Arabic News Weekly Edition for Morocco, 6/13/2005
Weekly Edition, Morocco - Week of June 13, 2005
- Upcoming visit of Algerian PM 'untimely', foreign ministry
The visit that Algeria's Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia was to pay to Morocco (June 21-22) is "untimely" because of the current state of Morocco-Algerian relations, a communique of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation said Thursday. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 6/17/2005 - Morocco 'invited' to resume mediation in the Mano River region, FM
Morocco has received an "invitation" to resume mediation between countries of the African Mano River Union, revealed Thursday, Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Minister Mohamed Benaissa. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 6/17/2005 - Morocco unilaterally cancels visa for Russians
Morocco decided, as of June 13, to unilaterally cancel the visa and the airport taxes for Russian citizens, announced the kingdom's ambassador to Russia, Abdelmalek Jeddaoui. Morocco-Russia, Economics, 6/17/2005 - Weather change costs Morocco 4.6 of GDP, official
Morocco loses 4.6% of the GDP because of the weather changes, which triggers desertification, said the High Commissioner for Water and Forests Abdeladim Lhafi. Morocco, Economics, 6/17/2005 - Moroccan authorities arrest over 100 illegal emigrants
Moroccan authorities arrested on June 12-14 some 125 illegal emigrants who were planning to cross clandestinely to Europe, revealed, here Thursday the Moroccan Interior ministry. Morocco-European Union, Politics, 6/17/2005 - Fiat starts marketing three new car makes in Morocco
Fiat Auto Maroc will start on Friday marketing three new car makes in the Moroccan market, revealed the company CEO, Bruno de Mori. Morocco-Italy, Business, 6/17/2005 - King calls on rich countries to honor commitments towards the poor
This signal, he explained, is a call for prudence and wisdom, since the widening economic and technological gap between the North and the South does not only have adverse effects within developing countries, but it also poses a threat to global security in a world which has been reduced to a global village. Morocco-Regional, Politics, 6/16/2005 - Naturalization of Moroccans living in Netherlands to be handled in line with Dutch laws, Dutch official
The naturalization of Moroccan workers living in the Netherlands should be handled in line with Dutch laws, said, in Rabat Wednesday, Dutch Immigration and Integration Minister, Rita Verdonk. Morocco-Netherlands, Local, 6/16/2005 - Minister wants to increase preachers' salaries
Moroccan Minister of Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq on Wednesday voiced his department's hope that an additional budget of MAD 100m (Euro 9m) be earmarked to improve the situation of Friday prayer's preachers. Morocco, Politics, 6/16/2005 - le Figaro Economie: Moroccan call centers achieve over Euro 80 million in sales
Moroccan call centers achieve over Euro 85 million in sales, i.e. more than its four competitors (Tunisia, Mauritius Island, Senegal and Romania) together Morocco, Economics, 6/16/2005 - Canada should conclude free trade agreement with Morocco, senator Morocco-Canada, Politics, 6/16/2005
- Al Ittihad al-Ichiraki: New way needed to expand Japanese-Moroccan economic relations, ambassador Morocco-Japan, Economics, 6/16/2005
- Morocco's package tour sales increase 24.7% as of April 2005 Morocco, Economics, 6/16/2005
- Law shall be applied against freedom misuse, Minister
Law will be applied "against those who misuse the atmosphere of democracy and freedom, to which Morocco has committed, to damage the institutions and the sacred values of our country," Minister of Communication, Spokesman of the government, Nabil Benabdellah vented Tuesday. Morocco, Politics, 6/15/2005 - UN reform should be factor of rapprochement, not division, Moroccan FM
The Moroccan official deemed that the three top priorities, namely peace and security, development, and human right necessitate the reinforcement of the United Nations in order to make them the main gear of the ambitious program of reforms. Regional-Morocco, Politics, 6/15/2005 - UN chief to appoint 'very soon' special representative to Sahara
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said, in Paris Tuesday, he would "very soon" appoint a Special Representative for the Sahara, in another attempt to find a solution to the dispute opposing Morocco to the Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario." Morocco-UN, Politics, 6/15/2005 - Morocco, Italy to materialize telecommunication MoU provisions
The accord provides, inter alia, for the setting up of training centers for Moroccans to meet the needs of the telecommunication field, which would ultimately offer some 250,000 jobs, by 2010, for Moroccan technicians and engineers. Morocco-Italy, Economics, 6/15/2005 - Plans for sea fisheries management needed in Morocco
The need to incept plans for the management of Moroccan sea fisheries to ensure the monitoring and the preservation of the sector's resources was highlighted by Hassan Chami, president of the Moroccan enterprises general Confederation (CGEM). Morocco, Economics, 6/15/2005 - Immigration requires comprehensive approach, Dutch official
The complex nature of immigration requires a comprehensive approach, affirmed, Monday, visiting Dutch Minister of Immigration and Integration, Rita Verdonk at a meeting with officials in the Moroccan Interior Ministry. Morocco-Netherlands, Politics, 6/15/2005 - Morocco's Hasna Benhassi wins Athens IAAF Super Grand Prix women's 800m
Moroccan athlete Hasna Benhassi won, in Athens Tuesday, the women's 800m of the Athens IAAF Super Grand Prix. Morocco, Sports, 6/15/2005 - Assabah: Vigilance, efficient arm to fight AIDS, activist
The number of HIV positives in Morocco is low in comparison to other countries, but vigilance is a must, warned the chairwoman of the Moroccan Association to Fight Aids (ALCS). Morocco, Health, 6/15/2005 - Islamist party says Islamist activist anti-monarchy statements are 'unacceptable'
The moderate Islamist Party of Justice and Development (PJD) has denounced as "unacceptable" the statements of the Islamist activist Nadia Yassine who stated recently that "monarchy is not suitable for Morocco." Morocco, Politics, 6/14/2005 - New Central African president satisfied over bilateral relations with Morocco Morocco-Central African Republic, Politics, 6/14/2005
- Moroccan globetrotter to wrap up his bicycle world tour in the USA
Moroccan globetrotter and disabled cyclist, Driss Kadiri arrived to the USA on the last leg of his 11-year bicycle trip around the world. Morocco-Regional, People, 6/14/2005 - La Gazette du Maroc: There would not have been any Polisario without Algeria, researcher
The Polisario Front, that is claiming the separation of Morocco's southern provinces (the Sahara), would have never seen light without Algeria, affirmed Algerian journalist and researcher Yahya Abou Zakaria. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 6/14/2005 - Permanent link seabed study in Gibraltar Strait complete at 95%
The offshore seabed geological study for the construction of a permanent link between Africa and Europe across the Gibraltar Strait has been completed at 95%, said Moroccan transport minister Karim Ghellab on Monday. Morocco-European Union, Economics, 6/14/2005 - Le Matin du Sahara: Moroccan GDP depends less on agriculture
Some economic indicators show that the Moroccan GDP is decreasingly contingent upon agriculture, and that its resistance to weather changes is a "true trend," said the High Commissioner for Planning. Morocco, Economics, 6/14/2005 - Olympic champion El Moutawakel awarded Tunisian sport honor
Moroccan Olympic champion, Nawal El Moutawakel, was awarded on Monday a sport honor by Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali for her exceptional sporting performance and her role in promoting women in sports. Morocco-Tunisia, Sports, 6/14/2005 - Illegal emigration: Spain nabs over 100
During the last 24 hours, the Guardia Civil arrested over a hundred would-be illegal emigrants, mostly Moroccans, in separate operations off the Andalusia shores. Morocco-Spain, Local, 6/14/2005 - Towards creation of Netherlands Moroccan expats problem-solving joint commission Morocco-Netherlands, Local, 6/14/2005
- Illegal immigrants death: Four auxiliary forces elements arrested
Four elements of auxiliary forces have been arrested in connection with the deaths of 12 would-be immigrants who perished when the dinghy boat carrying them to Europe capsized, on June 13, off Morocco's northern coast. Morocco-European Union, Local, 6/14/2005 - Jeune Aftrique: Sahara: Minister deems 'democratic solution' autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty
The concept of autonomy under the Moroccan sovereignty and its territorial integrity is a "democratic solution (to the Moroccan Sahara conflict) in conformity with the international legality," said Morocco's Minister-Delegate of Foreign Affairs, Taib Fassi Fihri. Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 6/13/2005 - Moroccan expats stage demo in Spain to denounce 'manoeuvres' against Moroccan sahara
Moroccan expatriates in several Spanish cities took to the streets Sunday to voice support to Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and to denounce "manoeuvres" aimed at misleading the Spanish and international public opinion with regard to the situation in the Southern provinces. Morocco-Spain, Politics, 6/13/2005 - Lumzy Sisters wrap up Fez Sacred Music Festival
The 11th World Sacred Music festival pulled down curtains, in Fez Saturday night, in a wonderful spiritual fiesta. Morocco, Local, 6/13/2005 - 'Le Soir' paper 'extremely shocked' to be associated in ethical scandal in Morocco
Servaty would have deluded over 80 Moroccan women, in the Moroccan south-western city of Agadir, into taking pornographic photo-shots and scenes on promises that he would marry them and ensure their legal stay in his country. Morocco-Belgium, Local, 6/13/2005