FOM Newsletter March 2003
Morocco Week in Review 
March 1 2003

RABAT, Feb.24 - The success of the free trade agreement is a determining factor in relations between Morocco and United States, said US ambassador to Morocco, Ms. Margaret Tutwiler.  The diplomat, who was interviewed by "Aujourd'hui le Maroc" daily, said the free trade agreement is also an excellent opportunity for Morocco to diversify its exports destinations and become in a strong position in its different political and economic negotiations. Morocco and the USA are negotiating a free trade accord to boost their trade and economic exchanges and hoist them to the level of their excellent political ties.  After a first round in Washington, the two sides are to hold a second round in March in Morocco. Morocco will be the fifth country in the world and the second in the Arab region to conclude the accord with the USA. Only Canada, Mexico, Jordan and Israel are already bound to Washington by such a covenant.  For Ms. Tutwiler, the Morocco-US partnership will encourage bilateral trade and investment.

US Explores Promotion of Moroccan Agriculture in Collaboration with World Bank

WASHINGTON, Feb.27 - The United States is probing means to promote agriculture in Morocco in collaboration with the World Bank part of the talks to set up a Morocco-US free trade agreement, said here Wednesday US  trade representative, Robert Zoellick. Zoellick said the talks, which started in January, will wind up by end of the year, recalling how the US administration notified the congress end of 2002 of its intention to sign an FTA with Morocco, a modern and reforming country, with trade opportunities, and which can be a model and platform in the region. During the ceremony which marked here the start of talks between Morocco and the US, Zoellick had said "a free trade agreement with Morocco will contribute to consolidating the already solid ties binding us to this key partner in the Middle East." The second round of negotiations is scheduled for next March 24 in Morocco.

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Moroccan Premier, Driss Jettou, underscored on Thursday the important role women play in Morocco's development. "Economy's upgrade and development cannot be achieved without the contribution of women," said Jettou at the inauguration of an exhibition on "Women Heads of Enterprises: Investment and Partnership." "Currently women are present in all fields and they have achieved a significant performance, which is a source of pride," he added. The Moroccan premier visited the exhibition where professional associations, public institutions and companies led by women, are represented. Delegate Minister of Economic and General Affairs and Economy Upgrading, Abderrazak Mossadek, said the event is part of a comprehensive action to raise confidence in our country and to stimulate economic growth and development. British parliament member, Maccaferty, believes that encouraging women to invest in entrepreneurship will help promote development. Maccafferty recalled the sound relations binding Morocco and Britain, underlining that collaboration between women entrepreneurs from the two  will boost bilateral relations. Chief of European Union (EU) Delegation in Rabat, Sean Doyle, expressed satisfaction of the growing responsibility vested on women in business and enterprises. "EU supports this drive," he said. Moroccan Women Entrepreneurs Association signed a convention with la Banque Populaire to back up and encourage women's access to business world.

The reform of the Mudawana (family code) will mark a "revolution with the participation of all," said Mohammed Boucetta, president of the consultative commission in charge of revising the code. Speaking at a program aired Saturday by Morocco's first TV channel TVM, Boucetta said this revolution will be based on the "respect of the Book and the Sunnah (Quran and tradition of the Prophet)" and the need for Morocco to open up to modernity and international advances." Ijtihad (jurisprudence) in this field aims to interpret texts of the Quran and Sunna in conformity with modernity. The "revolution," meant to "secure women all their rights" will be marked by the consolidation of law enforcement mechanisms such as sections in charge of family justice and the fund of family mutual aid, whose creation was recently announced by King Mohammed VI, he added. These courts will consolidate the already existing structures such as trade and administrative tibunals. The Mudawana revolution will also deal with procedures and mechanisms of application of these texts in order to facilitate the mission of judges who will apply it. The efforts made by the consultative commission in charge of the Mudawana reform, Boucetta said, also aims "to do women justice" where they are still wronged, knowing that Moroccan women made a lot of progress in all fields of active life. The head of the consultative commission voiced regret that "this evolution is not accompanied by a religious education that would take into account society's Islamic values and principles, and the community's attachment to its values." The projected modifications will deal with several questions, mainly divorce, polygamy, matrimonial law and spouses' property

La Croix: Western world need not be afraid of Islam, archbishop of Rabat says Morocco, 

Religion, 2/25/2003

The Western world need not be afraid of Islam, said the Archbishop of Rabat, Monsignor Vincent Landel in an interview published on Monday by French daily "La Croix." "The Western world should think of a Muslim as a friend," he said, stressing that "we need not be apprehensive of Islam, but rather respect it and listen to what it says to engage in a dialogue of confidence and not one of fear." "We want to tell the world and the church altogether that it is possible to live one's faith in the heart of Islam, experience deep friendships with Muslims, and work with them in full confidence," he added. "We must be aware of the fact that we, too, are looking for the path of God and that by dealing daily with our Muslim bothers, we deepen our faith and get even further within the path of prayer," Monsignor Vincent Landel went on. Emphasizing on Moroccans' attachment to the Islamic religion, he noted that Christians are often seen as prayer men and women. "That's why we are respected," he went on. The Archbishop of Rabat, Monsignor Vincent Landel, who termed the presence of the Catholic Church in Morocco as "a great chance," said that 30,000 Christians, representing some seventy nationalities, are currently living in Morocco

Morocco has extended Sudan a bunch of 60,000 meningitis vaccine doses to support the country's struggle against the lethal epidemic. The donation was handed Monday by Morocco's ambassador in Khartoum, Mohammed Belaich, to officials of the Sudanese health ministry. The aid came at a time Sudan is undertaking an annual campaign to immunize 931,000 children in a first stage against meningitis. The Sudanese officials voiced their country's gratitude over the gesture, and hailed the fruitful cooperation between Rabat and Khartoum.A group of Sudanese health experts will undergo shortly training in Morocco, and the two states prepare to conclude an agreement on healthcare cooperation.

Standard And Poor Ratings Services on Friday said it raised its ratings outlook for Morocco. The rating was raised on expectations the country's debt would stabilize. The firm said it was changing Morocco's rating to stable from negative and also affirmed the country's "BBB/A 3" local currency and "BB/B" foreign currency sovereign credit ratings. Moroccan minister of finance and privatization said Standard And Poor's decision of Friday is more positive since it was taken in a context of growing economic uncertainty in the world. The agency's raising of its rating outlook from "negative" to "stable" is explained by several factors including "the sustained liberalization of the public sector, Morocco's foreign debt's trend to decrease and the structural reforms under way in the country. According to Standard And Poor, the political liberalization the kingdom is experiencing, as evidenced by the legislative elections of September 2002, wards off any threat of social or political instability.

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