Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
January 8 2005

Moroccan-USA FTA passed by House foreign commission
Up to 30,000 cases of infectious hepatitis in Morocco, Official
Exhibition : Young artists paint AIDS danger away
Health insurance to cover 34% of Moroccans, official
Illiteracy to be eradicated by 2015
20,300 education units in Morocco, but much more still needed
Jewish community in Morocco lives in safety, US State Department
AASCU delegation in Morocco to set up partnership between Moroccan and American universities
New Year's end to textile quotas hits Morocco hard
Eradication of shanty towns depends on creation of new cities
6.2 million heads of sheep available for an estimated need of 5.1 million in Eid Al-Adha
Inter-religious diplomacy Institute to be set up next June in Fes 
Pharmacists go on strike for the second time in ten days
Number of road accidents drop by 7.8% in 2004
Morocco to adopt driving license with chip in support of new road code
Morocco to operate network of high-speed trains
Consumer protection : New bill elaborated by Ministry of Industry. Morocco
Religion: 75% of imams to benefit from annual bonus

Moroccan-USA FTA passed by House foreign commission
Rabat, Jan 8

The Moroccan-American free trade agreement was passed, in principle, Friday, by the foreign affairs, defence and Islamic affairs commission of the house of representatives. The representatives at the session were unanimous at underscoring the FTA signed last June 15 is of paramount importance for the Moroccan economy and opens large prospects for the speeding up of reforms in the North African country, notably in fiscal, integration in international economy and foreign investment.

The MPs also stressed the Moroccan-US FTA requires the working out of an integrated vision to implement the agreement so as to shore up the Moroccan economy and contribute to development. They called on the government to work for the upgrading of the private sector infrastructure to enhance its competitiveness and help it take up future challenges. The also called for earmarking subsidies to accompany trade liberalization stages between Morocco and the United States and see to mitigate possible negative impacts.

Present at the session, Taib Fassi Fihri, foreign minister delegate, said the FTA is a framework to tap Morocco's geographical position as a production and exportation platform.He added the government aims by the FTA at diversifying the country economic partnership and the acceleration of the integration of the Moroccan economy in the international and regional economies.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Up to 30,000 cases of infectious hepatitis in Morocco, Official
RABAT, Jan. 05

Infectious hepatitis cases in Morocco range from 15,000 to 30,000 cases, i.e a prevalence of 0.5 percent, disclosed on Tuesday Moroccan Health Minister, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah. The Ministry has drawn up a national strategy to fight the disease through educational programs and awareness campaigns targeting the most exposed populations, said the Minister at the House of Advisors (Senate)'s question-time session. He noted that the ministry will also improve the epidemiological control system and will take in charge the persons affected by the disease. He said his department is endeavoring to make the medicines used for the treatment of the disease tax-free, such as drugs used for HIV/AIDS, which would substantially decrease its costs. According to the Minister, destitute patients can benefit of free care in public hospitals provided that they submit the required administrative documents.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/general/gen-2m.htm 
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Exhibition : Young artists paint AIDS danger away

The Casablanca Amphytrium gallery is currently exhibiting paintings by young artists on the occasion of AIDS day.
"These competitions represent an original way of inciting young people into thinking about this issue. By presenting them with an opportunity to express themselves against this scourge, we made it possible for them to participate in the struggle against AIDS," said Samia Bouchareb, General Manager of The Coca Cola Export Group, who financed the project, "the result is wonderful, you just must come and see".
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=2350 
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Health insurance to cover 34% of Moroccans, official.
AGADIR (Southern Morocco), Jan.04

The implementation of the new Health Insurance Code will up the total number of recipients from 17% presently to 34% of the Moroccan population and will be extended to liberal professions, bringing the number of recipients to 50% of Moroccans, announced, here Tuesday, Health Minister, Mohamed Biadillah. This came at the signing ceremony of the implementation Charter of the basic Health Insurance's Code, chaired by HM King Mohammed VI.

He said that the national health system requires 18 billion DH (Euro 1.6 billion) annually, which is 600 DH (per person). Presently, he went on, families pay for 54% of the system's overall expenses. The code provides for two systems: the compulsory health insurance (AMO) and the medical assistance regime (REMAD). AMO will apply to people who have a paid activity, pension earners, former resisters and members of the liberation army and students. RAMED is a public mechanism which shall guarantee completely or relatively free medicare for a package of care extended by public health structures.

AMO, to enter into force this January, will extend coverage to 216,000 new recipients in the public sector, including 78,000 retirees, bringing, thus to 3.2 million the total number of recipients of services extended by the national board of social welfare organizations (CNOPS). This insurance will cover all chronic diseases, including 70% of expenses for drugs and 100% of costly chronic diseases.

For the private sector, the compulsory health insurance will for the first time include 4.5 million persons (active persons, retirees and dependents). The medical assistance regime (REMAD), estimated to cost between 1.7 billion and 2.3 billion DH (Euro 151.7 million and Euro 205 million), will be operational in 2006 covering between 12 and 15 million persons with limited income and who have had no medical coverage so far. Pending the enforcement of REMAD, the government will take gradual measures to secure free health care in state hospitals, for a budget of 600 million DH (Euro 53.5 million).

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Driss Jettou said the charter, fruit of dialogue between the government, enterprises and social partners, means to deepen social peace and meeting basic conditions for economic and social development. It also aims at promoting social welfare, justice, equality, solidarity, mutual help, and at fighting all forms of poverty. The Charter was signed by the Prime Minister, the Moroccan Confederation of Enterprises (CGEM/employers union), and five Trade Unions http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Illiteracy to be eradicated by 2015
Morocco Times. 04/01/2005

Secretary of State in charge of Literacy and Informal Education Anis Birou presented Monday Jan. 3 the bases of his department's strategy, explaining that it plans to reduce the number of illiterates in Morocco to 10% of the population by 2010. He added that his strategy is aiming at eradicating illiteracy by 2015 and make sure that non-schooled children and school drop-outs benefit from classes.

The strategy of the Literacy and Informal Education Department will be based - among other things - on the creation of inter-ministerial national, regional and local commissions, the training of educators, the establishment of cooperation programmes, public awareness campaigns and examinations.

Birou's department is now mainly focusing on unschooled children aged between 9 and 15, especially little girls, children in difficult situations or living in rural areas. People aged less than 45 years, especially women in rural areas and Morocco's poorest regions are also targeted, said MAP. Between 2003 and 2004, 450,335 people registered for literacy classes out of one million targeted. Of these people, 273,085 sat for examinations and 233,384 passed them. Women and girls seem to have been the main beneficiaries of the programme, since they represent 73.33 % of applicants against 26.67 % for men. In addition, rural areas seem to have benefited a little more from the 2003-2004 programme than urban ones since 53.90 % of participants came from them.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=11&id=2308 
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20,300 education units in Morocco, but much more still needed.
Morocco TIMES. 07/01/2005

The number of education units in Morocco reached 20,300, 17,000 of which are in rural areas, said Minister of National Education Habib El Malki on Jan. 5 in a Parliamentary session The minister added that the number of primary schools the kingdom has increased to 1,196, with 53 newly opened. Concerning the total number of canteens and boarding schools beneficiaries, El Malki said that it increased to one million students in 2004, 48.4% of whom are girls, and 89% live in rural areas. However, despite these improvements, El Malki admitted that many more schools, highschools, school restaurants and boarding schools are still needed, adding that National Education delegations and regional services are working out to reinforce collaboration with local and civil society organizations to increase their services
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=2419 
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Jewish community in Morocco lives in safety, US State Department
WASHINGTON, Jan. 06

Representatives of the centuries-old Jewish minority in Morocco live in safety throughout the country, where the government actively promotes tolerance, underlined a Report on Global Anti-Semitism published Wednesday by the US Department of State. "Annual Jewish commemorations normally took place around the country, and Jewish pilgrims from around the region regularly came to holy sites in the country," noted the report. The document explains that "government officials and private citizens often cited the country's tradition of religious tolerance as one of its strengths."

The report, submitted by the Department of State to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on International Relations, recalls that after the terrorist attacks of 16 May 2003, which targeted a Jewish community center in Casablanca, "Muslims marched in solidarity with Jews to condemn terrorism." The attacks killed 45 people, including the 12 suicide bombers. The annual Report on Global Anti-Semitism, the first to be elaborated in conformity to a law adopted by the American Congress, highlights the rise of anti-Semitism in several regions and various countries, including France, Germany, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Russia and Belarus. The document defines anti-Semitism as "hatred toward Jews -individually and as a group- that can be attributed to the Jewish religion and/or ethnicity." It cites as an example of anti-Semitic acts the profanation of cemeteries or attacks against persons or synagogues.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h-depmauri.htm 
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AASCU delegation in Morocco to set up partnership between Moroccan and American universities
Rabat, Jan 8

Members of the American association of state colleges and Universities is visiting Morocco this January 7 through 15 in a bid to establish new partnership moves between Moroccan and American universities. The 17 member AASCU delegation, a communiqué of the national education ministry said, is to meet with officers of the ministry and of the conference of Moroccan universities presidents (CPUM) as well as held talks with those of several universities, including Université Hassan II, Mohammedia, Université Hassan II Aïn-Chock, Casablanca, Université Mohammed V Souissi, Rabat and Université Cadi Ayad, Marrakech.

The visit also schedules the signing of an agreement between the AASCU and the CPUM next Monday in Rabat meant to enhance partnership relations started in the past years by American and Moroccan universities. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities represents more than 430 public colleges, universities and systems of higher education throughout the United States and its territories.

The association aims to promote appreciation and support for public higher education and the distinctive contributions of member colleges and universities, to analyse public policy, and to advocate for member institutions and the students they serve. AASCU schools enrol more than 3 million students or 56 percent of the enrolment at all public four-year institutions. It was established in 1961 and grew out of the Association of Teacher Education Institutions that had been organized in 1951 to serve public comprehensive institutions.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/general/gen-fires.htm 
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New Year's end to textile quotas hits Morocco hard. 
January 3, 2005 Rabat

The abolition on January 1 of textile quotas under an international agreement is a "real earthquake" threatening tens of thousands of jobs in Morocco, a top industry official said in a press report on Monday. Karim Tazi, the general secretary of the Moroccan Association of the Textile and Clothing Industry said competition from China and India could mean "Morocco risks losing between 30 and 40 percent of the European market" and was "an upheaval, a real earthquake", according to the Aujourd'hui le Maroc daily. "This will force textile firms to put the key under the mat" and close down, Tazi said, saying the loss in export gains could reach even 50 percent. More than a third of the 200 000 textile worker in the north African country face losing their jobs, the paper estimated.

The kingdom "is preparing to confront one of the most serious crises in its industry", the newspaper added, since it "must now go into competition with Chinese and Indian manufacturers, known for the large scale of their exports and low prices". It recommended: "Our industries should abandon the traditional system of sub-contracting work... and develop new lines, particularly concentrating on top quality products." Apart from Asian competition, textile professionals in Morocco have expressed fears of competition from the United States in the wake of a free trade agreement reached between Rabat and Washington in 2004. Under the agreement, textile and clothing imports may be exempt from customs duty - if they respect rules of origin aimed at promoting the use of fibres and fabric made in the United States and Morocco. - Sapa-AFP
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=2361932 
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Eradication of shanty towns depends on creation of new cities

Ahmed Toufiq Hejira, Minister Delegate in Charge of Urbanization and Housing, declared Friday Dec. 31 that the success of the new government programme aimed at eradicating shanty towns depends on the creation of new low cost housing areas. The Minister Delegate was participating in a meeting on the Government housing habitation policy. He called for local authorities to increase their efforts to face the malfunctions experienced by Marrakech and which tarnish the city's image. This intervention took place only a few days after the launch of the Tamansourt building project near Marrakech. It should house 200,000 people for a total cost of MAD 648 million.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=2276 
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6.2 million heads of sheep available for an estimated need of 5.1 million in Eid Al-Adha
RABAT, Jan.03

Morocco has 6.2 million heads of sheep for an estimated 5.1 million heads needs for Eid Al-Adha, an annual Muslim festival. Each Muslim family slaughters a sheep to commemorate the prophet Abraham's willingness to obey God by offering him his son. God stopped him from making the sacrifice and gave him a ram instead. In Morocco, needs are estimated at 6.2 million heads, including 4.7 million of goats, marking a 1% increase compared to last year.

Regarding prices, the ministry explains that like last year, they will range between 30 dh and 34 DH (US$ 3.3 and US$ 3.7) per kilogram according to the race, age and size, noting that prices will however obey to the market offer and demand laws. The ministry notes that this year and the years to come, the Eid, marked on the 10th day of the lunar month of Du-Al Hijja, is getting increasingly closer to the lambing period and most of the slaughtered animals would be those born during the 2003-2004 campaign and previous ones. The turnover expected from the Eid-related transactions is estimated at around 6.5 billion DH (US$ 722 million) to be transferred to the rural world.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/argentina.htm 
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Inter-religious diplomacy Institute to be set up next June in Fes 
Brussels, Jan 7

The creation of a permanent institute for inter-religious and inter-cultural diplomacy will be announced next June in Fes, during the Sacred Music Festival, held every year in this Moroccan central town. The announcement was made by Faouzi Skalli, president of the Fes festival, on the occasion of the first congress of "imams and rabbis for peace", wound up Thursday in the Belgian capital city.

The projected institute will develop inter-religious diplomacy through reflection and interpretation of sacred texts to contribute to find a way out to political conflicts, Skalli said. Religious chiefs have an important role in promoting awareness among their communities of the judea-moslem heritage, Skalli said.

The congress adopted at the end of its three day meetings a declaration by which the imams and rabbis called to "fight hatred, ignorance as well as their causes and to build together a world of peace". The religious chiefs also call on political leaders to find solutions to a just and lasting peace throughout the world, particulary in the holy land and to ensure the respect of human rights "without which no peace is possible".

The gathering created an eight member joint permanent committee to help implement the commitments made by the congress and make proposals to help achieve its goals. The conference was attended by over 500 experts from the Middle east, North Africa, Asia, Europe, Africa and America. The opening session of the conference was marked by the reading of a message sent by HM king Mohammed VI to participants in which the monarch voiced hope that this gathering would curb intolerance and exclusion.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Pharmacists go on strike for the second time in ten days
Rabat, Jan. 7

Pharmacists in Morocco went on Friday on a new strike nationwide to protest the provisions of the bill relating to the code of medicines and pharmacy introduced in the Parliament, while the health ministry reaffirmed its willingness to open dialog with the sector's professionals. The Friday strike comes after a first observed by pharmacists last December 29 called on by the national federation of pharmacists unions of Morocco (FNSPM).

Mounir Tadlaoui of the FNSPM told the Moroccan news agency MAP pharmacists have been forced to go on strike again to voice their refusal of the bill provisions "which was drafted without consulting the sector's professionals". Tadlaoui, also chairman of Rabat-Salé pharmacists union chamber, deemed the bill « did not take into account the legitimate claims of pharmacists », noting the professionals have been keen on supplying citizens with medicines countrywide.

The pharmacists are protesting the licence given to clinics and hospitals to have drug stocks, the entitlement of prefectoral and provincial authorities to authorise the opening of pharmacies and the liberalisation of baby formula (milk) selling outside pharmacies. The strikers also want to maintain the 300m distance requirement between two pharmacies. Abdelmoumen Mahli, chief officer of the pharmacy department at the health ministry, told MAP that dialog remains open with all partners and involved parties. Mahli added the medicine code is not meant for pharmacists, only, but also for « producers and distributors who accepted the bill provisions », noting the FNSPM is the only party that called for the strikes in spite of the guaranties made by the Prime and health ministers.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/h_dep006cereals.htm 
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Number of road accidents drop by 7.8% in 2004
RABAT, Jan.05

The number of traffic accidents dropped by 7.8% in Jan-Sept.2004, compared to the same period of 2003, said transport and equipment minister, Karim Ghallab. Talking at the weekly question-time of the Chamber of advisors (upper parliamentary chamber), the minister said the number of human casualties also regressed by 5.6% while the number of seriously injured persons decreased by 15.9%. However, he noted, results do not match the size of efforts made all along the last years, stressing that the government has crafted an integrated strategy and an emergency plan covering coordination, legislation, control and repression of traffic law offences and drivers education and training. He recalled in this context that a recent cross-ministerial meeting agreed on a package of measures, including stringent controls on drivers of collective transport vehicles and encouraging transport companies to hire permanent drivers. Road accidents in Morocco claim an annual toll of over 3,800 persons, that is ten dead people everyday, in addition to 15,061 seriously injured victims and cost the state 11 billion MAD (US$ 1.2 billion), that is 2.5% of the GDP.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Morocco to adopt driving license with chip in support of new road code.
RABAT, Dec.31

Morocco's Equipment and transport minister, Karim Ghallab, announced plans that driving licenses would carry computer chips, as part of new support measures to the new traffic law that also include radars with photo radars meant to improve the transparency of controls. The minister explained, in an interview with Moroccan "La Vie Economique", that the new driving license would store all information, mainly fines, and would enable to control fine payment, as thousands of fines remain unpaid. Regarding the photo radars, he said 8 devices are currently operational were purchased, adding that around-the-clock automatic radars that would take photos of traffic law breachers. Road accidents in Morocco claim an annual toll of over 3,800 persons, that is ten dead people everyday, in addition to 15,061 seriously injured victims and cost the state 11 billion MAD (US$ 1.2 billion), that is 2.5% of the GDP.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm 
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Morocco to operate network of high-speed trains
RABAT, Jan.05

Equipment and transport minister, Karim Ghallab, announced on Tuesday that Morocco will be operating a network of high-speed trains. The minister told advisors (senators) that the Moroccan railway authority (ONCF) is conducting a study on the future network of high-speed trains. The project, he went on, is part of the short-term and long-term forecasts and will significantly contribute to the social and economic development of the country.

New railways will link Tangiers to the city's port on the Mediterranean (15 Km), between the northeastern cities of Taourirt and Nador (117 kms) and between Sidi Yahya and Machraâ Belksiri, in Northern Morocco (47 kms).The high-speed train to service Casablanca and Agadir (southern Morocco), will be carried out in two phases : a 320-km long stretch between Casablanca and Marrakesh to be crossed in one hour and the second 312 km-long way between Agadir and Essaouira to be crossed in one hour. On the long term, he added, high-speed trains will service Tangiers (in the north) to Agadir (in the south). Studies have shown the profitability of this network, he stressed during the weekly question-time.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/general/gen_0019.htm 
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Consumer protection : New bill elaborated by Ministry of Industry. Morocco
TIMES/ 06/01/2005

Minister of Industy, Trade and Economic Upgrading Salaheddine Mezouar, announced Jan. 5 that his department had worked out a new bill aimed at protecting consumers. This bill is mainly aimed at introducing rules and procedures that would help protect consumers' rights and create a consumption friendly environment, said MAP. The new rules will make it compulsory for providers to inform consumers about the characteristics of their goods and services before transactions take place. Moreover, they will require the presentation of products and bills to be in Arabic in order to guarantee better consumer information. Mezouar added that this bill also aims at protecting consumers on the level of consumer credits and property loans in order to organize the granting of such loans and prevent borrowers from falling into excessive debt.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=2384 
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Religion: 75% of imams to benefit from annual bonus.

75% of employees in charge of religious services will benefit from an increase of their annual bonus to MAD 11,000, said the official in charge of mosques in the Habous and Islamic Affairs Ministry, Abdelaziz Darouich In an interview with the daily newspaper Attajdid, Darouich explained that HM King Mohamed VI gave instructions for MAD 150 million to be allocated to the 2004 annual bonus. He added that this subvention will be applied again in the years to come, adding that it would help improve the material conditions of other Mosque employees such as muezzins, Qur'an and Hadith readers, and cleaning staff. A general study revealed that 55% of Morocco's imams (33.082 people) earned less than MAD 7,500 a year, which is equivalent to MAD 625 a month, said MAP. The attribution of the new bonus was submitted to only one condition: that applicant imams earn less than MAD 11,000.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=2304 

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