Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
December 18 2004

US diplomat: Morocco, a model of political reforms in the region
U.S. donates $3 Mln to Morocco to combat locusts
Powell holds informal meeting with Moroccan youth
US $21.1 Mln Saudi loan to Morocco to develop education in rural areas
Washington strongly supports Morocco's reforms and initiatives, Snow.
First World Congress for Imams and Rabbis for Peace 'Religious ministers have the power to start war; they also have the power to initiate peace,'
Moroccan Jews hold religious festival
Arab Fund opens US$ 40 million Credit line to encourage Morocco's trade with Arab countries
Over 2 millions children exploited in sex industry around the world, conference.
Calls for 'adequate measures' to protect children from sexual exploitation
Bus-truck collision kills 11 in Morocco.
Moroccan citrus fruits exports increase by 10pc
Five million tourists visited Morocco in 2004
Moroccan El Guerrouj receives French TV 'Sport Prize' award
Morocco's commitment to Human rights, a 'model' in the region, Canadian NGO.

US diplomat: Morocco, a model of political reforms in the region
Rabat, Dec. 17

US ambassador in Rabat, Thomas Riley, has described Morocco as a "model" of political and democratic reforms in the Middle East and North Africa region. In an interview with the Moroccan daily "Aujourd'hui le Maroc," the US diplomat highlighted the "courageous" reforms instituted in several fields, saying he was impressed by the action undertaken in the country.

On the Forum for the Future, held in Morocco on December 10-11, Riley said this meeting was a success, noting that it offered an occasion to discuss reforms undertaken in some countries like Morocco and Jordan. The Forum brought together Foreign and Finance Ministers of the G8 and over 20 countries of the Broader Middle East and North Africa region (BMENA). The important in this debate, he said, is to know if the experience may be reproduced in other countries. According to the US ambassador, the two countries to host the two next editions of the Forum will be Bahrain (2006) and Jordan (2007). Riley deemed that G8 European member countries have more interest, at a time marked by terrorism, that the Middle East and North Africa region be politically stable and economically prosperous.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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U.S. donates $3 Mln to Morocco to combat locusts
Rabat, Dec. 14

Morocco and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) signed, here Monday, an agreement providing for a US $3 million donation to help Morocco fight locusts. Prior to this accord, the American government had granted Morocco another US$1 million donation to back the kingdom's efforts to combat swarms of the migratory insect. The new donation will fund the purchase of the necessary equipment used in the anti-locusts campaign that started last November.

US ambassador to Morocco, Thomas T. Riley, who signed the accord with Moroccan Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries Minister, Mohand Laenser, hailed on this occasion Morocco's efforts to fight the pests, and the program it set up to combat locusts both in Morocco and in neighboring countries. This problem trespasses the national borders and is not inherent in Morocco alone, said the US diplomat, underlining the difficulty to raise funds and donations to fight the invasion of locusts that can devastate crops as they fly in great numbers in search of food.

On his part, Laensar gave an overview on the means mobilized by Morocco to fight the pests. He underlined the symbolic importance of USAID participation in these efforts and its encouragement to Morocco and other countries to mobilize against this plight. Laensar said the international community has a shared responsibility to eradicate locusts whose consequences are dangerous.

A Desert Locust adult can consume roughly its own weight in fresh food per day. A tiny fraction of an average swarm of locusts eats the same amount of food in one day as about 2,500 people. Morocco spent in the anti-locusts campaign 2003-2004 about 350 million Dhs (US $38.8 million), and treated about 2.832.000 ha.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_dep0022.htm 
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Powell holds informal meeting with Moroccan youth
Rabat, Dec. 13

US Secretary of State, Colin Powell held, here Saturday, an informal meeting with a group of young Moroccans that benefited of cultural cooperation programs set up by Morocco and American NGO. Powell answered questions of the Moroccan youngsters, aged between 9 and 18, and evoked particularly his personal life and career.

The American official, who earlier took part in the Forum for the Future, said he admires the Moroccan culture, and is impressed with Moroccan cities like Fez, Casablanca and Rabat. Powell voiced hope that more American tourists would visit Morocco and get acquainted with its civilization. On programs of cultural cooperation, he said the US administration will seek more funds to increase them in cooperation with the private sector. These programs concern mainly scholarships to teach young people living in poor neighborhoods the English language.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/general/gen-2m.htm 
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US $21.1 Mln Saudi loan to Morocco to develop education in rural areas
Rabat, Dec. 13

Morocco and the Saudi Development Fund signed, here Saturday, an agreement on a loan of 190 million Dhs (US $21.1 million) dedicated to building and equipping schools in rural areas. The loan will help build 33 schools with a view to improving the quality of education in rural zones. Moroccan Finance and Privatization minister, Fathallah Oualalou, and his Saudi peer Brahim Ben Abdelaziz Al Assaf, who signed the agreement, hailed the "fruitful" cooperation between the two countries. They said the level of Moroccan-Saudi cooperation translates the solid ties between the two peoples.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/h_deplocusts.htm 
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Washington strongly supports Morocco's reforms and initiatives, Snow.
Politics, 12/11/2004

The United States strongly support Morocco's reforms and initiatives, especially those pursuing the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and investment, said on Friday US treasury secretary John Snow. The US official who was meeting Moroccan finance and privatisation minister, Fathallah Oualalou, in the fringes of his participation in the Forum for the Future (Rabat, Dec.10-11) also hailed the close cooperation between Morocco and the USA in preparing the conference, stressing that holding the forum in Morocco is a good opportunity to share ideas on reforms in the Middle East and North Africa region. He also praised in a statement to the press Morocco's pioneer role in the region, adding that his country wished to intensify dialogue and consolidate its cooperation with the Kingdom in various fields.

On his part, the Moroccan official stressed that his talks with Snow covered the initiative put forward by the International Finance Corporation, and other new initiatives to be led in the region.

The IFC has proposed a new US$ 100 million-technical assistance facility for the entire BMENA region. Morocco wants developed countries, particularly the USA, to be involved "in a considerable manner" in financing reforms undertaken in the region, said Oualalou before recalling that Washington had selected Morocco as one of the eligible countries to the Millenium Challenge Account (MCA). The five billion-worth MCA proposals are in line with the Moroccan policy, mainly as regards education, poverty reduction, developing the agriculture sector, water, supporting the private sector and investments http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/041211/2004121122.html 
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First World Congress for Imams and Rabbis for Peace 'Religious ministers have the power to start war; they also have the power to initiate peace,'
Alain Michel, founder of Hommes de Parole. By Mary Fowles 12/12/2004

From January 3 to 6, 2005, 50 Imams and 50 Rabbis will come together from around the globe in the largest peace effort of its kind. They will meet in Ifrane at the University Al Akhawayn under the High Patronage of His Majesty Mohammed VI. During this 3-day meeting, the highest Jewish and Muslim representatives will seek concrete solutions to put an end to violence and ignorance in the Middle East and around the world.

"If it becomes possible for the huge majority of Jewish and Muslim leaders to state to the world a position of unity, this will allow the people of both sides to imagine at last a different future," said Alain Michel, founder of the Swiss-based foundation Hommes de Parole that is organizing the event with the help of the Rabat-based Islamic educational and Scientific organization (ISESCO) and other organizations.

"Religious ministers have the power to start war; they also have the power to initiate peace," he added. The conference hopes to create a dialogue for the expression of peace and unity and far-reaching and durable partnerships between Islam and Judaism. In this context it hopes to gain the attention of media worldwide.

"The extremists, although a tiny minority, through their actions and statements, thanks to the media, take centre stage and destabilise public opinion," said Michel. From this congress, "the principles of peace, on which religions are founded, will be able to be affirmed in the media." The discussion will also allow the religious leaders to contribute to discovering peaceful solutions to conflicts and foster the development of concrete actions in the field, said Michel. "Today, peace will only be achieved with the support of the people," he added.

All the debates will be held into four languages: Arab, English, French and Hebrew

Morocco is being touted as an ideal host country for the meeting. It is "the only Arab and Muslim country where Islam is the state's religion and which guarantees constitutionally the free exercise of all religions," reminds Michel. Another reason cited was the role that the late King Mohammed V, grandfather of King Mohammed VI played in the protection of the Jewish community, who lived in harmony in Morocco for generations.

"In Morocco significant cultural exchanges have existed for centuries, particularly those tied to the expressions of the Judeo-Muslim cultural dialogue. One recalls particularly the figure of King Muhammad V held in the positive rapport he had with the Jewish people, whom he protected during the Second World War," said Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein, general director of the Elijah Institute for Inter-faith dialogue.

Participants in the congress will hail from countries as far reaching as Rwanda, Singapore, the Palestinian Territories and Israel, Canada, Spain and Russia and Senegal, to name just a few. Aside from the presence of some of the most influential leaders of both traditions, well-known specialists such as Nobel Peace Price laureate Shirin Ebadi and Nelson Mandela will attend the congress. His Majesty the King Mohammed VI will lead the inaugural the ceremony on the first morning of the congress. Michel has stressed the conference will not tackle political questions surrounding the Middle East conflict. It will rather be an opportunity to discuss the values of peace that lie at the foundations of each faith. "To stop the raging cycle of violence, we need to de-legitimise the aggression ceaselessly fed by the preaching of fundamentalists." That's why it is other religious ministers who, invoking the same God, can and must move towards peace," he said.

The conference, which was originally scheduled to take place early last June, was cancelled due to the deterioration of the situation in Gaza, the Palestinian Territories and Iraq. "This profoundly jeopardized the serene climate essential to the success of the congress," said Michel. The second attempt, with its far-reaching support has a good chance for success. "We are many here ready to mobilize to give all that is needed for a successful and fruitful meeting," affirmed Andre Azoulay, Advisor to King Mohammed VI. "You can rely on our determination, and the willingness of the kingdom of Morocco, which has never neglected its efforts to give peace and dialogue a chance between cultures and religions of the Book."
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=1521 
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Moroccan Jews hold religious festival
Taroudant (South of Morocco), Dec. 16

The Jewish community of Morocco organized, here Tuesday, in the Ribi David Ben Baroukh Cemetry in Aghzouba Hammou, (province of Taroudant), its religious "Moussem" (festival) celebrated annually for more than 70 years now. Many Jews from all over Morocco and foreign countries like the United States, Canada, Israel and Switzerland, come in annual pilgrimage to the Mausoleum of the Jewish venerated Saint, descendant of a grandfather who lived in the 10th century in the area of Mentaga, in the province of Taroudant. In addition to being part of the main religious events of the Moroccan Jewish community, this festival boosts the commercial activity of the Taroudant region.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_dep21604.htm 
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Arab Fund opens US$ 40 million Credit line to encourage Morocco's trade with Arab countries
RABAT, Dec.11

The Arab trade financing program, a body of the Arab Monetary Fund, has opened a US$ 40 million credit line to guarantee Morocco's imports from Arab countries. The agreement was signed by Moroccan finance and privatization minister, Fathallah Oualalou, and executive president of the AMF administrative board, Jassem Al-Mannai. The Moroccan official hailed the program's action to consolidate and encourage inter-Arab trade and improve the competitiveness of Arab exports. Set up in 1989 with an initial capital of US$ 500 million, the program is designed to increase trade between Arab countries by financing and guaranteeing import and export operations. The US$ 400 million adds to the US$ 371 million extended by the Fund to Morocco as at last July.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Over 2 millions children exploited in sex industry around the world, conference.
12/16/2004

More than 2 million children, mostly girls, are exploited in the sex industry around the world and an estimated 1.2 million children are victims of traffic, it was revealed, here Tuesday, at the opening of an Arab-African conference on children exploitation. To face this problem, Thomas Mc Dermott, UNICEF regional manager for the Middle East and North Africa who was quoting a recent report of UNICEF on the situation of the children in the world, suggested that each country of the area will have to ratify all the significant international treaties, to adapt the national legislations to these conventions, to adopt a national Action Plan which defines clear objectives, with a calendar of implementation and a system of high level coordination, and to install mechanisms which make it possible for the victims to report their problems.

As far as Morocco is concerned, Mc Dermott praised the country's promotion of the children' rights and described as a "model" the efforts made by the Kingdom to protect children against sexual abuse, exploitation and violence. Organized under the topic "protection against exploitation, violence and sexual abuse of children," with the support of the international network of organizations striving to eradicate the children prostitution, pornography, and traffic (ECPAT) and the Grouping of ONG for the Convention of the Rights of the Children, this conference aims at assessing the progress achieved since the 2001 Conference held in Yokohama (Japan).

Addressing participants, Yasmina Baddou, Moroccan Secretary of State in charge of Family, Childhood and Handicapped, said that Morocco's efforts against all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse of children will be crowned soon by the adoption of the National Action Plan for 2005-2015. She added that her department is working with the Justice Ministry for the creation of a cell that will examine legal tools for the protection of the children, and the installation of regional centers to monitor and listen to abused children.

She said this conference, like those held in the past, aim to break silence and the taboos in connection with the children sexual abuse and raise awareness on the need for fighting this phenomenon. On her part, director of International network ECPAT, Tabataba* Zohreh explained that out of the 55 African countries having ratified the protocol on the protection of the children, only five have developed national Action Plans, in spite of the precarious conditions of children in the continent, mainly because of wars, absolute poverty which concern more than half of the population and the pandemic of the AIDS disease which records the highest rates in Africa.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/041216/2004121621.html 
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Calls for 'adequate measures' to protect children from sexual exploitation
Rabat, Dec. 13 (MAP)

Prevention, awareness campaigns and parental education are crucial to encourage children that are victims of sexual exploitation and their families to talk "so that we can be able to protect them," said Moroccan Secretary of State in charge of Family, Children and Handicapped persons, Yasmina Baddou. "The national action plan for children protection, that is being finalized, contains a section dedicated to provisions aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation," said Baddou in an interview published Monday by "L'Opinion" in the wake of the Arab-African conference on fighting sexual exploitation of children (December 14-16), to be held in Rabat.

Baddou deplored the lack of studies on the sexual exploitation of children, noting however that "Morocco is not a privileged destination for sexual tourism." She explained that Morocco was chosen to host the Arab-African conference because "it is among rare countries in the region that broke the taboo on this phenomenon."
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/mad_1.htm 
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Bus-truck collision kills 11 in Morocco.
Rabat

Eleven people were killed, most of them burnt to death, when a bus and truck collided in southern Morocco, authorities said on Wednesday. The accident in Chichaoua province west of the tourist city of Marrakesh happened on Tuesday night when the truck tried to overtake another vehicle and rammed into the incoming bus, MAP state news agency said. The two vehicles caught fire. All victims, including 38 injured, were believed to be Moroccans. Road accidents in the North African country claim about 10 lives a day and cost 11-billion dirhams (about R7-billion) a year. The government this year launched a road safety campaign to combat excess speed and reckless driving.
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=85&art_id=qw1103111283265B256 
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Moroccan citrus fruits exports increase by 10pc
Rabat, Dec. 15

Morocco's Exports of citrus fruits have reached up to December 9, 120,500 tons against 108,800 in the previous campaign, that is a 10 percent increase. According to the Agriculture, Rural development and Fisheries Ministry, these exports consisted mainly of clementine (60 pc). Meanwhile, 82,000 tons of early fruits and vegetables were exported, compared to 88,000 tons in the same period in the previous campaign, that is 7 pc decline, noted the release. A decrease was also registered in tomatoes exports with 17pc.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Five million tourists visited Morocco in 2004
Casablanca, Dec. 17

Five million tourists visited Morocco by the end of 2004, said Moroccan Tourism Minister, noting that 4.7 million tourists visited the country in January-October 2004, compared to 4 million in the same period in 2003 and 3.8 million in 2002. Speaking at a debate-conference, organized by the French Trade and Industry chamber, the Tourism Minister, Adil Douiri, said thanks to a short-term policy, the national tourism sector managed to overcome the crisis in this sector after many world capitals were hit by terrorist acts. Tourists flow to Morocco is the result of permanent contacts with new tourism partners in France, Spain, The United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium in addition to Moroccan expatriates, he explained, recalling the government's goal to reach 10 million tourists by 2010.

He said his department aims at increasing the number of beds to 230,000 instead of 75,000 in 2000. Establishing a competitive policy, creating a distribution and marketing network and training about 70,000 people in tourism-related activities are also among top priorities, according to the minister. Douiri announced the creation of five campgrounds on the Atlantic and Mediterranean shores, in addition to tourism zones in several Moroccan cities, adding that the Southern city of Ouarzazate will host next January 14-15 an international forum on the future vision of the tourism sector by 2010.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/general/wcupzi.htm 
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Moroccan El Guerrouj receives French TV 'Sport Prize' award
RABAT, Dec.08

Moroccan athlete Hicham El Guerrouj, world and Olympic champion, received on Wednesday the "Sport Prize" award extended by French TV stations "France2" and "France3" which chose him among the world's best athletes for 2004. The prize rewards El Guerrouj's outstanding performances in 2004, particularly the gold medals he gleaned at the 1,500 and 5,000 m races during the Athletics games of Athena.

Sports departments of the two TV channels unanimously elected the Moroccan track and field champion, together with American cyclist, Lance Armstrong, winner of the 2004 Tour de France for the 6th time in a row, and Greek striker Angelos Charisteas for his brilliant performance at Euro-2004 won by his side.

The prize, set up in 1975, is awarded every year to ten best athletes, three foreigners and seven French. Hicham El Guerrouj said he is proud to receive the prize, explaining that the 2004 season which started with doubts proved to be a year of great performances, titles and prizes.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Morocco's commitment to Human rights, a 'model' in the region, Canadian NGO.
12/17/2004

Morocco's efforts to promote human right have been described as a "model" by Canadian human rights organization "Rights and Democracy " which works for the consolidation of the democratic institutions and the promotion of the human rights in Canada and in the world. In its annual report (2003-2004), made public Wednesday in Montreal, "Rights and Democracy" which carried out studies in thirteen countries from Asia, Africa, Central and Latin America, the Middle-East and North Africa, said Morocco was "at the heart of its engagement in the Middle-East and North Africa."

The Montreal-based independent organization, created in 1988 by the Canadian Parliament underlined in particular, Morocco's experience in human rights protection. It mentioned in this regard, the royal decision to set up the "Equity and Reconciliation" committee entrusted with settling, out of courts, human rights abuses in the Kingdom since 1956.

In addition to shedding light on these abuses, the committee seeks to propose means of repairing the injustices, rehabilitating the victims, promoting and facilitating the national reconciliation. " Despite the challenges that the democratic development in the Middle East and in North Africa represents, some countries are engaged in a process of democratisation, and Morocco is "an example," wrote the authors of this report.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/041217/2004121723.html 

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