Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
May 27 , 2006

Morocco, Spain sign Handicraft partnership agreement for northern region.

Morocco and Spain signed on Monday a partnership agreement for the promotion of handicraft industry in the Tanger-Tetouan and Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate regions.The agreement was signed by the Ministry of Tourism, Handicraft and Social Economy on the one hand, and the Moroccan agency for the economic and social promotion of the northern provinces and prefectures (APDN) and the Spanish agency for international cooperation, on the other.

It aims at the realisation of a regional development plan of this sector in the northern region, mainly through sector analysis, institutional support, training and perfection, research and commercial promotion. Covering a period of four years, the agreement earmarks a budget of MAD 40 million, 35 million of which will be paid by the Spanish side. The rest will be paid by APDN (MAD 3 million) and the Ministry of Tourism (MAD 2 million)

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Minister of Tourism, Handcraft and Social Economy, Adil Douiri, underlined that the accord will raise craftsmen's income and contribute to an improvement in the quality of handicraft products to satisfy the taste of Moroccan and foreign customers alike.

For his part, the Spanish ambassador to Morocco, Planas Puchades, stressed that this convention is an effective contribution to the projects belonging the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), underlining that it targets a vital socio-economic sector.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/Paper/article.asp?idr=5&id=14955
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Cancer: Registered cases reach 54,000 per year.
5/24/2006

The rate of prevalence of cancer in Morocco ranges between 100 and 180 per 100,000 inhabitants, whereas newly registered cases fluctuate between 30,000 and 54,000 per year, said the Minister of Health, Mohamed Sheikh Biadillah.
"Following Royal instructions, the government has decided, as part of its
2002-2007 programme, to create regional oncology centres, in order to bring health services closer to citizens and satisfy quality requirements,"
explained Biadillah in answer to an oral question in the House of Advisers.
For his part, Said Oulbacha, Secretary of State in charge of Vocational Training affirmed that a solid partnership had been established between the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity, the Lalla Salma Association against Cancer and regional councils.

He underlined that the government's strategy concerning the fight against cancer is based on the decentralisation of health services destined for people who already have cancer and support for awareness raising programmes.
Last week, the Lalla Salma Association against Cancer (LSAFC) launched its first awareness campaign. Part of the association's action plan for 2006, the campaign mainly aims at informing the population about cancer and correcting a set of misconceptions about the disease.

The campaign's goals are based on the findings of research the association conducted a few months ago. The report, which was released on March 6, showed that the majority of Moroccans believe that cancer is fatal. The fear generated by this belief makes cancer patients lose hope and abstain from treatment. Created in Nov. 2005, LSAFC aims at playing a role in supporting people who suffer from cancer and their families. The non-profit association is headed by HRH Princess Lalla Salma, spouse of HM King Mohammed VI.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/Paper/article.asp?idr=2&id=14990 
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Take a souk-er trip in Morocco.
Thursday, 25 May 2006

Taking a tour of Morocco's souks and other traditional markets is one of the best ways of immersing yourself in this intoxicating country.

Souks play an enormous role in Moroccan life, providing the workings of much of this African country's economy, but also making up the fabric of much community life. Each town has its own special souks, while bigger cities like Marrakech and Fez have scores scattered about, each linking together in an intimately sprawling network, selling all manner of crafts and produce one can imagine.

In places like Marrakech, entire squares are dedicated to just one type of commodity, meaning holidaymakers can lose themselves in a mass of exotic and fragrant spices, or among lovingly-carved pottery. As with buying anything, it is worth shopping around when picking up items such as handicrafts.
Shoppers in Morocco are advised to visit craft museums, where they can get a good idea if what they are buying is close to the real thing.

Rugs are also high on the agenda for canny market traders in Morocco, with places like Rabat boasting some of the finest rugs in the world. However, expect to pay top dollar for the top rug, so it is worth keeping an eye out for mid-range weavings and, of course, be prepared to barter.

Food shopping in Morocco's souks can be quite an experience, as there are many foods to choose from that you will not find in Britain. Taste first and see if you like it, and even if you do not, if it looks funny, it will make a good souvenir for a friend back home. The souks of Marrakech are perhaps the best-known, for their colourfulness and vibrancy, but wherever you go in Morocco, there will be a souk to suit your needs.
http://www.travelbite.co.uk/news/africa/morocco/take-souk-er-trip-in-morocco-$441114.htm 
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Biodiversity safeguarding and development conference to start next Thursday.

A conference on the "safeguarding and development of the biodiversity and forest ecosystems through the Fiftieth Anniversary Report ((RDH-50)" will be held on Thursday, June 1 in Rabat, on the occasion of the publication of this report, MAP news agency reported.
Introduced by the Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinarian Institute in collaboration with the High Commission to Water, Forests and the Fight against Desertification, the meeting will examine the challenges facing the safeguarding and development of the biodiversity and forest ecosystems in Morocco, said a communiqué of the Institute. The meeting will focus on three main themes: the continental biodiversity, forest ecosystems, coastal and navy biodiversity.

The communiqué added that the Fiftieth Anniversary of Moroccan independance is a unique occasion to make a retrospective and perspective exercise.
http://www.moroccotimes.com/News/article.asp?id=15036 
---------------------------------------------------------------------

King launches construction of argan-oil extraction unit in Agadir.
May 26, 2006, By ANDnetwork .com

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has laid on Thursday in Agadir (600km south of Rabat the foundation stone of the construction of an argan-oil extraction unit. The US $300,000 project is meant to improve the revenues of women and families living in underprivileged villages. Built on 380 m², the unit will contribute in protecting the argan tree through promoting its products, providing literacy and training courses to women and developing wealth-generating activities in the rural world. The project is part of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) for the south-western region of Souss-Massa-Daraa region, which is allotted USD 115Mn to fight poverty and social exclusion in the region.

In 2006, INDH programs in the region were allotted USD 28Mn to improve human development indicators through poverty reduction, social integration, improving citizens' life conditions and reinforcing good governance.
According to Regional Director of the Water and Forests Department, Abdelkrim Azenfar, some 1400 hectares of argan tree land are to be replanted with the endemic tree in Souss-Massa-Draa in 2006.

The tree almond-like nuts are processed into argan oil. The oil is edible, mingled to ground almonds and honey we obtain a peanut butter like paste. The tree nuts and leaves are feed for goats, mainly. The tree also provides firewood for local populations. The Moroccans have been using for centuries the Argan oil as food as well as a beauty product, notably as an ointment for skin and hair. The oil is relatively rich in vitamin E and is antioxidant that can limit the appearance of wrinkles.

The Soussis and the Moroccans at large use it to remedy arthritis and for some decades it has been used to lower cholesterol rate and hence prevent heart diseases. The Argan tree (argania spinosa) grows in a harsh environment, surviving heat, drought and poor soil. It is little known outside Morocco, and many Moroccans themselves have never heard of it because it grows only in the south-west of the country - roughly between Essaouira and Agadir, in an area covering 700,000-800,000 hectares.

But within the area where the Argan grows there are about 21 million trees, which play a vital role in the food chain and the environment, though their numbers are declining. The tree, which is thorny and can reach heights of 8-10 metres, probably originated in Argana, a village north-east of Agadir (off Route 40). It lives longer than the olive and requires no cultivation. The production of Argan oil, which is still mostly done by traditional methods, is a lengthy process. Each nut has to be cracked open to remove the kernel, and it is said that producing one litre of oil takes 20 hours' work.
http://www.andnetwork.com/index?service=direct/0/Home/recent.titleStory&sp=l36168    
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Women not entitled to lead prayers, religious ruling.
Rabat, May 26

Women are not entitled to lead prayers and it never happened, throughout the history of Morocco, that a woman leads the prayer.
The Fatwa (religious ruling) was issued by the Moroccan Higher Council of Ulema (Muslim clerics) following a request of the Ministry of Religious Affairs inquiring on the position of the Islamic law about the issue. The Council affirmed that Islamic jurisprudence is unanimous to ban the woman from leading prayers, bearing in mind that women should pray in low voice, which make it impossible for them to direct prayers, as some prayers require speaking loudly.
Early May, a cohort of fifty women preachers graduated after a twelve-month training that also benefited some 150 male preachers. These women are solely tasked with reinforcing religious orientation in the mosques, Islamic Affairs Minister, Ahmed Toufiq had then affirmed. The move is part of a large-scale reform of the religious field in the kingdom.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box1/women_not_entitled_t/view 
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Overall growth rate to stand at 7.1% in 2006.
Casablanca, May 25

The Moroccan economy is to achieve a 7.1% growth rate in 2006, according to the "Centre Marocain de Conjoncture" (CMC) which noted that goods prices are to increase due to an upturn in demand and oil prices pushing up inflation to 3.2%. A CMC info-bulletin said all economic activity is on the rise with agriculture added value progressing 26.7%.

The private sector economic observatory said manufacturing industries are to progress at a pace slightly higher than that recorded last year, with a growth rate in terms of volume standing at 3.4%. Real estate construction and public works activity is to keep on the pace of the past years with the implementation of social housing and State initiated basic infrastructure projects.

The added value of the activity could rise 7% by the end of 2006, the bulletin said, adding the transport, telecom and other services sectors are to know the same trend. Trade is to be boosted by domestic output and imports and is to record a 4.5% growth rate, while investment is to increase 11.2% spurred by the inflow of foreign capital and the upturn in private investment and public equipment spending.

Imports are to increase 11.2% and exports to register an upturn of 10.9%.Household spending is to record a 9.8% increase, according to the bulletin.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/overall_growth_rate/view 
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Morocco: Biometrical ID card to be issued as of January 2007.
May 26, 2006.

The first biometrical ID card will be issued starting January 2007 at a rate of five millions a year. The announcement was made Wednesday by Interior Minister, Chakib Benmoussa at a House of Representatives question time. The official said the technical aspects relating to this ID card were considered, adding "our present goal is (...) to generalize the biometrical ID card on a period of 4 years. The new card is expected to simplify the administrative procedures for the citizen and spare them a lot of red tape, he said. The minister also indicated that special services relating to the biometrical card were created in police stations, adding that similar services were set up in the kingdom's consulates around the world.
http://www.andnetwork.com/index?service=direct/0/Home/recent.titleStory&sp=l36161 
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Morocco : NGO wants action on human rights.
May 26, '06,

A Morrocan non-governmental organisation has urged the government to take appropriate measures in the human rights field. The statement follows the recent report published in Geneva by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The Human Rights NGO "Organisation Marocaine des Droits de l'Homme" has called the Moroccan government to take "appropriate measures" in the human rights field.
In reaction to the recent report published in Geneva by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the NGO urged the kingdom to adopt the UN recommendations and take "appropriate measures" in this field.
The report of the UN Committee, which concluded on Friday its three-week spring session by adopting its concluding observations on the reports of Monaco, Liechtenstein, Canada, Mexico, and Morocco, greeted the kingdom's reforms in various fields while urging the North African country to do More. For the NGO, Morocco's responsibility is all the more important that the kingdom was elected, early this month, member of the UN Human Rights Council.

The OMDH noted "with satisfaction" that its recommendations and remarks, related to the Moroccan report presented to the UN committee in Geneva, were taken into account, underlining that it "fully subscribes to all the recommendations, which are integral part of its objectives."The OMDH is the second human rights NGO to react to the UN committee's conclusions, after The AMDH, French acronym for "Association Marocaine des Droits de l'Homme" which voiced "satisfaction" at the report.

In its concluding observations on Morocco, the committee recognized the north African country's efforts with regards to the protection of human rights and welcomed the legislative reforms aiming at improving the situation of women, in particular in certain elements of the new Family Code of 2004. However, the committee took note with regret that, "despite the restrictions which the new Family Code put on polygamy, this practice continued in Morocco."
http://www.andnetwork.com/index?service=direct/0/Home/recent.titleStory&sp=l36225 
---------------------------------------------------------------------

500k-year human fossil remains found in Casablanca.
Rabat, May 25

A new human fossil remain of an upper premolar tooth of a Homo erectus has been discovered recently in the Thomas 1 quarry site in Casablanca. "The human fossil is associated to an Acheulian tool and to numerous remains dating back to at least 500,000 years," said a communiqué of the Culture Minister, recalling that this site had previously yielded notably a Homos erectus lower jaw in 1969, and an upper premolar tooth in 1994. The discovery was made by a Moroccan-French team composed of members of the Moroccan institute of science and archaeology (INSAP) and France's Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS).
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box4/500k-year_human_foss/view 
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Olive output could stand at 700,000 tons in Morocco in 2005-2006.
Marrakech, May 23

Olive output could stand at 700,000 tons in Morocco in the 2005-2006 agricultural season, that is a 40% rise compared to the previous season, according to figures released by the Marrakech-based regional "Office Régional de Mise en Valeur Agricole d'Al-Haouz" (ORMVAH). The forecast figures are contained in a document sent to MAP on the eve of the opening of the 4th International Olive Tree Fair due in Marrakech ( May 25 through 28) and sponsored by ORMVAH and the International Olive Oil Council (IOOC). According to the document, olive tree land is expected to grow from 590,000 to 600,000 hectares, and olive land potential growing is estimated at 500.000 additional hectares by 2010 and some 2.5 million trees are expected to be planted by then.

Moroccan olive oil exports grew from 3,500 tons in 2003 to 25,000 tons in 2004 and to 30,000 tons in 2005 spurred by growing international demand that have pushed up local olive oil prices from MAD 30 (about USD 3) per litre to more than MAD 46. The fair features an exhibition of oil products, roundtables on oil sector in Morocco, funding olive oil sector growing, improving olive tree species in Morocco...

The IOOC was created as a consequence of the entry into force of the 1956 International Olive Oil Agreement to organise the international olive oil market and to set up and develop a united framework for members to defend and safeguard the olive tree and olive oil. The IOOC web site says that for most of the parties to the Agreement, olive farming must necessarily be taken into account in any detailed consideration of agriculture, employment, rural depopulation, trade in agro-business, soil and environmental conservation and many other subjects of fundamental socio-economic importance.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/olive_output_could_s/view 
--------------------------------------------------------------------

'Imouran' raises curtains of national Amazigh film festival.
Ouarzazate, May 26

"Imouran", a movie of Abdellah Dari raised on Thursday in Ourzazate (528km south-east from Rabat) the curtains of the second national Amazigh film festival, slated for May 25-28. Initiated by the Moroccan Association for Cultural Exchange and Research (AMREC), the festival will screen also Hamou Ounamir and Ran Koullu d'ounnit of Fatima Boubekdi, Hamadi Yezwa of Mustapha Chaâbi, Asennan n'tayri of Ahmed Baddouj and Argaz Yegan Argaz of Ahmed Baddouj. The organizers aim to preserve the Amazigh cultural identity, promote Amazigh movie production and settle the problems it faces. Organized in cooperation with the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM), the festival was marked by screening "Tilila" in various villages of Ouarzazate over three days. "Imouran," named for a region of Agadir, is a circular love story, in Tamazight based on Tashelhit, the variety spoken in this High Atlas region.

The hero, as a child, finds a baby girl abandoned next to a rock near the beach. He names her Tafukt (sun), and as they grow up, he falls in love with her. However, he is poor and jobless, so he leaves to make his living as a fisherman. While he is away, Tafukt becomes engaged with a wealthy man of the village. Our hero returns to find out that his lady-love was promised to another man. Hurt and angry, he reminds her of their love. She responds, "Let's forget the past."

In time, she becomes pregnant, and hopes for a boy because she sees life much harder for women. But destiny gives her a girl. Meanwhile, her husband suffers financial drawbacks and is left penniless, while her former love becomes a very wealthy man. She decides to win him back, and pleads, "Let's forget the past," to which he responds, "I have." Tafukt plunges into the sea to escape her mistakes forever, leaving her baby daughter next to a rock on the beach.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box5/imouran__raises_cur/view 
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Rhythms, dances kick off Desert Music festival.
Errachidia, May 26

Desert rhythms and dances shared on Thursday in Errachidia (500km south-east from Rabat) the stage of an open-air concert in a foretaste of the third Desert Music Festival slated for May 26-29. The Ksar El Fida oasis was the set of a concert that portrayed the magic and the artistic depth of the desert as Morocco's bands of Khamlia of Merzouga and Lemchahab interacted with Saudi Arabia's Arda de Najd to sing homage to desert.

Moroccan desert, formerly merchants caravans venue, will vibrate on desert rhythms and dances as Morocco's musical bands of Lhamri, Dabdo, El Meskaoui and Lamchaheb will share the stage with Ardat de Najd from Saudi Arabia, Nijoum Al Balimdou (Sudan), Founoun Al Badia (Egypt), As Gingas (Angola), Adama Yalomba (Mali), Nuru Kané (Senegal) and Alla Foundou (Algeria) to turn Sahara silence into a symphony.

Contrarily to the previous editions depending on open-air concerts in the oases of Merzouga, Ksar El Fida, Rissani and Erfoud, the organizers are scheduling concerts in the cities of Errachidia, Rissani and Meknès to allow a larger public sample the sensations of an exceptional music. Music connoisseurs can also enjoy the tourism potentials of this region that enjoys wonderful spots and a rich culture.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/culture/rhythms_dances_kick/view 
###########################################

These postings are provided without permission of the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the identified copyright owner.  The poster does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the message, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.