Moroccan economy strengthened by privatisation. 
Sarah Touahri -- 18/03/07

Morocco has committed itself to a program of privatisation since 1993, releasing control of dozens of enterprises to the private sector. Since the first privatisation initiative launched in Morocco in 1993, 45 companies and 26 hotels have been transferred to the private sector, through more than 100 privatisation deals. This process has generated government revenues of nearly $9.6 billion.

Abdelaziz Talbi, Moroccan Director of Privatisation and Public Enterprises, told Magharebia that these results are the product of meticulous planning and supervision, including transparent auditing and assessment of handover procedures. Talbi believes that in addition to raising money, the privatisation deals have facilitated the deregulation of certain sectors, such as telecommunications and the tobacco industry, and have also encouraged an influx of large-scale private investment with positive consequences for employment and productivity.

This year, the Ministry of Finance and Privatisation anticipates new deals, including the sale of port maintenance company Drapor, national shipping company Comanav and the Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP). An additional division of Maroc Telecom will also be sold off, though the government will remain heavily involved in other areas of the company. A project is also under way to outsource management of 13 general hospitals run by the National Social Security Fund (CNSS). According to the government's annual budget, revenues are expected to total $530m. Talbi said that the state's current portfolio of 424 companies offers great potential for future privatisation deals and moves to bring in new shareholders, especially since large state enterprises such as Royal Air Maroc, finance conglomerate CDG and BCP are in the process of setting up new companies.

Privatisation was a strategic choice made in the 1980s due to unchecked growth in the public sector following Morocco's independence. The number of large enterprises swelled to 700 -- a huge number considering the fact that in a developed country it is the private sector which is responsible for commerce. Privatisation, according to Talbi, has led to increased competition between market players. The biggest impact of privatisation, however, has been on the structure of the economy. According to a report by the finance ministry, government revenues have increased since privatisation. Taxes paid by private companies currently account for nearly 25% of all taxation revenue.

According to the finance ministry, the objectives laid out in the privatisation law initially included the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs, decentralisation, and the reduction of public expenditure. Globalisation and increased competition, however, pushed privatised companies to expand beyond the domestic front and look for international partners. For instance, Maroc Telecom would not likely have achieved external growth in Africa without foreign assistance.

The privatisation process has not been without its failures. Some hotels and two companies (ICOZ and SIMEF) ran into difficulties, and the state had to intervene. According to officials, this was mainly due to the quality of the buyers. "When you privatise a company, you need to put it in the hands of professionals. Privatisation isn't just about handing over a company for maximum profit. First and foremost, it's about ensuring the survival and future development of the company. To make sure this development happens, you have to choose the right partner."
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/03/18/feature-01
--------------------------------------------------------

Morocco to improve education for disabled children.
Sarah Touahri -- 15/03/07

In Morocco, most children with disabilities do not have access to basic education programmes. To combat the problem, the government has crafted a five-year plan to provide primary education to this vulnerable sector of Moroccan society. A recent survey of people with disabilities in Morocco has prompted the government to take action against problems in public education. Jamal Khellaf, director of School Affairs, Co-ordination and Interdisciplinary Studies at the Ministry of Education, told Magharebia that increasing demand is putting unnecessary strain on educational services for disabled children. Only 74,730 disabled children -- 30% of the estimated total -- between the ages of 4 and 15 are enrolled in schools.

The Ministry of Education currently runs 185 classes for disabled children in public schools at 48 sites, serving a total of 2,093 pupils. According to the Secretariat of State for the Disabled, there is a shortage of seats in these classes and the programmes that do exist are concentrated in major cities. As a result, the government has drafted an action plan for 2007-2012 to improve education for disabled children in the first three grades. The new programme will tackle social stigma and exclusion faced by children with disabilities, and will give them greater contact with society. Khellaf said the priority areas are school design, teacher numbers, communication and assessment methods, and family support. He explained that the skills of disabled children must be enhanced, to empower or rehabilitate them, and to aid them in becoming active citizens in the future.

To assess the current school situation, the Ministry of Education plans to make a list of existing classes and identify requirements for facilities and access, and list existing equipment, teaching materials and human resources. It will then train teachers in alternative approaches to education. Khellaf also said that the state is planning to create 247 classes for disabled children within ordinary schools, including 176 for mentally handicapped children and 71 for hearing-impaired children. Each of these classes will be aimed at a specific geographical area and socioeconomic and cultural group. It is expected that demand will be particularly great in areas where regional, social and economic inequalities are most distinct.

Prior to the launch of the classes, campaigns will be conducted to raise the awareness of all parties concerned. The action plan was drawn up on the basis of data collected through the national disability survey carried out by the Secretariat of State for the Family, Childhood and the Disabled. The study showed that the disability rate in Morocco is 5.1%, or 1,530,000 people, while in the under-15 age group it is 2.5%, or 230,000 children.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/03/15/feature-01
--------------------------------------------------------

Moody's report hails Morocco economic improvement.

In its annual report on Morocco, Moody's Investors Service says its Ba1 government bond rating reflects a 10-year trend of improving general government debt ratios and significant structural reforms. "Morocco's debt ratios are higher than the average for its rating category and constitute the main reason preventing it from obtaining an investment-grade rating," said Moody's Vice President Sara Bertin, author of the report. The government bond rating serves as a basis for Morocco's Baa2 foreign currency ceiling and Moody's assessment of a diminished likelihood of a payments moratorium in the event of a government default.

"While the volatility of GDP and the government's fiscal stance have in the past capped the sovereign ratings, positive changes have been taking place in both these spheres," said Bertin. "Improved resilience is mainly driven by the expansion of non-agricultural GDP growth, which has been rising as a result of structural and industry-specific reforms implemented by the government." She said the increased resilience of the Moroccan economy became obvious in 2005 when the country's real GDP grew at around 2.4% despite having been subject to numerous exogenous shocks, including high oil prices, the elimination of trade quotas under the WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), adverse weather conditions, and the effects of desert locust infestation.

"GDP growth in 2006, which was around 8.1%, is likely to remain strong in 2007," said Bertin. "Over the medium-to-long term, we expect positive trends to continue as the increased resilience of the Moroccan economy is linked to structural changes." While the government uses subsidies in areas including oil-derived products to support its social policy programme, she said the tax base has strengthened significantly on the back of economic development. The fiscal deficit should narrow to 3.3% of GDP in 2007.
http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Morocco/210973
--------------------------------------------------------

World Water Day: Right to water should be reality, (CRM).
Rabat, Mar. 22

The Moroccan Red Crescent Organization (CRM) has called upon all public authorities to make the right to water a reality, as it is part of human survival. On the occasion of the World Water Day, CRM stressed that the right to water is "inextricably linked with other human rights, including health, shelter and food," in a press released, issued on Wednesday, adding that many international laws guarantee access to drinking water for domestic and personal use.

Since independence, Morocco has adopted a wise water policy by building around a hundred dams, devising the million-hectare-irrigation plan reached in 1997, and the creation of the Higher Council of water and climate. However, as the world is facing a global water shortage, Morocco is not to be spared, as Minister of Territory Development, Water and Environment, Mohamed El Yazghi had already warned, calling for examining the appropriate means to face drought, overexploitation of ground water tables and the growing deficit in water resources.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Crescent (FICR) underlined, on World Water Day, that over 1 Bn of people suffer from lack of drinking water, while two billions are deprived from proper sanitary infrastructure, which, according to the same source, claims the lives of 4 million people every year, including 4,000 children under the age of 5. According to UN statistics, More than 2.7 billion people will face severe water shortages by the year 2025 if the world continues consuming water at the same rate, while another 2.5 billion people will live in areas where it will be difficult to find sufficient fresh water to meet their needs.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box5/world_water_day__rig6345/view
--------------------------------------------------------

STD's prevalence requires more vigilance and mobilization, Princess Lalla Amina.
Rabat, Mar. 19

Princess Lalla Amina, chairwoman of the Pan-African Organisation for the Fight of AIDS (OPALS), stressed, here Monday, that the epidemiological prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) requires more vigilance and mobilization to stop their spread. Speaking at the opening of the first national meeting on "STDs and NGOs' role," Princess Lalla Amina noted that "the close links between STDs and HIV, requires that all the parties concerned adhere to the national strategy aiming to secure early diagnosis of these diseases and a suitable treatment for the patients."
"Conscious of the seriousness of this plague, (...) OPALS has adopted a partnership approach to raise citizens' awareness," she recalled.

As for Moroccan Health Minister, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah, he revealed that AIDS prevalence in Morocco up to December is estimated at 2,169 cases, 68% of which are within people aged 15 to 39, adding that some 1,500 HIV-infected people receive tri-therapy treatment thanks to Morocco’s 2007-2011 national strategy to fight AIDS/STD. The USD 47Mn strategy aims at raising the awareness of over a million persons, mainly high-risk populations, creating 150,000 screening centers and providing medical assistance 4,000 people by 2011.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/std_s_prevalence_req/view
--------------------------------------------------------

Almost 20k Moroccans are HIV positive, expert.
Rabat, Mar. 23

The number of HIV positive in Morocco by the end of 2005 is estimated to Between 16,000 and 20,000 people, said, here Friday, Nouredine Chaouki, Epidemiology expert at the Health ministry. During the opening of a three-day seminar untitled "HIV/AIDS: it also concerns development," Chaouki said that AIDS is the number one killer of people aged between 15 and 59 worldwide. Quoting the Joint UN Program on HIV/ AIDS, he noted that the number of people living with HIV has doubled in 10 years to reach 39.5 Mn in 2006. AIDS is not just a "pathology," but a "primary hindrance in the face of development and progress," underlined Najat Sarhani, Chairwoman of the "Association marocaine de solidarité et de développement"(AMSED).

Tthe seminar aims to raise awareness of the parties involved in the fight against AIDS and to integrate people living with HIV/AIDS in socio-economic development programs, she said “We also endeavour to exchange experiences between different national and international actors in this regard.” She added. Since 1999, AMSED has launched a pilot project to support Moroccan development associations working on HIV/AIDS prevention benefiting around 78,750 persons and over 256 associations.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box5/almost_20k_moroccans/view
--------------------------------------------------------

Moroccan economy on the beam, paper.
Rabat, Mar. 22

The Moroccan economy is showing good indicators at the turn of 2007, by reaching an 8.1% growth rate, an inflation rate contained at 3.3%, and an unemployment rate under 10%, French-speaking Moroccan weekly "La Nouvelle Tribune" wrote on Thursday. The paper ascribes this performance to the structural reforms and the large-scale urban upgrading and tourism projects underway in Morocco, which have had positive impacts on all aspects of the Moroccan economy. According to the weekly, this dynamism results mainly in attracting foreign direct investments, in particular from the Gulf.

Speaking to the weekly, Moroccan Finance Minister, Fathallah Oualalou, stressed that "the significant rise of foreign direct investments which have reached, in the 2001-2006 period, around USD 2.3Bn compared to USD 800Mn in annual average in the period 1996-2000, proves the appreciable improvement in attracting investments over the past years." For his part, the governor of Morocco’s central bank stressed that the increase in investments hinges on an efficient monetary policy which guarantees price stability and helps avert any inflationary trend.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_economy/moroccan_economy_on/view
--------------------------------------------------------

Morocco introduces Islamic banking products.
Rabat, Mar. 20

Morocco's central bank (Bank Al Maghrib) on Tuesday unveiled a set of Sharia-(Islamic law) compliant banking products in order to bring banking services to more populations. Lenders will offer leasing (Ijara) products, whereby they rent an asset to a customer who may later be able to buy it at a fixed date. Moucharaka products will involve lenders taking shares as partners in a company's equity while Mourabaha will allow a lender to buy an asset and re-sell it to a client at a margin decided in advance. Lending companies will market these products via their subsidies. These services are regulated by "the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions", a Bahrain-based organization that includes 130 members from 29 countries. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/morocco_introduces_i/view
--------------------------------------------------------

Morocco earmarked USD 4.9Bn to education in 2003-2004.
Rabat, Mar. 23

Morocco's spending on education reached USD 4.9Bn (MAD 41.6Bn) for the 2003-2004 school year, that is USD140 per capita (MAD 1,392) revealed, here Friday the Strategy and Statistics department "Direction de la stratégie, de la statistique et de la planification." Morocco's overall spending on education represents 9.3 % of GDP, underlined the same source in a report on "The national education funding in 2003-2004,"adding that the average cost per student in public and private schools reached USD700 (MAD 6,379).

According to the report, primary schooling had the lion share (50%) of the allocated budget, amounting to USD 2.4Bn (MAD 20.8Bn), followed by middle schooling with USD 1Bn (MAD 8.8Bn), secondary schooling with USD 870Mn (MAD 7.3 Bn). Pre-schooling cost around USD 238,4 (MAD 2 Bn), while post secondary schooling received USD 1.71Mn (MAD 16.4 Mn),.i.e 0.1% of the whole educational budget. Education in Morocco is primarily state-funded by 59.1% of all the resources covering public expenses.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_social/morocco_earmarked_us/view
--------------------------------------------------------

Tagine: New Moroccan Tagines Unveiled by the Moroccan Bazaar on its Online Home Furnishings and Decor Site.    The new Moroccan Tagine unveiled by The Moroccan Bazaar is the first lead free Tagine made in Morocco. The Tagine combines traditional and modern pottery techniques to produce the first 100% lead free dishes.

Dallas, TX, March 15, 2007 --(PR.COM)-- The popularity of Moroccan cuisine in general has sparked increasing demand for cooking Tagines that, until now, had no verifiable assurances of their lead free content. By working with the largest local producer of ceramics and mosaic table tops, The Moroccan Bazaar is able to provide a lead free and quality tagine that was once only available in rural markets and small artisans' shops.

These types of ceramics, "If they are not heated adequately during manufacture, this may result in the release of lead from the product into the food" as explained by Canadian Health authorities. The Moroccan Bazaar with its local Moroccan manufacturer have developed processes and introduced new equipment to illiminate the risk of lead contamination.

"We were excited to find a source for genuine Moroccan clay Tagines that are food safe," said Natalia, an online shopper at The Moroccan Bazaar. Cooking connoisseurs recommend authentic clay Tagines as their slow simmering on clay enhances the flavored unmatched by cast iron replicas that are available in the marketplace. The new Tagines will also be available for wholesale customers along with the rest of the home decor collection that includes a wide variety of Moroccan furniture and chandeliers. For additional information visit their furniture retail site. About The Moroccan Bazaar: Founded in Tangier, Morocco in 1990, The Moroccan Bazaar moved it operations to Dallas, Texas in 2000 to introduce its product line to the US Market and to support the Moroccan handmade industry, its artisans and their uncertain future due to the proliferation of cheap Chinese imitations.
http://www.pr.com/press-release/32816
--------------------------------------------------------

King warns against degradation of Marrakech palm groves.
Marrakech (Center), Mar. 20

King Mohammed VI drew attention on Monday on the dangers faced by Marrakech palm groves, due to human and natural factors and the need to preserve them as they are part of the Moroccan cultural heritage. In a speech read by his sister, Princess Lala Hasna, chairwoman of Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, on the occasion of the launch of the program to safeguard the palm groves of Marrakech, the monarch called for an-all out mobilization to protect these palm groves. "This legendary and emblematic site gives the city of Marrakech its identity and specific mark is nowadays exposed to incessant degradation, due to the combined factors of drought, human activity pressures, the lack of maintenance and the aging of palm trees, and the absence of replanting," said the king. He called upon all the agencies concerned to work together in order to protect the city's palm groves.

Protection of such an environment is only made possible through joint efforts of palm trees replanting, improving techniques of management and maintenance, and awareness raising of the environment and sustainable development, in addition to the creation of an eco-museum, which, according to the monarch, will give the saving action an international scope as part of an international exchange network. The king also stressed the importance of continuous monitoring and evaluation of the project in order to better assess results and shift priorities if necessary, highlighting the critical role played by the civil society and citizens, along with governmental organizations, in carrying out the palm groves safeguard project.

With a sum estimated at MAD 96 Mn (USD 11,5), the palm groves protection project, launched by the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Environment, extends over six years and provides for, Inter Alia, building a natural ecosystem covering an area of 12000 hectares, planting 430000 palm trees in a 6-year long period, and building a waste water purification station. The project also aims at strengthening the judicial arsenal relating to the protection of the palm groves. In the same vein, Princess Lala Hasna presided over the signing ceremony of ten conventions with various public and private, national and international operators. These conventions cover areas of financing, research, technical support and awareness raising campaigns about the environment.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_culture/king_warns_against_d8428/view
--------------------------------------------------------

Teachers adapt to realities of the rural environment.
By Sarah Touahri —23/03/07

Education is no less important in rural communities in Morocco than in cities. For young teachers, however, such assignments pose unique challenges. Nearly half of all Morocco’s teachers work in these areas, under a government campaign to provide education to the nation’s most disadvantaged citizens. Rural education in Morocco is not as developed as its urban counterpart. Difficulties range from a lack of schools and roads to a high drop-out rate due to the demands of agricultural life. Several grades often share one classroom and there is an almost total lack of pre-school education in rural areas.

Over the past few years, however, the government has endeavoured to extend education programmes to the remotest corners of the country. Many newly trained teachers are sent to rural areas to start their teaching careers. According to the national education ministry, there are some 93,788 teachers working in rural areas, out of a total of 205,787.

Magharebia visited a rural school in Ouled Amrane, 100 km from the coastal city of El Jadida. Set upon a stretch of flat prairie land, the building consists of three classrooms surrounded by a concrete wall. At 8:00am, teacher Karim Kataoui ushers around forty pupils into the class. Kataoui, 32 years old, has been teaching in a rural setting for 11 years. At the age of 21, he was teaching on his own in an isolated classroom in the middle of a forest of argan trees in a rugged mountain area of Essaouira.

Kataoui is thankful for the transfer that brought him here five years later, where he at least has some neighbours to talk to. "I’ve always lived in the city. Teaching is a choice; I don’t regret my decision, even though some teachers might feel trapped. It is necessary for all Moroccans, wherever they may be, to have access to education. If young people don’t take it on voluntarily, rural people will be marginalised," he declared.

The students in his class seem to be well-disciplined. They carefully open their satchels and take out their schoolbooks. Wearing outdated clothes and plastic sandals, most of them have a thousand and one plans for the future. Barely ten years of age, Kenza says she hopes to become a doctor so that she can help people living in her douar (village). For the time being, they have to travel dozens of kilometres to the nearest clinic. "I know I can do it, because I’m prepared to work. The teacher told me so," she declared, her eyes sparkling with defiance. Little Ali is no less ambitious. He has not chosen a job yet, but he wants to serve the douar by continuing his studies.

Kataoui is proud of his pupils, and points out that their burning ambition is to be able to continue with their studies, despite the obstacles. Most of the students help their parents at home. Girls are responsible for collecting wood and fetching water while boys take care of the livestock and help the men in the fields. Some of them are absent on "weekly market" days, so they can look after the sale of fruit and vegetables. The majority of the children travel many kilometres on foot to get to school. The young teacher knows each one of them. To make things easier for them, all homework is done in class. "These little ones do not have a moment to themselves. Over the years, I've learned that it's impossible for them to study at home. They wouldn't have time to go over their work," he said.

Kataoui recognises that the task facing teachers in a rural setting is by no means an easy one. When he was in Essaouira, for example, his pupils did not know a single word of Arabic. Amazigh was their only language. Communicating with them was very difficult. As a new graduate of a teacher training programme, he faced real challenges getting the pupils to learn how to read and write. "I drew sketches, I used a lot of mime and gestures...I managed to pull it off, even though I had never expected to be in a situation like that," the young teacher told Magharebia. For many years, he lived in the classroom where he taught, since there was no other option. All the douars were far from the classroom, and no-one had even a bedroom to let.

Like Kataoui, Ahlam Kitssi is another teacher in the countryside. She says that teachers are obliged to adapt the syllabus to the realities of country life. She thinks that the Ministry of Education should think about special teaching programmes for rural areas. "For example, the reading course mentions towns, beaches, zoos and so on, but many of the children fail to see it as relevant. They would rather hear about fields and harvests, et cetera. The teacher tries to find an easier way to explain the course to them."

Kitssi, who lives a few kilometres from the school, hopes that one day she will be transferred to a town so that she can continue to answer her calling in another way. "Certainly, teaching must be made more generally available. But the infrastructure in the countryside must also be developed." The young woman, who grew up in a town, has not managed to adapt to the realities of her job, even though she already has nine years of service behind her. Nevertheless, she buckles down to the task: her pupils are among the best in the region. Sarhane Jamal, another young teacher, pointed out the problem of mixed classes, where several levels are taught at once. Unfortunately, addressing that issue "calls for much greater teacher availability. This problem comes down to the lack of infrastructure and human resources," he said.

An increasing number of young people are finding themselves in rural areas because the Ministry of Education is building more schools there now than in the past. This year, the state has set up 439 middle schools and 120 high schools in rural areas. In primary education, rural areas now account for nearly 200,000 of the 3.9 million pupils. Middle schools have some 300,000 pupils studying in rural areas. Some 53,000 of the country's more than 650,000 high schools are located in rural areas.

Kataoui and other teachers like him hope the development of infrastructure in the countryside will make daily life less difficult. To begin with, the construction of accommodation for teachers and boarding facilities for pupils would make life easier for the educators, said Ahlam. Meanwhile, Sarhane suggested assigning teaching staff who come from the same region as the pupils, to make communication easier.

Jamal Khellaf, Director of Evaluation, School Life Organisation and Inter-Academy Training, pointed out that the Ministry is determined to improve the quality of schools in rural areas by launching a number of programmes, particularly waste water treatment and drinking water projects for 12,000 rural schools. To facilitate public school transportation, the Ministry is in the process of distributing school buses to remote areas. Significant resources are required to roll out these initiatives to all country areas.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/reportage/2007/03/23/reportage-01
--------------------------------------------------------

Morocco CenBank Unveils First Islamic Products
Ijara, Moucharaka and Mourabaha - new products in moroccan investments.     Objavljeno: 20.03.2007.

Morocco's central bank unveiled a set of sharia-compliant banking products on Tuesday, venturing for the first time into Islamic finance with the aim of bringing banking services to more of the kingdom's population. Moroccan lenders will be allowed to offer leasing (Ijara) products whereby they rent an asset to a customer who may later be able to buy it at a fixed date.

Moucharaka products will involve lenders taking shares as partners in a company's equity while Mourabaha will allow a lender to buy an asset and re-sell it to a client in instalments at a margin decided in advance. "The introduction of the Ijara, Moucharaka and Mourabaha products should allow a widening of banking services and contribute to a higher rate of banking in the economy," Bank al-Maghrib said in a statement.

Until this year the government resisted the trend towards Islamic finance that has swept much of the Muslim world, but officials then said they were not opposed in principle as long as it works within the existing banking system. Islamic finance caters to devout Muslims by banning interest as well as investments in companies involved in alcohol, gambling, armaments and pork. The industry has mushroomed in recent years and is now valued at an estimated $700 billion.

It is especially popular among Muslims in Gulf Arab states that are leading a foreign investment drive in Morocco. A lack of clarity on Islamic finance was underscored last year by a spat between the country's religious leaders and Egyptian Islamic scholar Youssef al-Qaradawi after he told young Moroccans it was acceptable to take out a mortgage to buy a house. Morocco is prickly about defending its moderate Islamic identity and the row centered on who has the right to pronounce on issues affecting Morocco rather than what was said.
http://www.javno.com/en/economy/clanak.php?id=28035
----------------------------

Morocco permits commercial banks to market Islamic banking products.
By Mawassi Lahcen 23/03/07

Moroccan banks are expected in the coming weeks to begin marketing three new forms of Islamic financing, recently authorised by the Central Bank. They include musharaka, murabaha and ijara products. The Moroccan Central Bank raised the idea of licensing Islamic financial products two years ago in response to the development of illegal banking channels which escaped official oversight. In recent years, the government has observed an increase in fundamentalist movements offering interest-free loans and alternative forms of funding, particularly in residential finance. The appeal of this type of finance is that it is believed to conform with Islamic Sharia, which forbids any financial transaction with interest. Because these practices exist outside the purview of monitoring by financial authorities, they are open to exploitation for money laundering or for funding criminal or terrorist activities.

At a press conference last Tuesday (March 23rd) in Rabat, Moroccan Central Bank Governor Abdellatif Jouahri said the authorised financing products are a response to the request of citizens who prefer to conduct transactions with no interest, and that they will help integrate these citizens into the official financial system. Jouahri explained that the three forms approved are known worldwide and are authorised by major European and US banks under the terms "leasing" (ijara), "sale on profit" (murabaha) and "joint venture" (for musharaka). He added that these forms of financing meet the standards established by the global Islamic organisations which specialise in this field and of which Morocco is an observer member.

"We chose to authorise these [programmes], and decided they… shall be offered by established commercial banks in the manner of traditional financial and banking products. Our position is clear. There will be neither Islamic banks nor non-Islamic banks in Morocco. And there won’t be any discrimination among Moroccans," Jouahri said, The Central Bank left it up to each bank to choose the manner it deems most appropriate for marketing these products, either through its regular agencies or at special windows or through specialised branches. Moroccan commercial banks may establish their specialised branches in partnership with foreign banking institutions.

Jouahri noted that the newly authorised financial products were concerned solely with financing and not banking deposits. He said 53% of currency deposits at Moroccan banks were in the form of non-performing deposits, and there is thus no reason for citizens who prefer to conduct transactions with no interest to have reservations about banking deposits.

In a statement to Magharebia, Saadeddin Othmani, Secretary-General of the moderate Islamic Justice and Development Party, described this step as positive, since it expands financing options available to citizens and grants them greater freedom. "This step was anticipated and necessary. The Moroccan economy can’t be competitive unless it contains multiple and diverse financing methods," he said. "We can’t be locked into a single financing method. If European nations and European and American banks preceded us in authorising financial products such as these, I don’t know why Moroccan banks delayed all this time."
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/03/23/feature-01
--------------------------------------------------------

Moroccan singer brings Amazigh culture to the masses.
22/03/2007

Amazigh artist Yuba speaks with Magharebia about his musical roots, his desire to address social issues through song and his interest in collaborating with foreign musicians. Yuba is one of Morocco’s pre-eminent Amazigh singers. The great grandson of the legendary singer Rais El Hussein Amzi has recently released a second album, entitled Stars in Daylight, in the Amazigh language.

Magharebia: Yuba, can you tell us something about how you started out?
Yuba: I come from a relatively humble background. I am from the South [from Agadir] and, of course, a Berber, as my songs attest. I would say my musical life began at home. When I was a lot younger we used to organise musical performances and dances in the courtyards of the houses in our neighbourhood. That, I think, was where I took my first musical steps! To start out like that, entirely naturally and among family, is a great thing. Those events were only for the women. They would put on their most beautiful traditional clothes, prepare tea and peanuts, then, all of a sudden, the show would begin. The folk-singing and dancing could last for hours. My memories of them are very faint because it was only while I was still a little boy that I was allowed to stay and enjoy the show.

Magharebia: Your new album came out a few months ago. What issues does it touch on?
Yuba: I sing not only about love but [also] about … problems that are eating away at our society. These days everyone talks about illegal immigration, but few have written songs about it. I really enjoy broaching those kinds of topics. I think song is a very good means of discussing some of the issues people are a bit tired of hearing discussed on TV. Songs can refresh the topics they describe and make people see them in a new light. That is what I would like to achieve with my songs: to increase people’s sensitivity about certain topics like illegal immigration, or drug abuse, or loss of identity. What’s more, in many regions, even if you have a TV and even if you bother turning it on, you don’t necessarily follow the news. But people always listen to songs whether they have TVs or not. Through music the message is passed on through the voice and the language of the people. Itran Azal, which means "stars in daylight" in Amazigh, is an album that touches on a whole range of topics.

Magharebia: Are there any other artists in your family besides you?
Yuba: No, I am the only recording artist. But there are women in my family who I would call true artists but who you will probably never see on the TV. I think that Moroccan families, and Amazigh families in particular, are bursting with creativity. Sometimes that art is discovered, sometimes not. My great-grandfather was Rais El Hussein and he was a great artist of traditional Amazigh music. Sadly, he never recorded anything. But I hope one day to gather together his works with the assistance of his daughter.

Magharebia: Would you ever want to sing with foreign artists or to fuse your music with other styles?
Yuba: Why not? I sing with Amazigh artists like myself and embrace the idea of singing with foreign singers, be they Arabs or others. My main aim is to preserve Amazigh music and all the culture that goes with it. I also hope to make it innovative and modern, while retaining its authenticity. It would also be interesting to write songs in Berber and Arabic, or in Berber and another language. Today, many musicians are open to exploring and merging with other styles, so why not Amazigh music? I am all for it. In fact, I’ve already begun experimenting with this in collaboration with singers such as Anetta in Germany.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/03/22/feature-02
--------------------------------------------------------

Casablanca residents stand up against terrorism, call for change.
Hassan Benmehdi – 22/03/07

One week after the failed terrorist attack in a Casablanca neighbourhood, a number of citizens and local businesses are examining the problems which caused such an attack and are identifying solutions. Hay Sidi Moumen, a working-class shanty-town district of Casablanca, was both the hometown of most of the perpetrators of the May 16th 2004 terrorist blasts in Casablanca, and the location of a failed suicide bombing attempt on March 11th of this year. The area now has a reputation as a terrorist stronghold. Many individuals and local businesses, however, are speaking out against blanket definitions and guilt by association. They are demanding that government and non-government organizations co-operate to undercut the causes of terrorism and to protect citizens against threats.

According to Driss Essetri, President of the Al Walaa Sidi Moumen Association, it is irrational and unfair to link Sidi Moumen with terrorism on the sole pretext that the suicide bombers of the 2003 and 2007 attacks were living there at the time. "Our neighbourhood and its residents are innocent. Hay Sidi Moumen is not a terrorist stronghold. The proof of this is Ahmed Faïz, the young internet café owner who was brave enough to stop the terrorists on March 11th," he said, adding that the young people of Hay Sidi Moumen play a key role in the development and prosperity of their neighbourhood.

Of the more than 50 local NGOs working to promote tolerance, human rights, democracy, modernity and progress in Sidi Moumen, 21 of them work with the neighbourhood's young people. According to Mohamed Mahfoudi, secretary of the Sidi Moumen NGO Network, 30m dirhams are currently being channelled into ongoing projects in the fields of sport, culture and social activity. However, in his estimation that is still not enough, considering the vast deficiencies evident in education and infrastructure.

Young people in Sidi Moumen echo Mahfoudi's sentiments. "We are suffering from a lack of engagement and support from NGOs as well as political parties," said a 20 year-old who explained that the provision of political, cultural and sporting activities is insufficient. Yahia, another young man who was very keen to share his views, thinks that exclusion and discrimination lie at the heart of society’s ills: "What we need in our shantytown, as in others beyond Casablanca, is first and foremost for leaders to take an interest in us."

Ahmed Ghayet, President of the Réseau Maillage, a networking organisation supporting youth projects in Morocco’s inner cities, asserted that the problem NGOs often face is that "the authorities do not understand that NGOs vitally need their support. With that public support, they can commit themselves fully to working in shanty-towns and remote neighbourhoods and to doing their advocacy work."

Ultimately, jobs and basic infrastructure matter most to the young people in Hay Sidi Moumen. Many young people are fed up with poverty, unemployment and a general lack of security. For a young man named Abdelhak, the real problem is purely socio-economic: "If certain extremist ideas have taken root easily in our neighbourhood, it is because disillusioned, very poor and pessimistic young people are to be found here."
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/03/22/feature-01
--------------------------------------------------------

Make It Morocco!
March 22, 2007 - Rita Charleston, Jewish Exponent Feature

Crazy me! I was half expecting to see Bogart and Bergman, even Claude Raines or Paul Henreid chatting it up at Rick's Place, waiting to hear Sam play it again. Instead, when I landed in Casablanca, reality hit, and what I saw was not a quaint studio set but a vast city of 4 million people -- a city teaming with life. This is a place where international business goes down, where luxury goods and services flourish, and where top-quality hotels host world-class conventions and congresses.

This is modern Morocco in every sense of the word. So here I was, finally in Morocco, in Africa, where bazaars burst with all kinds of merchandise in glorious colors -- where fragrant souks (markets or commercial quarters) offer tantalizing pastries, olives, spices of all kinds and more. And in such a dynamic metropolis, Casablanca definitely lives up to its press.

Morocco is a little-known kingdom, bridging the gap between Europe and Africa; it's a country where Jews and Muslims have flourished side by side for centuries. This is a nation where you can take in a presentation of a Jewish museum in a Muslim land, and where you can visit the sanctuary where the holy man Oulad Ben Zmirrou -- venerated by Muslims, Jews and Christians alike -- is buried.

Busy All Day
Morocco is also a country teaming with life morning, noon and night. Merchants who refuse to take "no" for an answer, along with their exotic wares, cart stuff to and fro by hand and the ever-present donkey. From Casablanca, we were off to Marrakesh, known as "the Pearl of Morocco South," where every building is painted an ochre red. Surrounded by a city wall, Marrakesh was once one of the artistic and cultural centers of the Islamic world. Besides the Palais de la Bahia -- a palace surrounded by majestic gardens -- and the Museum of Moroccan Arts, a must-see is the Koutoubia mosque, the tallest and by far the most famous landmark there.

Royal History
Then, on to Fez, the first capital of the kingdom. The best way to explore this city is on foot, following the flow of the narrow streets and alleyways to enjoy the ceaseless sounds of voices everywhere. In contrast with the young mellah (Jewish quarter) of Casablanca, we were soon off to visit that of Fez, which is more than 650 years old. And although more than 98 percent of Moroccans are Muslim, there is also a viable Jewish community. Perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in Fez, where you can walk through the Jewish quarter and visit its synagogue situated next to the Royal Palace.

Jews took shelter in this palace during the 1912 pogrom. The nearby cemetery contains the tomb of more Jewish saints than any other cemetery in Morocco. Today, with only 250 Jewish families still living in Fez (population 300,000), their presence is felt, though when I entered the synagogue and kissed the mezuzah, the caretaker smiled and nodded at me in a knowing and caring way.

After two days of exploration, we left for Rabat, known as the "white city" and one of my favorite places this trip. Rabat -- with a population of about 175,000 -- is the setting for the Royal Palace of his Majesty Hassan II. It is the seat of government, home to the biggest university in the country, and a kaleidoscope of colorful patios, gardens and seaside beaches. Five major gates stand at the entrances to Rabat, and as you pass through, each offers a different look at this stunning city. The shopping here is a little quieter, a little less frenetic.

With so many things to see and appreciate -- even buy -- you can't seem to get enough of the decorated glassware, embroidered fabrics, jewelry, famous carpets, and oh, so much more. And that is the wonder called Morocco.  For more information, log on to: www.morocco.com
http://www.jewishexponent.com/article/12485/
--------------------------------------------------------

Bird Watching, Beaches & Exotic Gardens in Morocco.  
19 March 2007

Just outside of Kenitra is Mehdiya, a small town that has a decent beach brimming with Moroccan tourists during the summer months of July and August. While Mehdiya isn’t anything to write home about, per se, except for its ruined kasbah that overlooks an etuary, the Lac du Sidi Bourhaba makes a valuable day trip for those interested in bird watching in Morocco.

The Lac du Sidi Bourhaba is a freshwater lake that has a small jetty separating it. For bird-watching enthusiasts, the best place to view the wildlife is along this causeway, which can be accessed by foot. Don’t be surprised if you spot several marsh harriers above looking to swoop down for a meal on any number of the dragonflies colorfully skittering about. This pristine environment is also home to several types of frogs and toads, which can be heard best right before sunset.

Those wanting to travel to Lac Du Sidi Bourhaba don’t have far to go. If you are staying the night in Kenitra, then simply take public transport or hire a grand taxi to take you to Mehidya. From there, Sidi Bourhaba isn’t hard to find. Its long and narrow banks make it a wonderful place for an early morning or late afternoon stroll. In the summer, not too many Moroccans frequent the area, so don’t be surprised if you have the entire strip to yourself.

If you have the right photographic equipment, namely a wide-angle lens or especially a great telephoto, then taking photographs in Morocco will occupy much of your time. In the Lac du Sidi Bourhaba, shots of the warbler, the crested coot, or even the overly abundant kite are worth a few megabytes of digital film. If you are traveling near Kenitra in the winter months, particularly in February, then you are bound to spot flamingos, godwits, and, if you are lucky, the rarer African marsh owl. Plus, the springtime sees an influx of crocuses, brooms, and marigolds.

Closer to Kenitra, just about 14 miles away (22 km), is the well-known Plage des Nations and the equally impressive Jardins Exotiques. While the bird watching in these areas is limited, the beach makes a great mid-day escape before heading back to the marsh at sunset. Plage des Nations is easily found on the road that runs along the coastline. While those who frequent the beach know it well, others who want to enjoy a nice swim in Morocco’s safer waters shouldn’t venture here alone. The area, named to honor the diplomatic families who often swim here, is a relaxing getaway where even women in bikinis aren’t hassled as much as elsewhere. Plage des Nations is great for surfing, but visitors should pay attention to the areas of strong currents before jumping in. In the summertime, lifeguards patrol the central beach with all the equipment necessary for a rescue.

Another worthwhile experience is a quick visit to the Jardins Exotiques, which are located just three miles (5 km) from Plage des Nations. These exotic gardens were first started by a Frenchman named Francois in the 1950s, but were left in ruins until the latter 1980s when the Moroccan government began its restoration. The gardens are now back, flaring with beautiful and exotic plant life found nowhere else in North Africa. All of these different activities near Kenitra make it a region where you could spend a couple of relaxing days basking in the sun, watching the diverse birdlife, and taking a stroll through the beautifully restored exotic gardens.

--------------------------------------------------------
Will democratic hope be dashed in Morocco?
23 March 2007

Morocco observers were building up 2007 as a date with destiny for the still-fledgling democracy of King Mohammad VI. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for next September. Yet question marks persist. Many recall that the 2002 legislative elections were in their day touted as the country's first "free and fair" ballot event. That didn't happen. There were suspicions of obscure horse-trading owing to the 24-hour delay in giving out results - a virtual three-way tie between socialists, nationalists and moderate Islamists; and the vote was skewed due to the limitations placed on moderate Islamist participation to just over half the constituencies.

Two issues which touch the Western heart at present are clearly at play: the growth of democratic values in a Muslim society, for one, and the troublesome corollary of how to deal with the popularity of Islamism. What happens in Morocco is in some ways a test case, owing to the kingdom's special alliance with the United States. Morocco's moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) is viewed by the Bush administration as a kind of solution to the conundrum: its leader, Saadeddine al-Othmani, was invited to Washington last year in between opinion poll findings by the International Republican Institute that put the PJD way ahead of its rivals and close to an absolute majority.

Few, however, expect such a clear victory next September. Then again, despite their necessary bowing and scraping after the May 2003 Casablanca bombings by Muslim extremists, and the meek acceptance of a family code that boosted women's legal rights, the Islamists seem to be on the verge of a triumph of sorts. A few weeks ago, the suicide bombing of a radical who was challenged by an Internet cafe owner in Casablanca, however, drew unwelcome parallels from 2003, and not just for the Islamists. The bombing took place in the city's dirt-poor suburb of Sidi Moumen - where most of the 2003 suicides had come from. The government has since pressed ahead with a public housing scheme, but progress is slow. As in the past, the authorities attempted to blame foreign influences for the bombing. This spirit of denial hints at an identity crisis that a PJD victory could go some way to resolving.

After the parliamentary elections, it will be the king who designates ministers. Legislative initiatives emanate from the palace, not from Parliament. Most major parties have clamored of late for the ceding of the royal prerogative in naming the prime minister; but not the PJD, which appears to accept that its best chance of handling any power at all depends on the goodwill of the king. After the reverberations caused by King Mohammad's 2006 New Year resolution to make Morocco a freer, more democratic society as he was urged to do by the wide-ranging report of the country's ground-breaking national truth commission, analysts gloomily concede that 2007 seems likely to be the year of inaction, continuity and stasis. The palace not only has the convenient bogeyman of the Islamists to blame for taking a conservative line on reform, but this year sees Morocco resuming its diplomatic push for control of the disputed Western Sahara region. A blueprint for limited autonomy and a move toward a more federal system of government across the country, including the former Spanish colony, is to be unveiled before the United Nations in April - notwithstanding the Security Council's previous demands that a referendum on self-determination be held in the territory.

The year in Morocco has opened with various revelations of growing Islamic fanaticism, in a country which prides itself on the moderate, mystical origins of its Malekite creed. Twenty-six members of a group based in the north of the country were arrested in January, accused of conspiring to send young radicals to their deaths in suicide missions against US-led forces in Iraq. Dozens are reported to have made this one-way journey over the past few years, including some of the mainly Moroccan suspects named in the wanted list of the Madrid train bombings trial taking place in Spain.

The government led by Prime Minister Driss Jettou is determined to make a real impact on the social realities behind such extremism by boosting the previously sluggish economy. He will be encouraged by the 2006 economic figures. GDP grew at a rate of over 8 percent last year, with tourist numbers reaching a record 6.6 million. Total investment in housing - identified as a key issue since it emerged that the perpetrators of the Casablanca attacks hailed from one of the city's most notorious slums - doubled from four years previously to $4.24 billion.

The obstacle to meaningful democratic reform in Morocco is that there is a clearly established system of government in place, built around the "red lines" of territorial integrity, the king himself, and his role as "defender of the Muslim faith." The monarch is officially a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammad, and since his coronation in 1999, King Mohammad has been perfectly willing to exploit the pretence of a close relationship between the monarch and his subjects, rather than encourage the emergence of civil leaders through a promotion of political debate. The son of a tyrant, the present king aims to be perceived as a leader who governs for the people and not against them. However, he has not yet proved willing to cede authority to those who represent the people. Today's government is built upon the presence of palace technocrats, not least the former royal financial adviser Jettou as head of government.

In such a situation, political parties evaluate the pace of reform not by any universal, ideological criteria, but according to their own short- and medium-term interests. This year, the palace may end up having an easy time of it, as the PJD is so conscious of its inconvenience that it cannot stretch out its hand to demand an improved deal. Instead of being a threat, the Islamists have become the regime's ally.
James Badcock is freelance writer based in Spain who specializes in North African and Middle Eastern affairs. He wrote this commentary for THE DAILY STAR. Article originally published by The Daily Star 23-Mar-07
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidDS230307_dsart60/SecCountries/pagMorocco/chnMorocco%20News/obj22403786-8F1A-11D4-867000D0B74A0D7C/
-------------------------------------------

Get spicy, sweet taste of Morocco with vegetable ragout . 
By The Associated Press

Vegetarians or any vegetable fans can appreciate the combination of ingredients in ragouts. In the this recipe, was developed by the California Raisin Marketing Board, the balance of spicy and sweet - fiery hints softened with raisins' fruitiness - borrows from the imaginative cuisine of Morocco.

Moroccan Vegetable Ragout with Raisins
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cups pearl onions, peeled and halved
2 medium carrots, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices (about 1 cup)
1/4 fennel bulb, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup all purpose flour
Cinnamon stick (about 2 inches)
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1 large pinch saffron threads, crushed
3 medium red or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch dice (about 2 cups)
1 cup vegetable broth
2 cups raisins
2 cups (16 oz.) cooked or canned chickpeas, drained
2 small summer (crookneck) squashes, halved lengthwise, and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch thick slices (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 tbsp. chopped fresh marjoram
1 small fresh tomato, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 1/2 cup)
2 tbsp. sliced almonds, toasted (optional)
Heat the oil in a large, heavy stockpot over medium-low heat. Coat the onions, carrots and fennel with flour and sauté in the oil until golden brown. Add the cinnamon stick, cumin, ginger, saffron, potatoes, vegetable broth and raisins; cook about 10 minutes.

Add chickpeas, squash, marjoram and tomatoes; cover and simmer until squash is tender, about 8 minutes longer. To serve, transfer ragout to a serving dish and sprinkle with toasted almonds, if desired. Serve with grilled pita or other flatbread. Makes 8 servings. Nutrition facts per serving: 330 calories, 6 g. total fat (1 g. saturated), 0 mg. cholesterol, 7 g. protein, 66 g. carbohydrate, 7 g. fiber, 330 mg. sodium.
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/03/21/features/health/85-spicy.txt
##########################################################################

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.