Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 4/11/2005
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of April 11, 2005
- La Vieeco: Morocco optimistic to discover oil after Mauritania
Morocco is upbeat over discovering oil off-shore after neighbouring Mauritania did, said, in Rabat Friday, Managing Director of the Moroccan Office of Hydrocarbons and Mining (ONHYM), Amina Benkhadra. Morocco, Economics, 4/16/2005 - Marathon des Sables: the Ahansals lead the race
The Ahansal brothers remained undefeated through the fourth day of the 20th edition of the marathon des sables. Morocco-Regional, Sports, 4/16/2005 - Catalonian official: regularisation of Moroccan emigrants situation proceeds well
The regularisation process of Moroccan emigrants in Spain is proceeding in good conditions, said, in Rabat Thursday, visiting secretary General for emigration in the Catalonian government, Adela Ross. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 4/16/2005 - Lmrabet sued by MAP correspondents in Madrid for slandering
Ali Lmrabet, a Moroccan-French journalist living in Spain, has been sued by two correspondents of Morocco's state-owned new agency "Maghreb Arab Press" (MAP) in Madrid for slandering, legal sources revealed in Madrid Wednesday. Morocco, Politics, 4/15/2005 - Japan seeks Morocco's support for permanent seat in UN Security Council
Japan is currently seeking Morocco's support to obtain a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council. Morocco-Japan, Politics, 4/15/2005 - Morocco's FTA promotion in US, 'successful', diplomat
Morocco's ambassador to Washington, Aziz Mekouar has described as "successful" the recent tour in the United States by a Moroccan delegation made up of officials and businessmen to promote the free trade agreement (FTA) signed in 2004 between the two countries. Morocco-USA, Economics, 4/15/2005 - Japanese bank grants Morocco over $ 40 million loan to fund drainage program
The Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has granted the Moroccan office for potable water (ONEP) a loan of MAD 347,4 million (USD 40.8 million) to fund a program of liquid waste disposal. Morocco-Japan, Economics, 4/15/2005 - 7,000 pardoned by the king including 26 foreign prisoners Morocco, Local, 4/15/2005
- Liz Cheney: Morocco could be a model for countries of the region
Liz Cheney, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs believes "Morocco could be a model for countries of the region," noting that "King Mohammed VI has put the country on the path of modernization while respecting Morocco's culture and traditions." Morocco-USA, Politics, 4/14/2005 - Over MAD 500m sales for Moroccan highway authority in 2004
The Moroccan Highway Authority (societe nationale des Autoroutes du Maroc -ADM-) achieved a turnover of MAD 562m (Euro 1 = MAD 11.06) in 2004, that is an increase of 14% in comparison to 2003, said Tuesday, ADM Director General. Morocco, Economics, 4/14/2005 - 'Aicha des Gazelles' women rally to kick off in April
The 15th edition of "Aicha des Gazelles" rally will take place April 21-30 in the south of Morocco. Morocco, Sports, 4/14/2005 - Meningitis cases reported in Morocco are 'isolated,' health minister
Cases of meningitis reported in Morocco are "isolated," said the Moroccan Health Minister, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah. Morocco, Health, 4/14/2005 - No commercial relations between Morocco and Israel, Minister Morocco-Israel, Politics, 4/14/2005
- Taekwondo: Morocco takes part in World Championship
The Moroccan Taekwondo team will take part in the World Taekwondo Championship slated for April 13-18 in Madrid (Spain). Morocco, Sports, 4/14/2005 - Morocco pleads 'sustainable solution' to illegal emigration
Morocco pleaded Tuesday for a "sustainable solution" to illegal emigration, saying "migration should be addressed in a global and integrated approach" based on openness, cooperation and shared responsibility. Morocco, Economics, 4/14/2005 - Fez to celebrate Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan circumcision
In Morocco, this "operation" was until some decades ago an exclusivity of the barber, who, on appointment, would come to the house of the family, armed with his scissors, and his many archaic utensils. Today, the barber is gradually loosing ground to the physician or male nurses well specialized in the matter. Morocco, Local, 4/14/2005 - Court bans Lmrabet from exercising journalism for 10 years
The verdict issued Tuesday by the First Instance Court of Rabat against journalist Ali Lmrabet, sentenced for defamation to a 10-year ban from exercising journalism has sparked different reactions with some Sahrawi NGOs deeming it a "light sentence" while the Press Union is asking for reconsidering the verdict. Morocco, Politics, 4/13/2005 - Cheney hailed reforms ushered in Morocco by king Mohammed VI
Visiting U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Near Eastern Affairs Bureau and Coordinator for Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiatives (IPMO), Elizabeth L. Cheney hailed, in Rabat Monday reforms ushered in Morocco under the auspices of King Mohammed VI. Morocco-USA, Politics, 4/13/2005 - NGO calls for investigation on children deported to Cuba
A youth NGO called, in Geneva Monday, for sending experts to the Polisario-controlled Tindouf camps (western Algeria) and to Cuba to probe the situation of children deported to the south American country. Morocco-Cuba, Politics, 4/13/2005 - Highway accidents decreased 6% in 2004
The number of highway accidents in Moroccan decreased 6% in 2004, totalling 1,493 compared to 1,588 the previous year, according to figures of the "Societe Nationale des Autoroutes du Maroc." Morocco, Economics, 4/13/2005 - 25 million earmarked to rehabilitate Roman Volubilis site
MAD 25 million have been earmarked to rehabilitate and preserve the ancient Roman site of Volubilis, 145 km East of Rabat, under an agreement signed, here Tuesday, between the ministry of culture and ONA Group. Morocco, Local, 4/13/2005 - King receives Gabonese defense minister Morocco-Gabon, Politics, 4/13/2005
- Lahcen Ahansal wins third day of Marathon des Sables
Local runner, Lahcen Ahansal won, in Zagora Tuesday the third day of the 20th marathon des sables. Morocco, Sports, 4/13/2005 - Arab Trade Program lends Morocco US$ 25 million
The Arab Trade Financing Program (ATFP) lent Morocco US$ 25 million to promote foreign trade, under a convention signed, here Tuesday. Morocco-Regional, Economics, 4/13/2005 - Spanish police nab Moroccan for possible involvement in Madrid bombings
Spanish police arrested, on Tuesday in Algesiras, a Moroccan national for possible involvement in the terrorist bombings perpetrated in Madrid on March 11th, 2004, according to police sources. Morocco-Spain, Local, 4/13/2005 - Rabat to host 'Mawazine-Rythmes du monde' festival
The Moroccan capital will host world musicians at the 4th Mawazine-Rythmes du Monde Festival slated for May 18 to 25. Morocco-Regional, Local, 4/13/2005 - Prosecutor charges for corruption managers of the oldest charity in Morocco
Several managers of the first Islamic Charity Association in Morocco have been charged for corruption and embezzlement by the General Prosecutor after their arrest following an enquiry ordered by King Mohammed VI. Morocco, Politics, 4/12/2005 - Assahra Al Maghribya: 15 international oil companies prospect currently in Morocco Morocco, Economics, 4/12/2005
- WYDAD wins to spur Moroccan GNF1
Casablanca's WYDAD victory over CODM of Meknes spurred Moroccan first division GNF1 quest for the title. Morocco-Regional, Sports, 4/12/2005 - Moroccan identified among terrorists killed in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Interior Ministry said it has identified Moroccan-born French Karim Touhami Driss Al Mejjati as one of the 15 terrorists killed in confrontations with security forces on April 3-5 in the province of Al-Qassim (north of Riyadh). Morocco-Saudi Arabia, Local, 4/12/2005 - Lahcen Ahansal wins second day of Marathon des Sables
Local runner, Lahcen Ahansal won, in Zagora Monday the second day of the 20th marathon des sables. Morocco, Sports, 4/12/2005 - Morocco intends to set up high-speed train service by 2015
Visiting Moroccan Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, announced Saturday that Morocco wants to establish a TGV (French high-speed trade service) by 2015 between Casablanca, Marrakech and Agadir. Morocco-France, Economics, 4/12/2005 - Meeting in Algiers between Moroccan health minister and Algerian president Algeria-Morocco, Politics, 4/11/2005
- Abdelwahad Radi re-elected speaker of the House of Representatives
Abdelwahad Radi was re-elected on Friday speaker of the House of representatives by 136 votes out of the 256 voters at a second ballot. Morocco, Politics, 4/11/2005 - Scientists discover two pre-Islamic era skeletons
An archaeologist group discovered two human skeletons of pre-Islamic era in a graveyard near Mezguitam village, close to the town of Taza (320 km North-East of Rabat), said a release of the Ministry of Culture. Morocco, Local, 4/11/2005 - A 16.316 tons truckload of Hashish Seized in Casablanca
Casablanca anti-drug brigade seized last Thursday 16.316 tons of hashish on board of a trailer-truck registered in Portugal and driven by a Spanish national. Morocco, Local, 4/11/2005