity in Morocco and deplored the poor conditions of its residents, during a visit to the institution on Saturday. Morocco, Local, 4/5/2005 - Spain: 'Undocumented' Moroccans step up protest against regularization requirements
Tens of thousands of "undocumented" Moroccans in Spain stepped up protest against the stringent requirements of the government regularization process. Morocco-Spain, Local, 4/5/2005 - Message from Morocco's king to UAE president United Arab Emirates-Morocco, Politics, 4/5/2005
- Prayers in Geneva for the release of Moroccan POWs in Southern Algeria
More than 200 people gathered in a Notre Dame church in Geneva on Saturday to pray for the release of the remaining 408 Moroccan prisoners of war still being held by the Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario" in the Tindouf Camps (south-western Algeria). Morocco-Switzerland, Politics, 4/5/2005 - German Ivo Klec wins Futures 2005 International Tennis Tournament Morocco-Germany, Sports, 4/5/2005
- Director Jilali Ferhati awarded tetuan film festival grand prize
Moroccan movie director, Jilali Ferhati won the grand prize of the 12 edition of the Tetuan film Festival for his movie "Memory in Detention." Morocco, Local, 4/4/2005