Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
November 13 2004

US Adds Only Morocco to List for $1 Bln Aid Share.
US State secretary hails economic and political reforms in Morocco
Moroccan increasing anti-petty fraud squads
Despite government efforts: Shanty towns remain problem for some 4 million Moroccans
Ramadan in Morocco, a chance to strengthen social activities
Morocco to host first session of US Mideast reform initiative
Foreign investments in Morocco grow by 246% in 2003
At least 5% growth rate needed to cut unemployment, minister
US Welcomes Announcement of First 'Forum for the Future' in Rabat, Morocco
Morocco aims at luring more British tourists
Morocco prepares draft law on reforms.
Morocco Considers New Party Law
King Mohammed VI dedicates heart disease hospital for children in Casablanca. 
Human rights abuses victims to testify at public hearings. 
Morocco's external debt halved in 7 years, minister.
Increased volume of FEMIP financing in Morocco
Morocco to build new airport terminal in Casablanca

US Adds Only Morocco to List for $1 Bln Aid Share.
Tue Nov 9, 2004. By Saul Hudson WASHINGTON (Reuters)

Washington added only Morocco to a list of poor nations eligible to share more than $1 billion in new aid in a decision on Monday that left some advocacy groups asking why more countries were not included. The Bush administration selected 16 nations for the second year of its Millennium Challenge Account, a program that provides cash in exchange for economic and democratic reforms to some of the world's poorest nations. In addition to Morocco, 15 nations that were selected for the first year's aid were kept on the list for fiscal year 2005. They were Benin, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Senegal, Armenia, Georgia, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, Bolivia, Honduras and Nicaragua.  Cape Verde was removed because it was no longer poor enough to qualify.

Sarah Lucas of the Center for Global Development said it was inconsistent for the administration to exclude countries such as Nepal and Swaziland, which appeared to have met the same criteria as Morocco. Seth Amgott of DATA, the group founded by the rock musician Bono to advocate for Africa, complained the list could have been expanded. The U.S. Congress had effectively limited the aid options by opposing President Bush's ambitious funding plans for the program that encourages countries to compete for aid through reforms. "The genius of the programs is to have countries compete to fight corruption and poverty. But that cannot be done if the pot isn't growing," he said.

In fiscal year 2004, which ended Sept. 30, the countries were eligible for a share of $1 billion for infrastructure, banking and education projects as a reward for embracing civil rights, rooting out corruption and opening up markets. For 2005, Bush proposed $2.5 billion but Congress has so far agreed to provide $1.25 billion. Bush wants the program to reach $5 billion a year. Washington is often criticized for trying to impose reforms on weaker countries. But unlike traditional schemes where the donor designates how funds are used, the selected nations may propose programs to receive the aid. Still, the administration has little concrete evidence to show the scheme will work. None of the 2004 money has been handed to the selected countries and only four nations, Nicaragua, Honduras, Madagascar and Georgia, have begun serious negotiations on their projects, Millennium Challenge officials said.

The Bush administration also selected nations that will be able to apply for up to a tenth of the aid of the major fund. Burkina Faso, Guyana, Malawi, Paraguay, the Philippines and Zambia joined a so-called threshold program, which already includes East Timor, Kenya, Sao Tome, Tanzania, Uganda and Yemen from 2004. The administration set aside $40 million in 2004 for these countries to share to encourage reforms that could eventually make them eligible for the larger fund program.
http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=domesticNews&storyID=6751991 
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US State secretary hails economic and political reforms in Morocco
WASHINGTON, Nov.12

US secretary of state, Colin Powell, praised on Wednesday economic and political reforms adopted in Morocco, citing particularly the enactment of a new family code, reinforcement of economic openness and holding of transparent elections. During a meeting held at the state department on the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) which has added Morocco to the list of the 16 eligible countries, Powell said reforms ushered in by "Morocco's leadership" show that such efforts and initiative can lead developing countries to sustained economic development.

He also stressed that, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Morocco has launched a program of political, economic and educational reforms meant to give Morocco its due place in the international community. The government of Morocco has recently adopted a family code that deeply changed women's rights. It has also signed a free-trade agreement with the USA and organized transparent parliamentary and local elections, said Powel who chairs the fund corporation board. The fund was set up in 2002 by the Bush administration to help developing countries, particularly those engaged in reforms, face the development challenge.

These reforms have helped Morocco become one of the countries eligible for the Millennium account, said Powell at the meeting which took place in the presence of Congress members, representatives of public and private enterprises and delegates of non-governmental agencies and organizations. In addition to Morocco which was added to the list for the first time, the other eligible countries that will share the $1 billion fund for FY 2005 are: Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Vanuatu http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/eco_131.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moroccan increasing anti-petty fraud squads
Nov 8, 2004 (Al-Bawaba via COMTEX)

250 agents have undertaken 110,000 investigations and 8,000 prosecutions per year has decreased petty fraud among traders. Ramadan is considered the peak season for the inspectors who travel rural markets and cities to check that the milk, honey, dates, butter and spices are what the traders claim they are and that customers are not being conned.

Casablanca, alone has 8 brigades of inspectors, each with three people who patrol in two shifts - the first from 9 to 5 and the second after the break of the fast from 10 to 12. The inspectors are usually trained as engineers or graduates from the food technician schools of the ministry of agriculture. Many have received supplementary training in Belgium, Germany and France. Azzeddine Oussmoui, head of the Casablanca anti-fraud unit says that inspectors take food samples if the suspect something is awry. This service was first established 72 years ago according to the Moroccan ministry of agriculture. (albawaba.com) By Mena Report Reporters (C) 2004 Albawaba.com, All rights reserved.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=313w0084&section=Countries&page=Morocco&channel=All%20Morocco%20News&objectid=22403786-8F1A-11D4-867000D0B74A0D7C 
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Despite government efforts: Shanty towns remain problem for some 4 million Moroccans
Nov 8, 2004 (Al-Bawaba via COMTEX)

Though 90,000 dwellings are built every year, 125,000 households are still in need, said director general of Morocco's National Agency of shanty towns fighting (ANHI), Abdelaziz Filali. Filali, told the Tangiers-based "Medi 1" radio station, that among these households, about 40,000 opt for shanty towns and irregular housing. Casablanca, the main center of the problem, has 50% of Morocco's shanty towns, he said. "We have 445 shanty towns in Casablanca and each one need specific intervention." As for solutions, the official said that in some shanty towns, restructuring can be carried out locally, while in others, it is needed use other methods, including completely moving inhabitants. Filali added that the problem can not be solved immediately, though all parties are mobilized to try to ease the demand, especially in Casablanca. Shanty towns remain a problem for about 4 million Moroccans and 40,000 unhealthy dwellings are created every year, the radio said. (menareport.com) By Mena Report Reporters
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=313w0069&section=Countries&page=Morocco&channel=All%20Morocco%20News&objectid=22403786-8F1A-11D4-867000D0B74A0D7C 
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Ramadan in Morocco, a chance to strengthen social activities
By Abdul-Razzaq Turaibiq RABAT, Nov 7 (KUNA)

Like all other Arab and Islamic countries of the world, the holy month of Ramadan visits Morocco this year amidst a spiritual atmosphere that is complimented by the many social activities associated with the month. In the time between sunrise and sunset, signaled by the firing of a cannon, women prepare extraordinary items of food and drink while men go out to shopping areas that witness increased activity during this period. During the fasting hours, activities are generally limited to work and school, while Ramadan nights extend to the early hours of the morning. Many head to mosques to pray through the night and others resort to coffee shops or attend cultural evenings. Another highlight of the month is aiding the poor, where a campaign is underway under the patronage of King Mohammed VI to provide 2.5 million people with essential foodstuff at a cost of USD six million.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/English/Story.asp?DSNO=678312 
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Morocco to host first session of US Mideast reform initiative.  20 Arab states, G8 group will examine ways of consolidating political, economic reforms next month in Morocco.

RABAT - A Washington-inspired project for Middle East reform will begin in Morocco next month by looking at ways of improving cooperation and strengthening political and economic reform, the foreign ministry said here Tuesday. The project, formally presented in June by President George W. Bush at a Group of Eight (G8) summit, has been treated with reserve in the Arab world, including Morocco.

The December 11 meeting of Arab foreign and finance ministers plus G8 countries will examine ways of "consolidating the commitment of Middle East and North African countries to fruitful co-development and the harmonious strengthening of the process of political, economic and social reform," a ministry statement said. To be called the Forum for the Future, it would serve as an initial step towards "a frank, constructive partnership, based on co-responsibility between the countries of the region and G8." But this partnership must "respect the will and specific characteristics of each country and seek a just and lasting settlement of sources of tension in the region."

The forum would bring together foreign and finance ministers of more than 20 Arab and North African countries together with the G8 group of leading industrial nations - the US, Russia, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Britain and Canada - plus international organisations, the statement said.

The full participant list was not published, and it was not immediately known whether Israel would attend. The venue had yet to be decided, and the cities of Rabat and Marrakech were in the running, ministry sources said. In Washington, State Department Deputy Spokesman Adam Ereli welcomed the announcement. "The Forum for the Future is the centerpiece of the Partnership for Progress and a Common Future with the Region of the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA), launched by President Bush and the leaders of the G8, along with leaders of seven countries from the region, at the G8 Sea Island Summit of 2004," Ereli recalled. He said his government looked forward to co-chairing the meeting and participating in future forums.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=11844 
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Foreign investments in Morocco grow by 246% in 2003
RABAT, 12 Nov.04 (WAM)

Foreign investments in Morocco reached Dh 23.5 billion (2.35 billion Euro) in 2003, which is a 246% increase compared to Dh 6.8 billion (680 million Euro) in 2002, says a report of the investments department. Foreign direct investments and loans reached a record level of Dh 98.7 billion during the last five years, as compared to Dh 31.5 billion in the 1994-1998 period, says the report, which ascribes this good performance to Moroccan authorities? efforts to improve the investment atmosphere in Morocco. European Union countries remain the largest investors in Morocco, with a share of 91%, with investments from Spain worth Dh 18.2 billion and from France Dh 2.9 billion, said Arab Maghreb news agency quoting the report. Investments in industrial projects come on top with Dh 18.87 million invested, followed by real estate (some Dh 2 billion), services (Dh 884 million) and telecoms (Dh 633,5 millions).
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=200411121312160003453D&section=Countries&page=Morocco&channel=All%20Morocco%20News&objectid=22403786-8F1A-11D4-867000D0B74A0D7C 
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At least 5% growth rate needed to cut unemployment, minister
RABAT, Nov.12

Morocco needs an annual growth rate of at least 5% in order to cut unemployment and reduce social disparities, said on Thursday minister of industry, commerce and economy upgrading, Salaheddine Mezouar. The minister told "Assabah" daily implementing a strategy of industry development has become a must, since Morocco has opted for openness onto the external world. This strategy, currently being developed, is among the government's priorities, said the official stressing that industrial development hinges on Morocco's ability to modernize and upgrade the competitiveness of its industry, market its industrial products and build on its assets and potentials.

Asked on some sectors facing hardships, Mezouar said state-owned sugar and textile companies should be privatized, pointing out that his department is currently working to upgrade and modernize these sectors before their privatization.He also stated that the sector of trade which employs over one million persons, counts 700,000 units and contributes 13% to the GDP, is going through a considerable evolution with the appearance of supermarkets. The ministry is also working to upgrade traditional shops in order to increase their competitiveness, he went on.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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US Welcomes Announcement of First 'Forum for the Future' in Rabat, Morocco
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10

The US Government on Tuesday welcomed Morocco's announcement to hold the inaugural meeting of the "Forum for the Future", on December 11, the State Department said. "Today, the Kingdom of Morocco announced that it will hold the inaugural meeting of the Forum for the Future. The Forum for the Future is the centerpiece of the "Partnership for Progress and a Common Future with the Region of the Broader Middle East and North Africa" (BMENA), launched by President Bush and the leaders of the G-8, along with leaders of seven countries from the region, at the G-8 Sea Island Summit of 2004. The government of the United States welcomes the Moroccan government's announcement of the first Forum for the Future, and looks forward to co-chairing this meeting of the Forum and participating in future Forums," the statement added.

The Forum will be attended by foreign and finance ministers of a score of countries from the Middle east, North Africa and the G8, the Moroccan foreign ministry said. It will also be attended by representatives of international and regional organizations, including the Arab league, the Arab Maghreb Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union. The gathering will discuss means to foster the commitment of concerned countries in favor of fruitful mutual development and of partnership on the consolidation of political, economic and social reforms.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Morocco aims at luring more British tourists

Morocco aims at upgrading its position in the British tourist market to become a preferred destination for a greater number of British tourists that could exceed the 160,000 bar in 2004, said tourism minister, Adil Douiri. Douiri told the Moroccan News Agency MAP that his country worked out a strategy to promote the Kingdom as a destination among British tourism operators and travel agencies. Douiri said Morocco could for the first time exceed the bar of 160,000 British tourist arrivals in 2004. Morocco is also working to raise this number by 30 to 40%in 2005, the tourism minister said. (menareport.com) http://www.albawaba.com/headlines/TheNews.php3?sid=288742&lang=e&dir=business  
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Morocco prepares draft law on reforms.
5 November 2004 RABAT

Morocco's Interior Minister, Mostafa Sahel, last week presented to the political party leaders a "draft law on political parties" giving the parties one month to study the law and make their recommendations. The draft law, which consists of six chapters of 53 articles, deals with the principles of establishing political parties without discrimination. The new bill is against the setting up of a political party on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity or region. For a political party to qualify for registration, according to the list of conditions set in the new bill, it must obtain the signatures of at least 10,000 founding members spread across half of the country. A total of 1,500 members must attend a congress to show that there is a real need for such a political party. To establish a political party, the founder must be a registered voter and must believe in and abide by democratic principles in order to allow all members of the party to play their part democratically, according to the new bill.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2004/November/middleeast_November123.xml&section=middleeast&col= 
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Morocco Considers New Party Law

In Morocco, the Ministry of Interior and political parties are negotiating a political party reform bill that may be introduced by the end of November. According to the Ministry, the legislation would improve parties' internal management, make it easier for them to receive public funding, and diversify their membership by establishing quotas for women and youth. Detractors are concerned about provisions that would ban religious, racial, regional, socio-professional, or linguistic references in party platforms. If enacted, such prohibitions could jeopardize the status of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), Morocco's sole legal Islamist party, as well as that of Berber parties.
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=16098 

Report Criticizes Morocco's Human Rights Record In a sign of Morocco's increasingly open press, a new Human Rights Watch report http://hrw.org/reports/2004/morocco1004/  critical of the Kingdom received wide publicity in the Moroccan media following its October 21 release. The report, "Human Rights at a Crossroads," warns that counter-terror legislation passed in the wake of the May 2003 Casablanca bombings risks reversing Morocco's considerable progress in human rights.

The report calls on Moroccan courts to act as a bulwark against abuse in the government's persecution of suspected Islamist militants by rejecting evidence that is tainted by torture or other coercion and by holding the perpetrators of such abuse accountable. Human Rights Watch praises Morocco's new Equity and Reconciliation Commission http://www.ceip.org/files/Publications/ARB-6-12-04.asp?p=1&from=pubdate as the Arab world's most serious effort yet to address past human rights abuses, but is concerned about the Commission's limited mandate and powers.
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King Mohammed VI dedicates heart disease hospital for children in Casablanca. 
Health, 11/9/2004

King Mohammed VI of Morocco dedicated in Casablanca Monday a heart disease hospital for children, set up by the association "Bonnes ceuvres du Coeur" in favor of indigent children suffering from heart related diseases. The 32.6 million DH (around 3.2 million Euro) project ambitions to perform 400 heart surgeries and 8,000 medical consultations annually. The 4-storey hospital has 25 beds, 89 reanimation beds, 2 operation blocs, 4 consultation offices. The hospital will also provide angiography (an X-ray examination of the blood vessels or chambers of the heart), scanner, pharmacy, reanimation, perfusion, anesthetics services. All the staff has benefited from training sessions in France, and others will be held by French visiting experts.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/041109/2004110919.html 
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Human rights abuses victims to testify at public hearings. 
Politics, 11/12/2004

The Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER), an independent body set up last January to seek out-of-court settlement for past human rights violations in Morocco, announced on Wednesday it will hold, starting mid-December, public hearings for victims to testify on "human rights violations committed between 1956 and 1999." The IER chairman, Driss Benzekri, told a press conference the ten week-long program of hearings will start in Rabat before being expanded to Casablanca, Kenifra, Al Hoceima, Tan-Tan, Smara Errachidia, Figuig, Fes and Tetouan.

Voluntary Participants in these public hearings, explained Benzekri, will be selected among victims or their relatives who have filed a case at the commission or among witnesses proposed by Moroccan human rights-advocacy organizations. The commission also explained these hearings will be held in the presence of the IER members, executives of human rights organizations, cultural associations, representatives of the media, foreign and national guests and authorities.

A document released by the IER said during the hearings that will concern some 200 victims, witnesses will give a private account. They will be asked no question and their testimony will not be commented. The IER will give participants medical and psychological support and will hold, in parallel, twelve thematic hearings dealing with issues that are closely linked to historical, legal, political and psychological aspects of past human rights abuses.

These sessions, to be held in the presence of witnesses, human rights advocates, searchers and experts, will be broadcast on the radio and TV with the aim to raise a public debate on what the media describes as "the dark pages" of Morocco's history. The general philosophy is to rehabilitate victims, unleash their testimonies and make their sufferings known.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/041112/2004111222.html 
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Morocco's external debt halved in 7 years, minister.
Economics, 11/12/2004

Morocco's external debt was reduced by half in seven years, to reach 11 billion Euros, said finance and privatization minister Fathallah Oualalou. In an interview with "Al Alam" daily, the official said Morocco's external debt "is no longer a problem" and denied some reports that Morocco's internal debt has worsened. He explained that the reduction of external debt was by far more important than the internal debt increase, recalling that the treasury debt, which accounted for 104% of the GDP in 1994 has declined to 98% in 2004. Internal debt remains "flexible and acceptable," its rates are low and is not subjected to political conditions, he explained.

He further stressed that the present external debt owed by Morocco is an easy-terms one, tied with political and economic conditions, and has flexible and acceptable interest rates and pay-back deadlines. Morocco's expects the debt owed to the Kuwaiti Fund to be cut as a result of Maroc-Telecom privatization as this debt will be invested in the company's privatization. Similar contacts are ongoing with Spain, France and Italy.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/041112/2004111218.html 
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Increased volume of FEMIP financing in Morocco
November 07, 2004

The Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) is to open an office in Rabat, so consolidating its relations with Morocco. The new office will help to forge links with the kingdom's private sector - a key prerequisite for Morocco's development. Mr. Philippe de Fontaine Vive and Mr. Fassi Fihri, Minister attached to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, have signed the headquarters agreement paving the way for the opening of a FEMIP representative office in Morocco in 2005.

The opening of this office and the decision to hold the next meeting of FEMIP's Ministerial Committee in Morocco in June next year are a reflection of the increased volume of FEMIP financing in the country. The volume of loans to be signed in 2004 runs to EUR 241 million, up by 31% compared to 2003. Of this amount, loans totalling EUR 191 million were signed for social housing, development of priority electricity infrastructure and environmental protection.

The finance contracts for these loans were signed in Rabat by Mr. de Fontaine Vive, EIB Vice-President in charge of FEMIP, Mr. Nakkouch, Managing Director of Office National de l'Electricit? (ONE) and Mr Filali, Managing Director of Al Omrane, an organisation responsible for social housing. The loans signed in Rabat related to the following projects:

* EUR 71 million has been granted to Holding d'Amenagement Al Omrane (Al Omrane), a development company specialising in urban areas earmarked for social housing construction. This project represents a first for the European Investment Bank in the social housing sector outside the Union. It will help to improve the living conditions of Moroccan households by financing primary infrastructure in residential districts suffering from a lack of basic amenities and in new urban development areas. Through this loan to Al Omrane, FEMIP will help to eliminate shantytowns, upgrade slum areas and alleviate the social housing shortage in Morocco. The project comes under the "Cities without Slums" programme, which aims to build 100 000 low-cost dwellings a year.

* EUR 80 million has been provided to Office National de l'Electricite (ONE) to construct a wind farm with a generating capacity of 140 MW to be located in the north of the country between Tangiers and Tetouan. The project will contribute to developing the potential of Morocco's renewable energy resources and produce electricity for supply to the public grid, thus helping to meet rising power demand. With the development of priority electricity infrastructure and environmental protection among FEMIP's goals, this operation is in synergy with the cooperation policy of other lenders such as KfW Entwicklungsbank, which is co-financing the project. Construction of the wind farm will begin in 2005, with completion of the works and a fully operational site scheduled for 2007 at the latest. The project will comply with the relevant national and Community environmental provisions.

Morocco's wind energy sector has started to experience growth thanks to its reliable wind resources. At present, only just over 1% of the country's total primary energy supply comes from renewable sources (T?touan - Koudia al Baida wind farm, also FEMIP-financed in 1996 and up-and-running since 2001). However, this share is set to increase to 10% over the coming years owing to the development of a substantial number of large wind farms such as the one in Tangiers.

* EUR 40 million has also been advanced to ONE for investment to improve the technical performance and extend the service life of the Mohamm?dia power plant 25 km north of Casablanca, which has a total installed capacity of 600 MW. This project will have a positive environmental impact by significantly reducing solid waste production and flue gas emissions. It will thus help to improve the environment in the Casablanca region, the country's largest urban and economic centre. Accordingly, the loan will carry an interest subsidy from the EU budget. (menareport.com) http://www.albawaba.com/headlines/TheNews.php3?sid=288395&lang=e&dir=business 
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Morocco to build new airport terminal in Casablanca
By Agence France Presse (AFP)

Saturday, November 06, 2004
RABAT: Morocco is to build a new terminal for the Mohammed V airport in the economic capital Casablanca, at a cost of 800 million dirhams ($93 million), the national airport authority said Friday. The project is to be funded by the authority, ONDA, as well as through loans from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and the African Development Bank, ONDA director Abdelhanine Benallou was quoted as saying The ONDA hopes to boost the number of passengers transiting via Morocco each year from the current level of seven million to 18 million by 2010, Benallou said.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=3&article_id=9936 

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