Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
March 5 2005

US "Friends of Morocco" association to visit the kingdom
US State department hails Family Law reforms in Morocco.
Smoking, a major cause of death in Morocco.
Morocco Says CJD Death Not Linked to Mad Cow
Morocco's U-20 to start training camp.
Adb Finances a Solar Thermal Power Station Project.
Morocco renews commitment to develop aid use efficiency
Moroccan official in Washington to take part in International Women Day celebration.
OPEC Fund loans Morocco $20 million to build dam.
IMF: More jobs needed for Morocco to grow
IMF calls Morocco to adopt reforms to build on its economic stability
Over MD6 million collected for Tsunami victims in Morocco.
Rights body discusses economic and social reforms.
Morocco looks to the private sector. 
Washington National Opera Midwinter Gala themed on City Of Fez
Moroccan Telecom announces dramatic cuts in broadband internet tariffs.
Morocco to lift reservations on women discrimination convention, Minister.
"For Bread Alone" to be screened in Cannes.
Welcome to Marrakesh
Group takes democracy on the road to Morocco
Mohammedia Prepares for Flower Festival
Over MAD 3 b of fisheries production in Morocco in 2004.
Marrakech could become Scottsdale's 5th sister city
Morocco hosts philosophy Colloquium to promote religious tolerance.
Rabat, Morocco's capital, is a very quiet, clean city, of grand old buildings. But it is surrounded by slums.
Couscous.
Casablanca Int'l Marathon starts on March 13
Morocco Publishers To Fight 'Newspaper Renting'

US "Friends of Morocco" association to visit the kingdom
WASHINGTON, Feb.28

Members of "Friends of Morocco" association are visiting the kingdom next summer, said president of the association, Tim Resch. In a statement to MAP, Resch said the visit is an opportunity for the association members to invite their families and friends to discover the wonderful locations in Morocco where they served as Peace Corps volunteers.

He pointed out that the association contributed in "Magic Morocco: from Sahara to the Sea" festival held in October 2004 in Maclean, Virginia, which was an opportunity for some 3,000 Americans to discover Moroccan culture and traditions. The association had also visited charity institutions in Rabat, Casablanca and Agadir and made a documentary film on Morocco in 2001. Resch noted that Morocco has made important development strides and hailed the role of Moroccan community in the USA in consolidating Morocco-American relationship.

Friends of Morocco is an organization of Americans, mostly returned Peace Corps volunteers, with experience in Morocco and Moroccans in America united with an interest in promoting educational, cultural, charitable, social, literary and scientific exchange between Morocco and the United States of America.

The NGO informs Americans on Moroccan culture and traditions through its web site "friendsofmorocco.org" and the publication of a periodical. Friends of Morocco has a mailing list of 2,100 with 300 to 400 active members.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/general/belgium_religion.htm
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US State department hails Family Law reforms in Morocco.
WASHINGTON, Mar. 01

The US State department hailed in its report on Human Rights Practices 2004, the important reforms instituted to the Family Law (Moudawana) in Morocco, approved unanimously by the Moroccan Parliament in January 2004. The Moudawana reforms were meant to fight societal discrimination against women, and to improve the status of women and children, noted the report, published Monday.

The document underlines that the reforms brought changes to the status of women, notably by increasing the age of marriage from 15 to 18 years, and placing the family under the shared responsibility of husband and wife. Besides, the new Law put divorce under judicial control, and imposed many restrictions on polygamy. The report also evoked the establishment in October 2003 of family courts "to adjudicate divorce and child custody cases in anticipation of proposed reforms to the Moudawana," recalling that by February "160 judges had completed training in the reforms of the personal status code." "Plans called for the establishment of 70 family courts with 1 for each province. Jewish citizens dealt with family matters in their own courts," noted the report, adding that family courts have to respect specific deadlines to state in cases submitted to them. The annual "report on Human Rights Practices," published annually, concerns
197 countries. It gives detailed account on the protection and promotion of the rights stipulated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/us_state_department/view
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Smoking, a major cause of death in Morocco.

Smoking is a major cause of death in Morocco, with a high rate of tobacco-associated cardiovascular and respiratory diseases," said Noureddine Chaouki, Head of the Department of Non-transmissible Diseases at the Health Ministry, said MAP. Dr. Chaouki, who took part in the World Health Organization in the negotiations that led to the Framework Agreement on Tobacco control, which will enter into force on Feb. 27, told MAP that "34% of Moroccan men and 1% of Moroccan women aged over 20 are smokers."

In Morocco, who signed the WHO Agreement but has not yet ratified it, tobacco consumption is a direct cause of serious diseases of the respiratory tract, particularly ear-nose-throat cancer, lungs cancer, cardiovascular diseases and others.

According to the WHO, tobacco consumption is currently the single leading cause of death, which results in the premature death of nearly five million people a year. If current smoking patterns continue, the number of deaths will double to 10 million a year by 2020.

He also stressed the importance of the agreement as the first International Public Health Treaty and announced that the Health Ministry will hold next March 17 an information and awareness-raising meeting on the treaty for several ministries to push forward for the agreement ratification. Morocco developed a tobacco control strategy, embodied in a law that was enforced in February 1998 and banned smoking in public spaces as well as tobacco advertisement.

"Morocco needs to adopt implementation texts for the law and to ratify the WHO convention, in addition to taking more stringent measures to cut smoking habit, such as the increase of tobacco taxes and cigarettes prices," he said. In 2004, 14.5 billion cigarettes were sold in Morocco.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=4248
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Morocco Says CJD Death Not Linked to Mad Cow
RABAT

The death this week of a Moroccan who contracted Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) has no link with mad cow disease, a government minister said on Friday. The health ministry said on Thursday a man had died of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and it was testing whether the case was vCJD -- avariant believed to be caused by eating food tainted with material from cattle with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. "He died of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which first appeared in 1922, which has nothing to do with the new variant of CJD that affects humans when they eat meat tainted with BSE," Health Minister Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah told Reuters.

The ministry said the 61-year-old victim, who was a regular visitor to Europe where BSE has infected some cattle herds, had died on Wednesday in a Casablanca hospital. "The patient died of a variant of CJD that affects in average one in a million people," Biadillah said. Samples taken from the victim were sent on Wednesday to France for analysis and results are expected next week, he added. A little more than 150 cases of the CJD variant linked to mad cow disease have been reported in the world up to now, most of them in Britain. The brain-wasting disease is fatal and incurable. Mohamed Benazzou, a senior official at the agriculture ministry, said the authorities had not detected any cases of mad cow disease among the country's livestock. "Our livestock is safe for consumption," he told state television channel 2M.
http://www.keralanext.com/news/indexread.asp?id=137392
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Morocco's U-20 to start training camp.

The four-day camp is scheduled to take place between March 8 and 11. The Moroccan National Youth Team manager Fethi Jamal has called up 23 players to join in a training camp at Salé's Maâmora Sports Centre in preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Youth Championship, said MAP on Wednesday. The Atlas Lion Cubs clinched their ticket to the juniors' world cup, which will be held in Holland this summer, after securing a fourth place in African Youth Championship in Benin, last January. Fethi Jamal had started Saturday a ten-day tour in Europe to assess the level of some European-based Moroccan young players. He had compiled a list of 15 footballers to be eyed during his visit to France, Holland, and Germany. Before making their trip to Holland next summer, the Junior Atlas Lions will play various under-20 teams from Africa and Europe and take part in an international friendly tournament in South Korea between March 22 and 27.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/news/article.asp?id=4421
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Adb Finances a Solar Thermal Power Station Project.
March 3 2005 Press Release - African Development Bank

The African Development Bank (ADB) approved a loan of EUR 136.45 millions in favour of Morocco, to finance the construction of an integrated solar
thermal combined cycle power station in Ain Beni Mathar. This project is a new initiative both for the kingdom of Morocco as well as for the ADB. It seeks to extend electric power generation facilities and develop renewable forms of energy. The specific objectives are to contribute to ensuring steady supply of electricity to the country, diversifying energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It will help raise the installed production capacity of the national electricity authority (ONE) from 200 to 250 MW and to inject about 1,590 GWh into the interconnected system, including 55 GWh from solar energy.

The project is in line with the ONE low cost equipment plan to match supply with demand for energy by 2008. It will help to: (i) promote renewable energies and diversify energy resources for the generation of electricity in Morocco; (ii) master solar thermal technology with the aim of reducing the cost of a KWh in the medium and long terms; (iii) reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of solar energy and natural gas; and (iv) enable the ONE to save on the cost of fuel used to generate electricity in its thermal power stations. This project contributes to poverty reduction, through its connection to the national grid, guaranteeing steady electricity supply to urban centers, urban-rural fringes and rural areas thus facilitating access to electricity for hitherto marginalized social classes and reducing the gap between some areas.

The Bank is a major partner of Morocco in the energy sector. It has financed10 operations (9 projects and 1 study) in the energy sector for a total amount of UA 262.26 million. The last operation financed by the Bank is the project to reinforce interconnections of electric power grids. The ADB operations in Morocco started in 1970. To date, its commitments in the country stand at 3.5 billion Units of Account (EUR 4 billion or 45
billion Dirhams) in 84 operations.
http://www.harolddoan.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1328
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Morocco renews commitment to develop aid use efficiency
Paris, Mar 03

Morocco is fully committed to the harmonisation and improvement of development aid efficiency as far as the country can mobilise the assistance according to set development priorities, said Moroccan finance minister Fathallah Oualalou. Speaking Wednesday in Paris at the second meeting on public aid to development, Oualalou said the kingdom has exerted important efforts to modernise its procedures and adapt them to international practices, calling on donors to take into account Moroccan public spending management systems when extending development aid to Morocco.

At the high-level meeting, attended by finance ministers of 130 nations, donors and development aid recipients, Oualalou said there is consensusbetween beneficiary countries and bilateral and multilateral donors on needed actions to achieve growth objectives and eradicate poverty. He stressed that the action of harmonisation and improvement of development aid efficiency should be co nducted along with the increase of the volume of development aid.

The aid amount remains below the commitments and the needs in development assistance, Oualalou said urging the international community to increase the aid in relation to targeted efficiency. A better efficiency in harmonising development aid should be assessed through the results obtained without prejudging the formal tools used to get the results, Oualalou argued.

Oualalou said it is important to capitalise on the advancement made by partner countries, share the best practices and apply them to the utmost of sectors so as make rapid progress and cut the cost of the harmonisation process. The Moroccan minister called for a rapid implementation of mutual pledges in accordance with local needs and realities and with countries choice on how to appropriate their development strategies and reforms to improve aid management.

The Paris second forum on development aid is held as a follow up of the meeting on the same subject held in Rome in February 2003 and to the roundtable on "management for results", held in Marrakech in February 2004. These meetings are held to review the international community commitments made in Monterry regarding development funding and the achievement of the millennium development goals.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/morocco_renews_commi1725/view
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Moroccan official in Washington to take part in International Women Day celebration.
ESSAOUIRA, West Morocco, Mar.03

President of the town hall of Essaouira, Asmaa Chaabi will take part on March 8 in the meeting held by US state department on promoting women's situation. Mayor Chaabi, also a company manager, said that Moroccan participation is an opportunity to review the kingdom's giant strides in this issue which is an example to Arab and Muslim countries. According to the meeting organisers, the gathering is an opportunity to paytribute to Afghan, Iraqi and Palestinian women for their historic role in national elections. American first lady, Laura Bush and Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice have programmed also a conference which aims at identifying practical and concrete actions to promote women's situation.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/moroccan_official_in5112/view
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OPEC Fund loans Morocco $20 million to build dam.
Rabat, Morocco, 02/16

Morocco has obtained a US$20 million loan from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund to help build a dam in the Marrakech region, 250 km south of here, an official statement said. The two parties signed the loan agreement Wednesday, bringing to 12 the number of loans OPEC Fund has granted Morocco since 1977 covering drinking water, sanitation, energy, health, education and building of dams. The loans generally have a payment schedule covering 20 years, with a five-year grace period. OPEC Fund seeks to promote cooperation between member countries of the oil cartel and other developing countries to help them achieve their socio-economic and development objectives.
http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=319845
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IMF: More jobs needed for Morocco to grow
Big News Network.com Tuesday 1st March, 2005 (UPI) Thursday 3rd March, 2005

The head of the International Monetary Fund warned Monday Morocco's economy must expand more quickly to ensure more jobs for all in the country. In concluding his visit to Rabat, IMF's Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato said more trade liberalization is needed, in addition to more private investments. In order to attract investors, de Rato said Morocco must press ahead with judicial and administrative reforms, in addition to other fundamental changes. He also said free trade agreements with the United States and the European Union will boost Morocco's growth potential.
http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/?sid=08bd5fe6661a2a20
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IMF calls Morocco to adopt reforms to build on its economic stability.
Rabat, Feb.28

Morocco, which has made significant efforts to ensure the stability of its macro-economy, now needs to make reforms so that effects ofthis stability can reach populations, said on Monday, Rodrigo de Rato, visiting managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF chief told reporters after a meeting with Morocco's Minister of Finance and Privatization "it is high time for reforms so that this stability can be better felt by populations through further work and (investment) opportunities. He recommended in this regard reforms of the financial and trade systems and a better regional trade and economic integration at the level of the Maghreb (north Africa).

Morocco's growth rate has reached 3.5% in 2004, compared to 5.2% in 2003, which is an average rate of 4.6% between 2001 and 2004, said the Moroccan Minister of Finance and Privatization, who ascribed the positive tendency to the improvement of agricultural production, and a positive evolution in other sectors, particularly the processing industry, construction and public works, and energy and mining.

Oualalou also expected economic growth to be consolidated in the years to come thanks to economic and social reforms and to the government's efforts in tourism, housing and highways infrastructure. He added that the Moroccan government has ushered in several reforms meant to carry on political democratization and liberalization, upgrading the financial sector and restructuring and rationalizing the management of state establishments. Employment, housing and justice were also affected by the reforms, he went on.

The IMF managing director will also visit Algeria and Tunisia for discussions on recent economic developments and on issues confronting the regional and global economy, and to listen to the authorities views on the role of the IMF in this context, the IMF announced. This is his first trip to the Maghreb region since assuming office in June 2004.
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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Over MD6 million collected for Tsunami victims in Morocco.

UNICEF (Office of Rabat) has announced that the Collective Association of help for children victims of the Tsunami in disaster in South Asia will soon hold a press conference in Casablanca, in which it will officially present the results of the National Solidarity Campaign, held in Morocco during January 13 to 20. Sources in the international organization said that they feel that their mission in Morocco was well accomplished and that they have succeeded to mobilize a large number of people. Le Matin reports that organization has so far succeeded in raising more than MD6 million throughout its campaign in Morocco.
© 2005 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Morocco/180896
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Rights body discusses economic and social reforms.
Rabat, Feb.28

The Justice and reconciliation commission (IER) will hold on Tuesday its third dialogue session on "economic and social reforms" in Morocco. After the series of public hearings during which victims of human rights abuses committed in Morocco between 1956 and 1999 delivered testimonies, the IER is organizing "dialogue sessions" on themes related to human rights violations. The body was set up in January 2004 to seek out-of-court settlement to these violations.

Academics and experts will debate sequels of these past human rights breaches on economic and social aspects and on Morocco's development byexploring the relation between these ill-practices and economic and social problems in some regions as well as between violence and economic performance.

IER says the aim of these dialog sessions is to involve the public opinion in a "mature thought" about the political, intellectual and historical contexts since the kingdom's independence in 1956 and reasons underlying human rights breaches and their impact on political mutations. The sessions, started on February 15 and scheduled to wind up on March 22, are held every Tuesday and are broadcast every Wednesday by the second TV channel "2M".
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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Morocco looks to the private sector. 
February 2005

The moroccan government is reducing its involvement in the transport and agriculture sectors, targeting its resources at big ticket projects, such as the Spain-Morocco tunnel, which could provide opportunities for exporters for decades to come. While Rabat is keen to balance its books and cut the national debt by reducing the role of state-owned enterprises, it also seems genuinely convinced that both domestic and foreign private sector companies can make a better job of generating wealth and creating jobs.

The biggest flotation in Morocco's history and one of the biggest ever in Africa has proved an unmitigated success. Heavy demand for stock in Maroc Telecom resulted in a share price of 68.25 dirhams ($8.10), enabling the company to raise $1bn in the initial public offering (IPO) for 131m shares, equivalent to 14.9% equity in the firm. The shares are listed on the Paris and Casablanca stock exchanges and the IPO was 18 times oversubscribed. Maroc Telecom controls 70% of the Moroccan telecoms market, with 1m fixed line customers and 5m mobile customers creating sales of $1.86bn.

In November, French company Vivendi spent $1.4bn to increase its stake in the company from 36% to 51%, giving it a majority stake in Morocco's biggest telecoms company. The price tag reflected the rise in the Moroccan firm's value since Vivendi purchased its initial 36% stake in 2000 for $2.2bn: The company is now valued at 60bn dirhams.

The government approved the deal and Morocco's minister of finance and privatisation, Fathallah Oualalou, commented: "This success is natural.Maroc Telecom is one of the most profitable telecoms firms in the world. This IPO has allowed Morocco to show strong potential in attracting investment and set a new benchmark value for the firm."

Another area where the government hopes to reduce the role of the state and increase private sector involvement is in the provision of transport services. At the start of December, Morocco received a ¿240m loan from the African Development Bank (ADB) to part fund its Transport Sector Reform Programme (TSRP). The programme aims to cut state funding in transport while making the sector more receptive to the needs of the economy.

Transport Services

For example, the aviation sector will be opened up to more foreign and new domestic operators, providing much more competition for Royal Air Maroc. In preparation for sector liberalisation, the government is investing in new bus fleets in the major cities in order to make services more attractive to private sector operators. Contracts to manage rail passenger and freight services will also be offered.

The government hopes to make far more use of the rail network in order to ease exports to Europe and beyond. At the heart of its transport strategy isa plan to build a rail tunnel under the Mediterranean, between Punta Palomas in Spain and Punta Malabata in Morocco. Preliminary work on the 39km tunnel began in 2004, although construction work will take years to complete. There is obviously little point in having a high speed link with Spain and the rest of the European Union (EU) if Morocco's domestic rail service is in need of modernisation. Although the country's rail network is relatively comprehensive and connects most of the main towns, new investment in locomotives, carriages and track infrastructure is required.

The government is also keen to attract greater private sector participation in the port sector. This is rather less intended to cut state expenditure and more aimed at boosting port capacity, reducing turnaround times and generally improving efficiency. Rabat also fears that domestic shipping operators could flounder as the shipping sector is liberalised in the Mediterranean and so hopes that domestic firms will have more time to adjust if they are forced to take a much bigger role in managing the sector at this stage.

Even the agriculture sector is to be opened up to foreign investors. Tenders to cultivate a total of 56,000 hectares of fertile land were launched by the Ministry of Agriculture in October, while tenders for a further 40,000 hectares will be offered during the first half of 2005. Contracts will range from 17 to 40 years, enabling private farming concerns to invest in improving the quality of land in the long term, while prices will range from ¿135 to ¿360 a hectare.

Although many small scale farming communities are eager for more land, it is believed the land on offer lies in areas nationalised following independence, when ownership was transferred from Spanish and French colonial governments to the new Moroccan authorities. Although the government has not yet published details of the location of the holdings on offer, it is thought the plots in question will be those held by the state-owned Company for Agricultural Lands Management (SOGETA) and Company for Agriculture Development (SODEA). Both companies have recorded financial losses for the past few years and have acquired large debts.

Minister of agriculture, Mohand Laenser, commented: "Moroccan investors will have no advantages over foreign investors," initiating a policy that marks a distinct change of tack by the government, which had previously sought to retain Moroccan control over the sector. Again, the government hopes to reduce subsidies and other expenditure in the sector, while private enterprise will be encouraged. At the same time, the agricultural contracts could yield up to ¿180m a year in revenues, while any crops exported or processed within Morocco would also add to the economy. The government is also looking to the private sector to continue development of the tourist sector. The industry has recovered strongly over recent months, following a fall in visitor numbers in 2002 and 2003 as a result of the 9/11 attacks, the war in Iraq and general fears over global terrorism. According to Ministry of Tourism figures, 19% more tourists visited Morocco during the first half of 2004 compared with the same period in 2003 and early indications for 2005 are optimistic.

Morocco's close proximity to western Europe, plus its long warm season, numerous beaches and historic cities all contribute to a successful tourist sector. Increased investment in tourist sector infrastructure, such as hotels, airports and roads, has increased the country's ability to deal with tourists, while improved water and electricity distribution networks near the coast have enabled the construction of a string of large hotel complexes at Casablanca, El Jadida, Essaouira, Marrakech, Ouarzazate and Tangier.

While the Algerian government faced much opposition to its plan to increase the role of the private sector in the economy, opposition in Morocco has been much more muted. Perhaps because Morocco never pursued an Arab socialist line, and also because there is a longer history of continuous foreign investment in Morocco, Rabat's current plans for economic reform have attracted far less criticism than those drawn up in Algiers.

It will be several years before the current reforms can be judged a success or otherwise, but if the IPO for shares in Maroc Telecom is anything to go by, foreign investors will be lining up to become involved.
© The Middle East 2005 http://www.africasia.com/themiddleeast/index.php
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Washington National Opera Midwinter Gala themed on City Of Fez
WASHINGTON, Feb.28

The Washington National Opera held on Saturday its second annual Midwinter Gala on the theme of the Moroccan imperial city of Fez. Over 500 guests danced to authentic Moroccan music during the festive, black-tie evening, that brought together the social, political, and diplomatic communities. The gala showcased Moroccan traditional works, and included Moroccan meals and tea. Guests danced at the rhythm of the Gnawa music and Moroccan popular songs. Proceeds from the Opera Ball help fund Washington National Opera's world-renowned performances, as well as their quality education and community programs. The Opera Ball, held each year since 1958, is Washington National Opera's most important annual fundraising event.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/culture/washington_national/view
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Moroccan Telecom announces dramatic cuts in broadband internet tariffs.
Rabat, Mar.01

Moroccan telecom operator and internet provider (Maroc telecom) on Tuesday announced dramatic cuts in high speed internet connection prices, reaching up to 37.5pc. A year after starting its first broadband ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) unlimited offer, the Moroccan sole internet provider says the move is meant to contribute to bridging the digital divide by broadening access at most competitive prices. Individuals and professionals can, from a monthly MAD 199 (US$ 24.8), have access to the web. The number of high-speed internet subscribers increased from 2,600 to 60,000 last year, according to recent figures published by the ANRT (telecom regulator) which said that out of the 100,000 subscribers to internet, 52% have chosen ADSL. A recent study ordered by the ANRT estimates the potential of internet subscribers in Morocco to more than 500,000 against 100,000 now.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box5/moroccan_telecom_ann/view
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Morocco to lift reservations on women discrimination convention, Minister.
NEW YORK, Mar. 2

Morocco will lift its previous reservations relating to the convention banning all forms of discrimination against women, revealed, here Tuesday, the Secretary of State in charge of Family, Childhood and Disabled persons, Yasmina Baddou. Speaking at the UN plenary session of the 49th session on the situation of the women, Baddou highlighted Morocco's determination to promote the condition of women as a pre-requisite to consolidating the rule of law, recalling in this regard, the adoption by the North African kingdom of the new Family Code, the amendments brought to the Labor code and the adoption of abandoned children on the basis of equity between the two sexes. The Moroccan official also mentioned the partnership between the authorities, the civil society and the political parties aiming, among other goals, to improve health care services, integrate women in the economy, promote women co-operatives, and adopt the principle of feminine quota in elections.

Through these actions, the minister went on, Morocco joins international efforts underway to implement the Beijing Conference, and implement theobjectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) that rest on dialog, cooperation and co-existence between peoples and States. During the session, to last until March 11, the UN Secretary General presented a report on the achievements of 135 countries in the field of equity between sexes, and the challenges that they still have to take up in order to live up to their commitments vowed in the action program elaborated in Beijing.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/morocco_to_lift_rese/view
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"For Bread Alone" to be screened in Cannes.
Rabat, Feb.21

"For Bread Alone" the movie, based on the Moroccan author Mohamed Choukri's renowned novel, will be on the list of the 58th Cannes Film Festival that will take place on May 11-22. The movie is still on the mixing stage, said the main character of the movie Moroccan Hollywood actor Said Taghmaoui. The Italian-funded film was shot in Ouarzazate studios (southern Morocco). Mohamed Choukri’s “For Bread Alone”, an autobiography written in 1973, describes his difficult early childhood in Tangier back-alleys.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/culture/for_bread_alone_to/view
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Welcome to Marrakesh
Morocco, Volume 60 01.03.2005

While long a favourite for Western visitors, Marrakesh has recently been in the business headlines in Morocco for its booming "real estate tourism" sector. Europeans nowadays, it seems, are not just content to stay in local hotels, but have begun a serious look for local houses and apartments to purchase.

The boom has been a spin off from a major programme of construction and renovation launched by King Mohammed VI some years ago. The government has plans to boost tourist arrivals to Morocco to 10m a year by 2010, which means that the country needs a further 80,000 new hotel rooms, 66% of them earmarked for coastal areas. The scale of such a development has already attracted many international real estate companies, both from Europe and the Arab countries, as well as Moroccan outfits.

Much of this interest has so far gone into large-scale resort development projects. The Plan Azur, for example, envisages the construction of six new purpose-built coastal resorts, each with a different character and range of facilities and developed by the private sector. Of these, five will be on the Atlantic coast and one on the Mediterranean.

Palais des Roses, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Dallal Baraka Group, has, for example, already signed up for the Taghazout resort, 15 km north of Agadir, which is planned to have 23,000 beds in apartments, villas and hotels in six interconnected tourist villages. The resort will also have spa centres, a fishing port, a marina and a golf course.

Now though, working through the Marrakesh Centre Régional d'Investissement (Regional Investment Centre - CRI), some of this interest has also been finding its way into the city. The CRI found itself looking at some 1500 new building projects in the city during 2004 alone, l'Economiste reported in its most recent issue. The projects were worth a total of Dh42bn ($5.1bn) and employed some 50,000 people.

The majority of these schemes - some 70% - were also directly for the real estate and tourism sectors, which have overlapped in what is being dubbed "l'immobilier touristique".

Of course, Marrakesh has long been famous for its high profile celebrity semi-residents, such as Mick Jagger and David Bowie, or in bygone days, Winston Churchill. Yet now, as the overseas property market for mainly northern European individuals in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy becomes oversubscribed, those in search of a place in the sun are casting further afield. Turkey has seen a spike in interest recently, while at the other end of the Mediterranean, Morocco too is now looking at a substantial influx of sunburnt summer homebuyers.

While the restoration of old houses within the city has been one aspect of this real estate boom, another has been the construction of new luxury home complexes, often including swimming pools and tennis courts. One example is the Dh800m ($97.3m) River Palm development, with high-end apartments set in a landscaped and carefully designed complex. Another is the Marrak Villas, with large four-bedroom, four-bathroom villas costing from around 850,000 euros each, and including a pool and use of two communal tennis courts.

Meanwhile, Hamptons International has invested in the construction of 41 two-to-three bedroom riads - as the traditional Moroccan houses built around a central courtyard are known - on the outskirts of Marrakesh. Prices will range from about 500,000 euros to over 1m euros.

Yet the boom is not being allowed to go entirely without checks and balances. "The CRI remains keenly sensitive to future developments," Abderrazak Moumni, the director of the Centre in Marrakesh, told l'Economiste. "It's not a question, for example, of favouring those residences, which allegedly might be more profitable, at the expense of projects in hotels."

This potential division between investments in residential projects on the one hand and hotel projects on the other has, however, been addressed by several companies. The Dh900m ($109.4m) Four Seasons Hotel development, for example, includes both a hotel and residential buildings within the hotel grounds. Residents have the added bonus of access to all the hotel's facilities. The project also brings together European investors with Moroccan construction and real estate companies, with Arsat Marrakech contracted to build the residences for Dh500m ( $60.8m).

However, there are still some difficulties being experienced by developers in terms of the bureaucracy surrounding the investment process. The issuing of a certificate of notification of the nominees for a project comes in advance of a certificate of approval for a project from the CRI. The delay between the too is often a source of complaint, particularly as the original certificate "is not accepted by banks to free up the enterprise's capital, nor is it accepted by the administration," says Moumni. Many are therefore pressuring the CRI to become more rapidly involved in the legal process surrounding project development.

Nevertheless, Marrakesh seems set to be a major city for expatriate residence in the years ahead, its remarkable souks and Maghrebi charm likely to overcome any shortfalls in the plumbing and unsuccessful bargaining in the markets.
http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/weekly01.asp?id=1244
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Group takes democracy on the road to Morocco
(Published Friday, March 4, 2005 10:38:02 AM CST)By Dan Hinkel Gazette Staff

If your understanding of Morocco begins and ends with Humphrey Bogart saying goodbye to Ingrid Bergman on an airstrip in "Casablanca," you are not alone. But Morocco's importance to U.S. government and business didn't end when Allied forces drove Axis armies out of Northern Africa almost 62 years ago, months after the classic film came out.

Brian Christianson is proof that some U.S. government and private agencies are interested in a country with an uncertain future rooted in a short Democratic past. Christianson, who lives in Fulton Township near Edgerton, flew to Morocco in February with a nonprofit group funded partly by the U.S. State Department. Christianson's goal: to train leaders from a few of Morocco's 30 political parties about political organization, public relations and campaigns. Morocco, a former French protectorate, has one foot in democracy. The parliament is less than a decade old and works alongside the powerful King Mohammed VI.

The coastal country is not immune to radical Islamic groups. Relatively high unemployment, poverty and illiteracy rates ripen Morocco for fundamentalist recruitment. The United States needs for the Middle East and Northern Africa to keep moving toward democracy, Christianson said. "The best way to protect America is to export democracy," he said. "Morocco could very well serve to be the template for Arab-Islamic democracies."

Christianson, a Republican consultant, went to Morocco courtesy of the International Republican Institute, a conservative international advocacy group partly sponsored by the federal government. The nonprofit group is not officially affiliated with the Republican Party. Christine Dudley, former director of the Illinois GOP, also went as a political trainer. The trip aimed to strengthen the party structure in Morocco. Christianson started by teaching political science basics. Later, he moved into political organization. Christianson has organized his share of political operations. He has been the director of the state GOP and organized Paul Ryan's successful 1998 bid for the House of Representatives.

The hope for Morocco is that the country's 30 competitive parties will someday streamline into internally diverse parties like the United States has, he said. "The Republicans and Democrats probably have 30 different flavors," he said. Each election strengthens democracy in Morocco, he said. "With each passing parliamentary election, there's more hope," he said. The Moroccan government and officials also look to strengthen U.S. trade ties. A trade pact will eliminate Moroccan tariffs on exports from the U.S. starting this month.

Strong trade and commerce could benefit both the U.S. and Morocco, Christianson said. A strong economy is the right inoculation against radical Islam, he said. "Economic participation within the peasant community is the best way to ensure that radical Islam doesn't organize and nurture future terrorists," he said. While Christianson didn't see any outright anti-American sentiment, some in the country are wary of U.S. goals for Northern Africa and the Middle East, he said. "There's definitely a level of concern about whether the U.S. is going down the road of European-style colonialism," he said. Christianson said he learned as much from Morocco as party leaders learned from him. Maybe most importantly, Christianson saw Islam in the developing country as a moderate, nonviolent force. "Islam is a very compassionate religion," he said.
http://www.gazetteextra.com/morocco030405.asp
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Mohammedia Prepares for Flower Festival.
03/03/2005

Mohammedia, Morocco, is restoring its green areas in preparation for its first flower festival scheduled for August 2005. Among the main areas undergoing extensive renovation is the long-neglected public garden near the railway station. Landscaping will peak in August when the flower festival begins in collaboration with the "Morocco-Holland: 400 Years" Foundation.
albawaba.com
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Over MAD 3 b of fisheries production in Morocco in 2004.
CASABLANCA, Mar. 4

Morocco's production of inshore and artisanal Fisheries reached 845,757 tons, valued at MAD 3.015 b (MAD 1 = Euro 0.1) in 2004, i.e., a 2% increase in value and a 0.4% decrease in volume in comparison to 2003, said the Moroccan office of fisheries (ONP). 53% of this production was destined to consumption and canned fish, marine oil and fish meal comprised 42% while the rest went to freezing, said the same source. Morocco's average production of fish per annum during the last five years reached 870,000 tons, said ONP, while in the period 1994-1999 this production only achieved 626,000 tons.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_economy/over_mad_3_b_of_fish/view
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Marrakech could become Scottsdale's 5th sister city .
Lois McFarland Special for the Scottsdale Republic. Jan. 22, 2005 SCOTTSDALE -

Marrakech, Morocco, a mythical city favored by 20-something backpackers and celebrated in song by Crosby, Stills & Nash, is being considered as Scottsdale's fifth sister city. Scottsdale's other sister cities are: Alamos, Sonora, Mexico; Interlaken, Switzerland; Cairns, Australia; and Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Scottsdale's Sister City Association was approached more than a year ago by a local businessman who has interests in Marrakech After going through appropriate channels, Margo Wilson, vice president of the association, received notification last week that an official invitation is forthcoming.

"I am excited," Wilson said. "It takes a lot of arm-twisting to get everyone on board with this. I think it's so important to form this relationship. "Morocco is a Muslim country, but it's a very tolerant country. They have Jewish, Spanish and French populations, and are very tolerant of all ethnic groups and religions. I think it's a good place for us to begin to understand the Mid-Eastern and North African cultures," Wilson said.

Morocco is on the northwest tip of Africa, across the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain. A document, or more The twinning of the two cities "can be as simple as exchanging a document between the two mayors or an exchange of visits between the cities," Wilson added. Wilson and her husband, Thom, spent two years in the Peace Corps serving in Tangier, Morocco. He worked with a group of architects, while she taught at the American School of Tangier. "Marrakech is the most spectacular place to visit in Morocco," she said. "We visited there often."

The initial contact with Marrakech came from Christian Riva Dalla, a Scottsdale businessman who is building a hotel in Marrakech. "He contacted our president, Roger Nelson, and told him of the city government's desire to form a relationship," Wilson said. "We will be their only United States sister city." Nelson, who has taken the helm of the Scottsdale Sister Cities Association for a third term, was re-elected Jan. 11 at the organization's annual meeting. Nelson said he looks forward to the Marrakech merger. Exchanges with Alamos and Interlaken are on his group's 2005 agenda, as is a youth exchange of 14 students from Interlaken in March. The organization also will take part in the Young Artists project, with an exhibit taking place in late March at Scottsdale's Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

Comparisons, contrasts
What do the two cities have in common? "We both have a strong interest in tourism, interior design, in desert climate and in water use issues," she said. "We always hope to have more than a superficial relationship. It might just be cultural exchanges." Marrakech, with a population of about 1 million, is in the middle of the desert with the Atlas Mountains visible from the city. The weather is hot in the summer and "pleasant" the rest of the year. Transportation is by bus, taxi and automobile on a "very good highway system," Wilson said. The main languages are Arabic, Berber and French. English is spoken in all tourist areas. Morocco is an independent country with a king as head of state since 1956. King Mohamed VI succeeded his father in 1999. The Scottsdale Sister Cities Association board meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at the Hotel Waterfront Ivy, 7445 E. Chaparral Road. For further information, call (480) 945-0384.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/scottsdale/articles/0122sr-marrakech22Z8.html
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Morocco hosts philosophy Colloquium to promote religious tolerance.
Fez, Mar.03

The city of Fez (210 km east of Rabat) will host on March 10-12 an international colloquium on philosophy to promote religious tolerance and philosophical dialogue. The colloquium, organized by the Ministry of Culture, will pay tribute to renowned philosophers, notably Averroès, Miguel Cervantes, Emmanuel Kant and Jacques Derrida. Moroccan and foreign philosophers and intellectuals will take part in the meeting that discusses themes including: "for a philosophy of lights or modernity," "philosophy and democracy" and "dialogue between philosophers, or cultural and religious tolerance."The encounter, initiated by Fez city council, the Spanish and German cultural institutes, is part of the annual meetings of "Printemps de la philosophie" (philosophy spring).
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/culture/morocco_hosts_philos/view
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Rabat, Morocco's capital, is a very quiet, clean city, of grand old buildings. But it is surrounded by slums.

From its position in North Africa - 15 kilometres across the sea from Spain - Morocco is on a major African migration route to Europe. Twenty-three-year-old Tarik Azgui's work involves organising the transport of textiles from Morocco to a Spanish fashion house in Spain. This puts him close to the human desperation which leads young Moroccans to risk illegal immigration - many of them dying in the attempt each year. Tarik says that he has to check and double check the truck loads time and time again for any stowaways. "I've seen so many young children, about 15 or 16 years old, grab to the track to Tangier," he stated.

With Morocco's tantalising proximity to Europe, many young Moroccans leave the country to find work overseas Returning But some, like Lamia Hejaj, are returning, in the hope of reversing the flow. In the past year Lamia has returned to Rabat after years of studying andworking abroad - in France, Spain and the USA. She is part of Morocco's French-educated elite. Not a fan of Moroccan TV, she watches French programmes on one of the hundreds of channels available via satellite. In many ways she is adjusting to life back in the family home. But it does have its advantages. "I don't have to take care of anything actually," she said. "I just come eat, sleep, go out. I'm just so privileged it's really not a problem." Choosing to come back to Morocco, Lamia feels as though she is going against the tide. "I was scared of coming back. I feel that when you are here you have to prove yourself even more than when you are abroad. "I have to do something that will be meaningful, not only for me, that will change something and hopefully improve it." Without the safety valves of emigration to Europe - and more recently, to the USA and Canada - coupled with families' willingness to support the young who are out of work, Morocco would look far less stable. Meanwhile, the drift to the cities from the backward countryside is unlikely to slow.

Religion
Tourism was just recovering from its slump since the events of 11 September 2001 when it was hit by terrorist attacks in Casablanca in 2003. I noticed that numbers of young women wearing the Islamic headscarf, and young men with long beards dressed in loose clothes, have increased since the last time I visited Rabat five years ago. But generally in Morocco, there is an easy-going religious atmosphere - and this is why the Islamist suicide bombings of 2003 came as such a shock to the majority of the population. Tarik prays five times a day, seeing it as a way for him to "recharge my batteries for the rest of the day". "There is work, and problems - you go to the mosque and you feel like you've taken a spiritual shower," he explains. He disagrees with external calls for modernising Islam. "I think it's a wrong point of view," he says. "If we are not developed it is because of ourselves. "Our religion tells us we should work hard, be the best we can. We should help the others. It feels like other people, who don't really understand Islam, are telling us to change our religion. "I just want to tell them that the violence is only the behaviour of some Muslims, not the religion." Tarik's Islam is like that practiced by many of Morocco's young - devout, tolerant and at the heart of lives that are more and more modern. He shares music files on his computer with friends, and uses it to watch episodes of the American series, Friends. He is a devout but tolerant and open-minded Muslim, who sees no contradiction between Islam and modernity.

Human rights
Morocco is a country attempting to modernise its human rights, especially for women, who have lagged far behind - while not alienating conservative Muslims. Hind Belouadi is a divorcee at 23, exploited and cruelly treated by her husband's parents. She hopes to benefit from the new family laws - introduced in Spring 2004 - which should grant her an accommodation allowance from her ex-husband. In particular, it is the plight of rural women that needs to be improved. News of these family laws doesn't seem to have reached the village of Oulad Sbeita, only 20 kilometres from Rabat. But the problem in Morocco is that with 85% illiteracy among its rural women, many of them - like Naima al-Jeyed, who doesn't even know her exact age - will never know what their rights are. Naima is very shy in front of a larger audience of relatives - including her husband, mother-in-law and cousins. She can't even sit next to me without her husband's nod of permission. Naima has had no education At least Naima and Hamid intend to send their daughter Omeima to school, so there is hope that by the time the next generation grows up the lives of rural women in Morocco will have improved. The final in a four-part series, "Young in the Arab World" - will be broadcast on the BBC World Service on 2 March.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4227157.stm
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Couscous.
Published: Feb 14, 2005 LANCASTER COUNTY, PA

In Mediterranean food history many women gathered together in their homes and formed couscous by hand. It was a long process in which wheat was ground into a flour called semolina. Then it was watered, baked, and gradually separated into small grains. Eventually the women learned how to dry the product, to preserve it. When ready to be used, it was then steamed and combined or used as the base for meat or vegetable stews. Morocco, Tunisia, and France are homelands for these grains that resemble rice and act much like rice or pasta in food preparation. In today's manufacturing process, U.S. Durum buys the semolina and completes a similar process at a rate of 4,500 pounds per hour. The particles are steamed so that it is pre-cooked before it is dried and packaged.

Today, Lancastrians like Craig Wise work on the US Durum team which prepares couscous for bulk shipments in a process that runs 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday, and weekends when necessary. Jeffrey A. Dewey, General Manager of US Durum Products, Ltd., oversees all aspects of the production of couscous at their facility at 1812 William Penn Way in Greenfield Industrial Park. US Durum welcomes plant visits.
http://www.lancasteronline.com/pages/news/local/4/11961
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Casablanca Int'l Marathon starts on March 13
CASABLANCA, Morocco, February 14

Casablanca will hold its 8th International Marathon on March 13 under the auspices of King Mohammed VI. 15,000 runners, including 20 of the world and Moroccan best will take part in this edition. According to the sports Association of road races and marathons, organiser of this event, many runners from various countries such as Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Italy, Russia, the USA, France and Ukraine will be present on the starting point of the marathon at Ain Diab Corniche. The marathon will cross the main avenues of Anfa prefecture through 42.195 km equipped with eight points for drinks and mopping tissues. A 16 km race is on the menu of this event that will drop the curtains with a medal awarding ceremony. Some 14,000 competitors, numbering 13 top runners participated in The 7th edition of the Casablanca Marathon. - arabicnews
http://www.africast.com/article.php?newsID=54023
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Morocco Publishers To Fight 'Newspaper Renting'.
Date: Monday, February 28

Morocco's publishing industry has decided to take a stand to confront the economic crisis that the industry faces in the name of "renting" newspapers instead of buying them. In one such effort The National Federation of Newspaper Publishers is planning to launch an awareness rising programme to encourage readers to buy newspapers instead of "renting" them, said the President of the (FNEJ) Abdelmounim Dilami. Dilami also said that they are working at improving the distribution of national newspapers in remote areas and that the independent press is starting to conquest the media environment in search of profit.
http://publishing-industry.net/modules.php?name=AvantGo&file=print&sid=146
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