Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
March 15 , 2014

US Senate Confirms Dwight L. Bush Sr. as New US Ambassador to Morocco
MAP, The Hill. March 13, 2014 Maghreb Arab Press, The Hill (Washington, DC, March 13, 2014)

The US Senate on Thursday  confirmed the nomination of Dwight L. Bush Sr. as the new US Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco.   Bush’s nomination was confirmed by the Senate on a voice vote, The Hill newspaper reported. During his confirmation last September before the foreign affairs committee at the US Senate, Bush Sr had underlined the importance of the political, economic and social reforms undertaken by HM King Mohammed VI for Morocco’s development and stability.

Bush was the president of D. L. Bush & Associates, a Washington, DC-based financial advisory and business consulting firm. He also has worked as vice chairman of EntreMed, Inc. since 2010 and as a director since 2004. Bush was president and CEO of Urban Trust Bank, Urban Trust Holdings and president of UTB Education Finance, LLC from 2006 through 2008.
http://moroccoonthemove.com/2014/03/13/us-senate-confirms-dwight-l-bush-sr-new-us-ambassador-morocco-map-hill/#sthash.yfIiYeaM.dpbs
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US And Morocco Further Strengthen Economic Ties -- But Who Benefits Most?
By Kathleen Caulderwood March 11 2014

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding with a Moroccan business organization here in the capital Monday, meant to strengthen business ties made under the nations’ 8-year-old free trade agreement. So far, it's been a lucrative arrangement for both sides. Trade volume has increased greatly since 2006, but Moroccans are looking for more benefits. "While Morocco's imports from the U.S. increased, Morocco's exports are far from growing as much," said Miriem Bensalah Chaqroun, chair of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises and a signer of the MOU

U.S.-Morocco trade volume has increased at an average rate of 23 percent every year, reaching more than $4 billion in 2012, up from about $1 billion before the free trade agreement.

Among other benefits, the relationship is meant help Morocco serve as a hub for American companies on the African continent. "Morocco is a soft landing point for a lot of American companies, and the FTA is one of the key things that's an attraction for American businesses," said Scott Eisner, vice president for African affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who also signed the MOU. He cited the county's relative political stability compared with the rest of the Maghreb as key advantages, along with its connections to the many French-speaking countries in fast-growing sub-Saharan Africa.

Indeed, Morocco's economy grew at a rate of 4.8 percent in 2013, with inflation rates at around 2 percent. Meanwhile, King Mohammed VI has just visited Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea and Gabon, all Francophone nations, in an effort to strengthen economic ties.

U.S. businesses have taken notice. American direct investment in Morocco jumped from $25.25 million in 2005 to $197 million in 2012. Boeing (NYSE:BA) has created thousands of Moroccan jobs, as have Fruit of the Loom (a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK)) and Dell, to name a few.

But the potential is much higher. "There's been a quadrupling of bilateral trade," said Eisner, "and yet there's still quite a lot of work to be done to fully utilize it."  

The United States is the country's third-largest investor, but Morocco represents just 0.01 percent of total American investments worldwide. And Moroccan exports represent just 0.03 percent of total American imports.

One success story is a company called Fresh Fruit Maroc, which recently signed a five-year agreement to export 35,000 metric tons of citrus to the United States.

All of this was discussed at the second annual Morocco-U.S. Business Development Conference, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation in Rabat, where business and government representatives from both countries met to assess their economic relationship.

"What would actually be interesting if we can get these things from presentations to reality," said Adil Chikhi, head of the Moroccan Investment Development Agency, who attended the conference. "If we're able to discuss details where the actual opportunities exist, so they can make it a bit more tangible for an investor that's out there," he said.
http://www.ibtimes.com/us-morocco-further-strengthen-economic-ties-who-benefits-most-1560627
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Morocco's finance minister on Monday (March 10th) urged US businesses to boost investment in the country and take advantage of "unprecedented" regional growth, AFP reported. Speaking at the opening of a bilateral business conference in Rabat, Mohamed Boussaid said trade between Morocco and the United States rose four-fold between 2005 and 2012, reaching $4 billion (2.8 billion euros). Roughly 60 American businessmen joined Moroccan entrepreneurs and government officials at the event.

The aim was to discuss ways of boosting trade and investment under the free trade agreement (FTA) between Morocco and the United States. "The fact remains that despite this average annual growth in exports, since 2005 Morocco's trade balance (with the US) has been in deficit," Boussaid noted. He said the kingdom aimed to attract American investors because so far, despite the efforts made, the proportion of direct investment in Morocco was still minimal at only 0.01% of all US investments made worldwide.

To attract American investors, Morocco is showcasing its infrastructure, positioning itself as a springboard to Africa.

US Chamber of Commerce Vice-President Scott Eisner praised those assets, noting that Americans should invest more in Morocco and take advantage of its experience and stability in order to tap into the continent's great potential.

Todd P. Schwartz, special representative for commercial and business affairs at the US State Department, said that Morocco and the United States could do more in terms of economic co-operation, which is vital for creating jobs. "American investors must take advantage of Morocco's position as an African hub. This country opens the door to business on this continent, especially in sub-Saharan Africa," he said.

The two countries can increase their co-operation while benefiting from various bilateral agreements, General Confederation of Moroccan Business (CGEM) chair Miriem Bensalah-Chaqroun said. It is now necessary to overcome obstacles, including the difficulties experienced by Moroccan businesses in accessing the American market, she added.

In order to achieve the desired goals, an agreement was signed by CGEM and the US Chamber of Commerce in order to give Moroccan businesses technical support.

Experts have welcomed this coming-together of businessmen from both countries. They said it would make it possible to fulfil the commitments made in the Free Trade Agreement.

There is much potential to be explored between the two countries, economist Ziad Galmiti told Magharebia. Morocco, he said, must persuade American financiers to come to the kingdom, which has developed its infrastructure and improved its business environment. "Although some major American investors already have a presence in Morocco," they still fall short of expectations, he said. Moroccan businesses must develop their exports by adapting to the American market using their standards, he noted. http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/features/2014/03/11/feature-04
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Morocco, a Launching Pad for US Investors in Sub-Saharan Africa.
News Desk on March 13, 2014 in Africa, Americas, Features, International

Morocco which boasts a genuine growth potential in addition to its political and economic stability can serve as a launching pad for U.S. investors wishing to operate in sub-Saharan Africa. The statement was repeated as a leitmotiv by several US and Moroccan officials and economic operators who were attending the second US-Morocco business development conference held earlier this week in Rabat. The attendees have all underlined that the North African country can be a hub wherefrom U.S. companies can easily reach Africa and stressed the opportunities offered by the Moroccan-American Free Trade Agreement (FTA) implemented since 2006.

Morocco is the only African country to have signed a FTA with the United States. This FTA has been described by the State department as “one of the United States’ most comprehensive free trade agreements” which eliminated tariffs on 95 percent of traded goods and bolstered trade and investment between the two countries, resulting in two-way trade valued at $3.79 billion in 2011.

In 2012, the over 120 American businesses operating in Morocco had invested $2.2 billion and created more than 100,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Moroccan economic operators deem however that more efforts are required to achieve the full potential of the FTA, open genuine opportunities to boost Moroccan exports to the USA and attract more U.S investors to the country.

Many Moroccan businessmen and heads of enterprises, including the President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Employers, (CGEM) deplored the fact that the trade balance between the two countries is constantly showing a deficit to the detriment of Morocco, which requires further efforts to enhance the volume of Moroccan exports to the United States.

Several participants underlined that since the entry into force of the FTA in 2006 Morocco’s imports from the USA have more than quadrupled but exports have not followed the same trend. Whatever the grievances of the ones or the others, both sides agree that their bilateral cooperation can genuinely flourish if they set up joint ventures for trade and investment in Africa.

As an echo to the latest four-nation trip that led the king of Morocco to Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Gabon and that was described by many observers as very successful, the second business development conference actually focused on the African dimension in US-Morocco relations.
Participants have thus underlined that the numerous agreements concluded between Morocco and Sub-Saharan countries –just during the latest royal tour nearly 100 accords were signed between governmental institutions and private economic operators- can offer interesting opportunities for Moroccan-U.S. joint ventures and expand the scope of Moroccan-American joint initiatives in the continent that already include food security and renewable energy.

Morocco, which is bound to Sub-Saharan Africa not only by economic links but also by very firm cultural and spiritual ties, is the second African investor in the continent that is showing one of the highest world growth rates, underlined many speakers who also hailed Morocco’s leadership in strengthening regional cooperation.

Thanks to its close relations with Africa and thanks to its political stability, strategic location as a gateway to Europe and to sub -Saharan Africa, steady macroeconomic environment, diverse and service-oriented economy, skilled labor, a welcoming environment for foreign investors, a state of the art financial center (the Casablanca Finance City), in addition to a strong presence of Moroccan enterprises in Africa, Morocco can be a key player in a tripartite Moroccan-U.S.-African partnership, said the participants who called U.S. economic actors to actively engage in the development of business opportunities with their Moroccan counterparts and help Morocco fulfill its ambition to become a platform of entry for investment in Africa.
http://northafricapost.com/5243-morocco-a-launching-pad-for-us-investors-in-sub-saharan-africa.html
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A Strategic Dialogue provides a mechanism to nations to achieve common goals and build trust in the relationship. In the case of US and Morocco, the strategic dialogue provides an avenue to openly exchange views with each other on a strategic level and to take the relationship to a more comfortable level by focussing on more agreeable issues on the menu (trade, energy etc). The second round of the US-Moroccan strategic dialogue is held on March 10 and 11 2014.

Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Morocco ‐ US relationship has witnessed an impressive evolution on economic, political, social, and security fronts. The 2004 Free Trade Agreement, the designation of Morocco as a non ‐ NATO Ally, and the signing of a $697.5 million Compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to reduce poverty and increase economic growth crowned that close cooperation. In recognition of this strong alliance, on September 13, 2012, Morocco and the United States launched a Strategic Dialogue.

Every time the issue of relationship between the United States and Morocco is brought up, there is always a historical fact that characterizes this powerful relation: Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States. Since then, the two countries have always deployed tremendous efforts to consolidate their already excellent bilateral relations. This strategic historical partnership has undoubtedly given a fresh impetus to the two countries and has opened up vast promising prospects.

Throughout history, Morocco has always reiterated its keen desire to pursue consultation and coordination with the United States of America with a view to developing mechanisms to make sure their promising partnership leads to concrete projects that benefit key sectors in respective countries and serve as models of solidarity and complementarity in the region.

At the UN, the two countries’ views have always converged on key international issues to promote peace and stability around the world. Morocco has always offered wise advice and even concrete actions to boost the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians in total coordination with the American administration. This has never discouraged Morocco to offer candid and honest views to put the peace process back on the negotiation table. A position that has gained Morocco a lot of credibility and respect in the eyes of the American leadership.

Since King Mohammed VI acceded to the throne on 23 July 1999, all his efforts of in-depth reform in Morocco were highly appreciated and supported by the American leadership.

Letters from former President Bush and current President Obama praising Morocco’s commitment to democracy, rule of law and sustainable development including Morocco’s continuous endeavors to set up a complementary, integrated Maghreb Union to promote a regional environment in which the people concerned can enjoy security, prosperity and stability.

Morocco shares US earnest ambition regarding the achievement of sustainable development in Africa. Morocco has always stood by American side to uphold the ideals of freedom, justice, equality and dignity, to foster good governance and shared progress, to promote the lofty human values of tolerance and intercultural, inter-faith coexistence and to reject all forms of violence, extremism and insularity.

Morocco pledged to do whatever it can to contribute to the emergence of a better, safer, more peaceful and more equitable world which is committed to upholding the principles of solidarity and to international legitimacy.

This “parfaite entente” between the two countries resulted into the creation of the Strategic Dialogue, recognition of than a decade of peaceful reforms and stability under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. The two countries signed the Strategic Dialogue, which will not be affected by changes in administration, leadership or personnel, officially begins and builds on bilateral advances already achieved, including the Morocco-US Free Trade Agreement, the Millennium Challenge Compact, and Morocco’s designation as a major non-Nato ally.

It is high time now to give a new impetus to the private sector, NGOs, think tanks, universities…from both countries to implement many of the agreements and accords reached between the two countries. Both Moroccans and Americans should now accelerate their initiatives and projects in different fields to give a meaning to excellent political relations between the two countries. An economic, cultural, educational road map should be elaborated to open doors for potential projects from both sides
Rabat is and will remain a key regional ally of Washington, particularly in the fight against terrorism and extremism. King Mohammed VI met President Barack Obama at the White House for the first time in November 2013. In a Joint Statement issued following their meeting, King Mohammed VI and President Obama:

“reaffirmed the strong and mutually beneficial partnership and strategic alliance between the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco, stressed that this important visit provides an opportunity to map out a new and ambitious plan for the strategic partnership, and pledged to advance our shared priorities of a secure, stable, and prosperous Maghreb, Africa, and Middle East. The two leaders also emphasized our shared values, mutual trust, common interests, and strong friendship, as reflected throughout our partnership.”

Speaking at the opening of a bilateral business conference in Rabat today, Moroccan Minister of Finance Mohamed Boussaid said trade between Morocco and the United States had risen four-fold between 2005 and 2012, to reach $4 billion (2.8 billion euros). But the minister lamented the fact that US investment in the country, which amounted to just $195 million in 2012, represented less than 0.1 percent of US investments worldwide. “We invite you… not just to be one our major trade partners, but to seize the opportunities available to us in the West Africa region, which is destined to experience unprecedented economic growth and development, in which Morocco plays a leading role,” Boussaid said.

The most recent King Mohammed’s trip in West Africa came once more as a powerful testimony of tremendous credibility that Morocco enjoys in this part of the continent. Thereefore, Morocco has become a gateway to Africa and is ready to welcome American invetments interested to access the African market.

If Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States, it should now be the first country to develop a strong win-win partnership with the United States.

The Author: Said Temsamani is a Senior Fellow at the Meridian International Center and member of the National Press Club, Washington DC. Said Temsamani is a political analyst who follows events in Morocco and across North Africa.
http://www.eurasiareview.com/12032014-us-moroccan-strategic-dialogue-high-substance-oped/
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Moroccan students explore job market
By Siham Ali in Rabat for Magharebia – 13/03/2014

Young Moroccans are flocking to "Employment Week", which runs until Saturday (March 15th). At 400 sites in multiple cities, thousands of university students are learning about the labour market and gaining practical advice on how to enhance their appeal to employers.

According to the head of the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills (ANAPEC), the 5-day programme focuses on business needs. "Technical skills are not enough on their own," Hafid Kamal said Monday about the initiative organised by his agency and the employment ministry. "Businesses require other skills such as communication and languages," the ANAPEC director added.

Also speaking Monday at the Rabat kick-off event, Employment Minister Abdeslam Seddiki said that ANAPEC would become the go-to resource for any Moroccan seeking a job, not just for those with degrees. ANAPEC would assist all young people seeking to enter the labour market, the minister pledged. "We don't need training, which has proven to be a failure, when there are promising and key sectors that already aspire to make use of skills," Seddiki said.

In addition to opening the services of ANAPEC to all jobless young Moroccans, a national monitoring centre will soon be created to examine the Moroccan market, analyse employment opportunities and devise a system that responds to the demands, Deputy Minister of Higher Education Soumia Benkhaldoun said. She pointed to successful programmes already in place, including one for 10,000 primary and secondary school teachers and another for 25,000 graduates in sectors related to Morocco's development programme.

For Karima Chahi, a second-year student of French literature, this week's employment event is proving informative. "It's important to understand what businesses are looking for, so that we can prepare ourselves by acquiring the necessary skills," she told Magharebia. "I speak French, which is in great demand in the labour market. But I've just found out that this skill is not enough on its own. I also need to master the art of communication," she added.

The programme also came at the right time for Zyad Mahidi, an economics student, "It's helpful to learn about your strengths and weaknesses during higher-level education, so that you can fill in any gaps and know how to sell yourself to employers once you've landed a degree," the student said.
http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/features/2014/03/13/feature-06
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Morocco Advances Expansive Military Justice Reform, Ending Military Tribunals to Try Civilians.
Major initiative comes on heels of several significant human rights and legal reforms
MACP (Washington, DC, March 14, 2014)

Morocco’s Council of Ministers, chaired by King Mohammed VI, today announced its decision to pursue expansive reform of Morocco’s military justice system, which would include ending the use of military tribunals to try civilians, said Palace spokesperson Abdelhak Lamrini. The decision and proposed legislation—which next goes to Parliament—follows a report released last year by Morocco’s National Human Rights Council, and welcomed by King Mohammed VI, that recommended narrowing the jurisdiction of military tribunals. It serves as another example of Morocco’s longstanding commitment to protecting human rights and continuing reform.

“This project… aims to standardize national legislation on military justice with the provisions of the Constitution and international principles in this field, put into practice Morocco’s Constitutional and international commitments in terms of promoting the rule of law and human rights, and provide the necessary conditions and guarantees of a fair trial in all the courts of the Kingdom,” read the statement.

“This is a significant milestone for Morocco in furthering the judicial reforms promised by the Constitution,” said former US Ambassador to Morocco Edward M. Gabriel. “I am encouraged that Morocco’s progress in these reforms and human rights has been steady and deliberate, signaling a strong culture of respect for democratic values and human rights.”

The new law is “a major step towards strengthening the rule of law, reforming the judiciary, and protecting human rights,” said Driss el Yazami, President of Morocco’s respected National Human Rights Council (CNDH).

In the past six months, Morocco’s government has undertaken several significant policy initiatives addressing human rights at the recommendation of CNDH and Moroccan civil society. In September, the country adopted a new migration policy that is regularizing up to 40,000 illegal migrants in the country, to ensure that they have access to healthcare, education, and other basic rights. That policy came after another report released by CNDH, on the needs of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa trying to reach Europe by way of Morocco.

In January, Parliament also overturned a controversial provision in a law that allowed rapists to avoid punishment if they married their victims. Originally intended to protect women living in rural areas from being ostracized, the law became the focus of women’s and human rights groups, whose campaign for its repeal succeeded.

Since King Mohammed VI’s ascension to the throne in 1999, Morocco has undergone a steady process of reform.  The King established an Equity and Reconciliation Commission which acknowledged the suffering of victims of brutality in the past and compensated the families for their losses, the only such initiative in the region and the first in the world to have occurred without a forced regime change.

In 2004, a new Family Law was passed that greatly expanded women’s rights. In 2011, the country adopted a new Constitution proposed by the King that, among other advances, established CNDH as the nation’s human rights watchdog. http://moroccoonthemove.com/2014/03/14/morocco-advances-expansive-reform-military-justice-system-excluding-civilians-trial-military-courts/#sthash.aZ3MWih7.wL2GJNBr.dpbs
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Plant Essaouira

On land to be lent by the Province of Essaouira, HAF and community partners will build an Argan tree nursery, and also plant pomegranate, almond, carob, lemon, and medicinal plants.  Now through March we can plant 600,000 seeds with the people of Essaouira. Organic certification of produce and reinvestment in development projects identified by the people will end the conditions of subsistence agriculture and transform the region.  This change is within our immediate grasp.

The local people are establishing their Cooperative to facilitate international trade as well as oversee the management of the nursery in accordance with organic farming techniques. The nursery will be implemented in Ounagha municipality, and will impact 150,000 people - almost half of the total rural population of Essaouira province.  Friends, please help us make this happen.
http://highatlasfoundation.org/partner
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Interview with Ben Orbach, Founder and Director of America’s Unofficial Ambassadors.

Morocco is a popular destination for young Americans to study and volunteer– whether through university exchanges, the Peace Corps, or other programs. But not everyone can dedicate two years or even six months to such endeavors. America’s Unofficial Ambassadors seeks to provide short- and medium-term opportunities for Americans to make a difference in Morocco and elsewhere in the Muslim world. MOTM sat down with Ben Orbach, Founder and Director of the initiative, to learn more about AUA’s Morocco opportunities.

Watch the interview here: http://moroccoonthemove.com/2014/03/10/interview-ben-orbach-founder-director-americas-unofficial-ambassadors/#sthash.r1WIFmRG.dpbs
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Education And Social Advancement In Morocco.
Daily News Society Editor Thursday, October 10, 2013 By NAPS,

Removing party politics from education policy and providing young people with the training needed to succeed in a modern economy...these are but two of the issues addressed by King Mohammed VI in a recent speech in Morocco. The speech touched on a range of issues related to education and social advancement. "Why is it," the King asked, "that so many of our young people cannot fulfill their legitimate professional, material and social aspirations?"

More Must Be Done

The King recognized the passion of Moroccan parents for educating their children, as well as the steps that Morocco has already taken to improve its education system. But he noted that more must be done—and done more quickly—to provide the skills, training and knowledge needed to prepare Moroccan youth for the success that will benefit their families, their communities and the country as a whole.

King Mohammed VI candidly acknowledged a gap in quality between public and private education in Morocco. He also noted a shortage of skilled workers capable of achieving success in "Morocco's new professions and areas of employment" and stressed the need for proficiency in foreign languages, as well as for vocational training in marketable skills.

Building On Past Successes

The King underscored the importance of removing politics from education policy in order to maintain a steady course of improvement by building on past successes. "It hardly makes sense," the King said, "for each government to come with a new plan every five years and disregard previous programs."

Promoting A Dignified Life

The King also spoke of another revolution, which he is spearheading, "with a view to developing human resources, achieving economic and social progress, and promoting a dignified life for our citizens." He said it would be a "long, arduous journey ahead...to enable [education] to actually play its role as an engine for the achievement of economic and social advancement."

Recently, the King directed Morocco's Higher Council for Education to carry out an evaluation of the achievements of the country's National Charter for Education and Training over the past 10 years. He also called for "a broad-based, constructive debate on all the major issues of concern to the nation, in order to achieve the tangible results Moroccans are looking forward to."

This information is provided by Beckerman on behalf of the government of Morocco. Further information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice.
http://world.einnews.com/article/194282685/1pEikRsDtWAPb3oB?n=1&code=F0A6UI8SDeLVJB2O
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Fatima Zahra Mansouri, the 38-year old mayor of Marrakech, and Souad Mekhennet, a 35-year old journalist, have been honored by the prestigious World Economic Forum to be selected among the organization’s 214 Young Global Leaders (YGLs) in 2014, coming from 66 different countries. More than half of those chosen this year, 109, are women, and 18 are from the Middle East and North Africa region.

This year’s set of Young Global Leaders “comes from many walks of life, spanning government, business, civil society and the arts,” said David Aikman, Managing Director, World Economic Forum.  “They represent the changing face of leadership, which gives me hope for our world: global citizens, entrepreneurial and engaged, and at ease traversing cultures and sectors, using their experience and talents for the greater public good.

“These people – all under the age of 40 – grew up with digital connectivity. Most have lived, studied or worked in multiple countries, and see themselves as global citizens,” said Aikman. “What connects them is their reach, demonstrating that domain leadership in today’s world can come from anywhere.”

Mansouri certainly fits that bill. A French-trained lawyer, she currently is mayor of Morocco’s third biggest city, with more than a million people in the metropolitan area. She was elected in 2009, at age 33, as Marrakech’s first woman mayor and only the second in Morocco’s history. “People were surprised to see a young woman like me elected,” she told TIME Magazine last year. “I realized people were hungry for change.” She won over voters by going to their neighborhoods and asking them about their concerns. “I still go into the neighborhoods and meet people.”

In the same TIME interview, she noted Morocco’s continuing political stability through the turmoil in the region in recent years and gave King Mohammed VI credit. “The Moroccan government did something extremely intelligent at the beginning of the Arab Spring,” she said, noting that the King spoke to the people and proposed a new Constitution, which enshrined broader political openness and rights and brought a new government come into power with elections for Parliament.

For Mekhennet, an accomplished journalist of Turkish-Moroccan descent born in Germany, she has worked to lift the veil on Muslim culture and also chronicled the war on terrorism and radical Islam, reporting for the Washington Post, New York Times, Newsweek, the Daily Beast, and German ZDF TV.

As a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University in 2012, she researched the “long-term strategies of terrorist organizations since the Arab Spring.” “Throughout my career, I have heard preachers from all sides ranting about the ‘clash of cultures’,” Mekhennet wrote in a column for the  World Economic Forum. “At the same time, for all the supposed clashes, I have seen many more examples of people from various religious backgrounds living together peacefully. I have very often found that women play a crucial role in this.” She says that “Leadership, no matter if in journalism, politics or business, requires the courage to step back, look at the broader picture, and not listen to just one side.”

The World Economic Forum, an independent international organization, is widely known for its Annual Meeting of world leaders in Davos, Switzerland.  Every year, it also reviews thousands of nominations to choose the most accomplished and inspiring young leaders for its annual selection of Young Global Leaders.

Other Moroccans named as Young Global Leaders in recent years include Mbarka Bouaida, Morocco Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Ismail Douiri, Co-Chief Executive Officer of Attijariwafa Bank, and Soulaymane Kachani, Moroccan-born vice dean of Engineering at Columbia University in New York City.
Garth D. Neuffer is Director–Press at the Moroccan American Center for Policy.
http://moroccoonthemove.com/2014/03/13/fatima-zahra-mansouri-souad-mekhennet-changing-face-leadership-garth-neuffer/#sthash.3GOaYCkY.dpbs
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Dubai women to conquer Moroccan dunes for poor children.
Gulf News By Janice Ponce de Leon Staff Reporter March 10, 2014

French duo aims to help 100 underprivileged schoolchildren in Morocco. Two Dubai ladies are training hard conquering the sand dunes of Dubai in preparation for an all-women charity desert rally to help underprivileged schoolchildren in Morocco this October. French expatriates Mathilde Rottembourg, 41, and Carinne Abou-Huguet, 40, will represent Dubai in the charity rally, Cap Femina Aventure 2014, in the Tifilalet region of Morocco from October 4 to 11.

The desert rally will see all-women teams pound Moroccan dunes on four-wheelers en route to an educational centre that needs refurbishing and repainting as chosen by the non-profit international organisation Coeur de Gazelles. The rally aims to bring smiles and hope to 100 underprivileged schoolchildren aged between three and 12.

“We’ve been very, very lucky in our business over the last few years. We’d like to give back to our community since we have such energy to give back,” Rottembourg, who has been living in Dubai for five years, told Gulf News. “We want to prove to the world that Dubai isn’t only about the bling-bling but that Dubai has a heart that gives,” she added.

The duo will be participating as Team Yallah Dubai (Arabic for ‘Let’s go, Dubai’), which they say is apt since they want to bring Dubai’s generosity to Morocco. “Both of us are French but our families, our businesses, our life is here in Dubai and we love it here. And so we would like to bring Dubai’s energy with us on this rally. We would like Dubai to come with us [through the sponsorships],” Abou-Huguet said.

The duo has started training by running 10-kilometre races and desert driving almost every weekend. “We do run every other day to keep ourselves fit. We train very hard in driving in the desert and also in navigation, that’s the main thing. When we get there, everything will be about using the compass and driving past the dunes,” Rottembourg said.

But to be able to go, they said they will need help. The duo needs to raise at least Dh93,500 to join the competition and another sum of money to buy sports equipment, computers, stationery and books, clothes, and footwear as gifts for the children in the centre.

To know how you can help, email them at yallahdubai397@gmail.com
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/dubai-women-to-conquer-moroccan-dunes-for-poor-children-1.1301912
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Casablanca zoo: A death trap for animals?

Animal rights activists in Morocco are up in arms at the distressing state of Ain Sebaa zoo in Morocco. The zoo, which houses species on the verge of extinction such as Atlas lions and tapirs, is the subject of protests and petitions as locals mobilise to highlight the alarming conditions for the animals.

In January 2012, Prince Hassan, the son of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, unveiled the revamp at another zoo in Morocco at Rabat with great fanfare. At this zoo, there is a veterinary clinic on site and an educational farm for children. The zoo at Rabat was renovated to meet international standards and to bring pride to the Moroccan capital. However, the situation at the zoo in Casablanca, the country’s second largest city, couldn’t be more different, as shown by photos taken by animal rights activists.

Othman Ghaiti is the vice president of the Moroccan organisation for the protection of animals and the environment.

We discovered the terrible situation at the zoo three years ago. During a casual visit with the organisation’s president, we saw an emaciated Atlas lion that was dead in its enclosure. At the time, the zoo’s directors told us the lion had just died. But we had serious doubts when we saw the state of the carcass. We think the carcass had been there for a long time, but the zoo’s administrators were not in any hurry to remove it.

So we decided to examine the zoo’s situation in more detail. For several months now, we’ve been visiting every Sunday and can confirm the disastrous living conditions for the animals. There are, for example, four brown bears at the zoo, the only such bears in Morocco. These animals are fed carrot peelings and bread. They’ve never eaten fish. [Editor’s Note: In the wild, brown bears are omnivores. Although mostly vegetarian, they also eat fish and insects]. We’ve also helped out during the Atlas lions’ feedings, and saw that the meat was so rotten that it had turned blue. That’s not surprising, since the zoo keeps the food in a room without even a fridge.

The security of animals at the zoo is also inadequate. Apart from the ticket controller, there are no guards inside. There were no guards to tell visitors not to throw food at the animals or frighten them. Most of the enclosures are made of basic metal bars; there are neither wire nets nor plexiglass. Visitors can throw whatever they into the enclosures and put the animals’ lives in danger. I’ve even seen people give cigarettes to monkeys!

When the animals are injured, the zoo is in no hurry to treat them. For example, there was a fight between two lamas recently, and one of them was injured in the neck. This happened on a Sunday, and when we called the zoo’s director to tell him about it, he told us he had to wait until Monday for the vet to be available.

There’s no doubt the zoo lacks resources. The entry ticket costs 10 cents, while it costs 4 euros at the Rabat zoo. How are they supposed to run a zoo with so little revenue? The state does provide for a portion of its budget, but when we look at the state of the place, we wonder where the money’s gone.

In 2012, after a zoo visit, the mayor of Casablanca promised to set up a plan to completely renovate the zoo. There was even a plan to expand the zoo from its current size of 2.5 hectares to 10 hectares. However, we’re still waiting for the work to start. The mayor of Casablanca reaffirmed at the end of February that the zoo will be renovated sometimes in the next two years. According to the Moroccan newspaper “L’économiste”, 65 million dirham [5.5 million euros] has been budgeted for the renovation.

When contacted by FRANCE24, the zoo’s director, Mehdi Omari Alaoui, said that in his opinion, the animals looked very well and all the accusations were lies. He added that the zoo was waiting for a new round of funding from the authorities to make improvements.
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Event Details Exquisite Exhibit: The Photography of Hafid Lalaoui
Artist Reception: Thursday, March 13, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland Photography on display during March

At his apartment/studio on Cumberland Avenue, during a breakfast of bacon and eggs and black coffee, Hafid Lalaoui takes, and serves, his coffee black."Once you add the cream, it becomes a different drink," he says.

His black and white photographs, however, somehow achieve a creamy perfection, mixing the two tones into infinite others. Seven of his exquisite shots are on display this month at Blue on Congress Street. The artist's reception is Thursday night, March 13, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Lalaoui was born in Marrakesh, Morocco, and moved to the United States in 1980. "I went to art school in New York City (School of Visual Art), and majored in photography," he said. Back then, he used an Olympus OM-2, what he calls "a poor photographer's Leica" and delighted in the darkroom after a day's worth of taking photos of big city life.

He traveled back and forth, from New York City to Chefchaouen, in the Moroccan northwest, at least five times, taking photos for what began as a school assignment. He finished the work, but something made him return. "It's a beautiful town. You feel like you are back in time," he said. "The quality of light on the mudhouses and the whole mystery of that town — for a photographer, it's exciting to work there. Visually, it's very compelling."

The seven photographs in the exhibit come from a body of work that was produced between 1980 and 1985. Lalaoui had a darkroom when he was living in Casablanca, and was using the school's studio in New York City. He moved to Portland in 1997, looking for a more leisurely pace, and shared space at the Bakery Photo Collective when it was in Portland.

A year ago, he made the move to digital and purchased an Olympus-EPL2. "Digital made life easier, saving on all the chemistry, and is faster, but still the quality of silverprint ... you cannot compare," he said last year. "The problem with photography as an art form is that it's expensive. It's not like writers who need just paper and pen. Painters needs a canvas; musicians needs an instrument. Photographers need a camera, equipment, and paper for prints, frames."

While the move made his art form more affordable, he lamented the change. "I had that other camera all my life. It's like you're divorcing some lover," he said. He's getting used to the new equipment, and likes the technological advance that allows you to see what you're doing right away, "unlike the old days of contact sheets."

But for every automated improvement there is a manual maneuver that, like the subjects of his photography, are part of a distant past.
Lalaoui misses the B (bulb) setting for longer exposures, and little tricks like pressing the rewind release (so the film doesn't advance when resetting the mirror) for double exposures. "There was some magic about the darkroom," he said. "You see the image coming up. You dodge (make it lighter) and you burn (make it darker). In other words, you balance the image. Now this kind of thing can be done through Photoshop."
Lalaoui has a vast collection of his work, and purchased a digital scanner recently to begin the painstaking task of converting his numerous negatives into prints.

For the exhibit, he will display some of his finest images of men, women and children in the streets of Chefchaouen, a town built in the 17th century. Each of the photos conveys a palpable, creamy texture of ancient architecture and evocative characters. Lalaoui lived in the town when he was photographing there, working each day to break the ice with his celluloid subjects. "Speaking the same language helped," he said. "Before I showed up with a camera I'd have to go and feel the place, with no camera. And then I start to work."

On a few occasions, in a remote part of southern Morocco, Lalaoui experienced some tension with the people he was photographing, but his calm and gentle demeanor helped to diffuse things. "There is always a way to excuse yourself," he said of a souring situation. "How you talk to them makes all the difference."

In his photography, Lalaoui captures frozen moments of a child at simple play, a man with morning coffee, or a woman dressed in haik, a large, outer wrap. When he returned to Chefchaouen five years ago, the women were no longer wearing them, he said. "Now women wearing modern clothing."

Lalaoui met the mayor of the town who asked him to return for an exhibit. "He was aware of the fact that European people want to see something like this," Lalaoui said, "something original from their culture, something that may be dying."

He discussed his perceptions in a formal statement. "As a visual artist, I felt immediately captivated by this town. The contrast between the highlights and darks has a beautiful softness quality to it, and it is in harmony with the narrow, peaceful streets. I love the people with their traditional outfits, the hustle and bustle of the public market, and the old bakeries and baths and, of course, the bazaars. These qualities go together to give this Moorish town its mystical character," he said.

He hopes the show at Blue is the first step in sharing his work with his chosen home. These days, Lalaoui is taking pictures of Portland, "shooting the city, the people, the architecture. The light in Portland is beautiful," he said.

Although photographic equipment has developed dramatically over the last two decades, Lalaoui's advice to young photographers has stayed the same. He says they should "sharpen their eyes. That takes a little practice to be able to see, if you want to do documentary photography. Still life is another thing, but when you work with people, you don't want to be intruding. You want them to feel comfortable."

He's excited about his exhibit, and effusive in his thanks for several patrons who helped make it possible. "Steve Luttrell, Katie Benedict, Ben Monihan, Megan Grumbling, Yorgo Papachristo, Terez Fraser — so many people. It's good to know that local artists in this town are willing to help," he said. "I want to contribute to the arts and culture of this town. We are all immigrants here, and we all have something to give back to the public, to the society, by sharing our art, our vision."

Event Details Exquisite Exhibit: The Photography of Hafid Lalaoui
Artist Reception: Thursday, March 13, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland Photography on display during March
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Morocco comes to Four Arts.
Sunday, March 9, 2014 By Shannon Donnelly Daily News Society Editor

The Contemporaries, the young supporters group of The Society of the Four Arts, traveled only as far as the Philip Hulitar Sculpture Gardens for its biennial bash, a Moroccan-themed evening………..

Read more here: http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/news/local/morocco-comes-to-four-arts/nd8p4/
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Severe genetic disease prevalent in Moroccan Jews identified.
Wednesday 12 March 2014

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have unraveled the genetic basis of a hereditary disease that causes severe brain atrophy, mental retardation and epilepsy in Jews of Moroccan ancestry, according to a study published this week online in the Journal of Medical Genetics.

The disease, which the researchers have called PCCA2 (Progressive Cerebello-Cerebral Atrophy Type 2), is caused by two mutations in the VPS53 gene. It results in defective circulation of vacuoles (endosomes) within patents' cells and leads to detrimental excessive storage of "junk" within the cells.

Children who contract the disease are seemingly fine at birth and develop well until about six months of age. However, deterioration begins soon after with brain atrophy, severe retardation and epilepsy by age one.

One of every 37 Moroccan Jews carries one of the two mutations and based on the high carrier rate, PCCA2 is the most common severe genetic disease in Moroccan Jews discovered to date. Fifteen percent of Israel's total population (1 million people) is of Moroccan ancestry. Nearly 100,000 Moroccan Jews also live in the United States, largely in New York City, Washington D.C., Boston, and Florida. ...........

Continues here: http://world.einnews.com/article/194772443/MAox1t_zzrjjwJvI?n=1&code=F0A6UI8SDeLVJB2O&continued=1
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Memories amid the mullahs of Morocco: Hundreds of years of vibrant history are preserved among the colorful silver and spice souks of Marrakech and Fez
By Michal Shmulovich March 9, 2014 FEZ, Morocco

Among the spice souks and craft shops that line the turns and alleys of the mellahs, or old Jewish quarters in Moroccan cities, are traces of a rich history. Mixed in with the shades of crimson and the scent of smoke and mint are imprints of Morocco’s Jewish past.

The Jewish character of the old mellahs (plural of mellah, or “salt” in Arabic and Hebrew) is tangible – not only because these walled neighborhoods have Jewish cemeteries and preserved synagogues, but because the Jewish community once lived here, giving birth to the markets that, until today, are filled with a dizzying array of goodies: everything from fine silver, amber, and soft leather booties to textiles and natural perfumes from Africa and beyond.

Between these lustrous objects Jewish mementos, like Passover plates and pottery adorned with a Star of David, and centuries-old Hebrew-inscribed calendars, can be discovered. These are the testaments to Morocco’s Jewish past, openly on display among the antique shops and canopied walkways that have become Morocco’s most popular tourist destinations.

Before the Inquisition, Morocco had a native Jewish population that could be traced back to the period following the destruction of the Second Temple during the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE. These former Jewish communities settled among and mixed with the Berbers, and only later, when Sephardic Jews escaped Spain for Morocco and the rest of North Africa — such as the brilliant Jewish scholar Maimonides, who hailed from the Iberian Peninsula during its so-called golden age of Judaism — did Sephardic traditions trounce the former group’s indigenous customs and form of Judaism.

The first mellah was established in 1438 in Fez, Morocco’s oldest Imperial city, where Jews played an important development role, particularly through their commercial skills and regional contacts.

Although the Jews were forced to live in these walled areas until the late 19th century or early 20th century, an address in the mellahs was not always considered a disadvantage. They contained large homes and their prime location, typically near the king’s palace, was considered to be for the Jews’ benefit as it meant greater protection from attacks.

Yet over time, the quarters’ narrow streets became congested and overrun with people, and they became synonymous with ghettos. The Jews were confined to the inner walls of the rundown mellahs, and the areas became associated with cursed, “salted” land, much like the Jews were perceived among Moroccan society. Historians claim the term mellah also pointed to the rituals the Jewish community was made to carry out: salting the heads of fellow Jews who were to be executed.

Over the years, Morocco became home to the largest Jewish population in the Arab world. Before the founding of the State of Israel, there were more than 350,000 Moroccan Jews scattered throughout the country in almost 100 communities.

Under its current leader, King Mohammed VI, Morocco is tolerant, if not welcoming, of its domestic Jewish community and Jewish communities abroad, as well as Israeli tourists. The king recently vowed to restore the country’s synagogues — and in 2013, he made good on part of his promise by allocating money to have Slat Alfassiyine, a 17 th century synagogue in Fez, refurbished.

The country also hasn’t had a history of persecution of Jews in recent decades – and it has recognized the Jewish community’s contributions to its rich culture and history.

Yet, popular opinion toward Jews remains tenuous, especially after the creation of Israel in 1948. “My grandfather used to have a store near the mellah,” Mohammad, a chatty, middle-aged taxi driver from Marrakech, said during a recent ride. “He died after the war [World War II], but I still remember popping into his store every day after school… A lot of his friends and clients were Jews. The Jews were mixed in with the Muslims back then. Things were easy, you know?” He added: “It’s different now. I’m not sure why. Plus, a lot of the Jews have already moved away… I guess I’d say politics makes things more complicated.”

Still, Morocco is arguably the Arab world’s most Israel-friendly country – despite the fact that increasingly vocal strands of society are urging anti-normalization with Jerusalem, as evidenced by two bills introduced in the legislature last year that would make it illegal to have any contacts with Israel.

Today, the Moroccan Jews who didn’t leave for France or Israel number about 3,000, and most live in Casablanca, the country’s political and economic center. Those who remained own businesses and are generally well connected and wealthy.

A walk through the old mellahs provide a refreshing glimpse into the history of the Jewish people. The quarters’ squalor still exists, but they’re also picturesque and bustling — and that, too, speaks to Morocco’s vibrant Jewish past.

Here is a collection of photographs that show present-day life in and around the mellahs of Marrakech and Fez, the cities that were once home to some of Morocco’s largest Jewish communities…..

Read more: Glimpsing Jewish memories amid the mellahs of Morocco | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-mellahs-of-morocco/#ixzz2vaPnuSdG
Follow us: @timesofisrael on Twitter | timesofisrael on Facebook
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King's Four-Nation Tour Deepens Morocco's Partnerships in Africa; More Than 80 Agreements Signed for Economic, Social Cooperation. WASHINGTON , March 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ (MACP) 

This past week, Morocco's King Mohammed VI concluded a three-week trip in Africa which began in Mali and continued to Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Gabon. The King demonstrated Morocco's leadership in South-South cooperation by presiding over the signing of more than 80 bilateral agreements on trade, agriculture, water, energy, industry, job training, and other sectors by members of the Moroccan delegation—including government and private sector representatives—and their Malian, Ivorian, Guinean, and Gabonese counterparts. The trip has been deemed a diplomatic success by African and other international observers and drew praise from the US.

" Morocco is showing the way within the framework of an approach that doesn't recognize artificial differences between North and Sub-Saharan Africa," said Ambassador Michael Battle, US Department of State, at a recent roundtable of African Ambassadors at the National Press Club. Battle, senior advisor to the upcoming August 3-5 US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, said, " Morocco is setting the pace by showing how African countries which are prosperous can be responsive to African countries which are in the process of becoming prosperous."

In Mali, the King and President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita presided over the signing of 17 bilateral cooperation agreements. This was the second Mali visit in less than six months for the King, whose September trip to Bamako resulted in an agreement to send 500 Malian imams to Morocco for training in using Morocco's moderate Islam to help fight the spread of extremism. The first 100 imams have already begun their training.

In Cote d'Ivoire, the King delivered a keynote speech at the first-ever Moroccan-Ivorian Economic Forum in Abidjan, where he stated that "a vibrant, developed Africa is not merely a dream for tomorrow; it can be a reality today, provided we take action," and that " Africa should learn to trust Africa." The Moroccan delegation and their Ivorian counterparts signed 26 bilateral cooperation agreements that included plans to build 8,000 new affordable housing units in Abidjan.

In Guinea, the King and President Alpha Condé chaired the signing of 21 bilateral cooperation agreements and inaugurated a new "Moulins de l'Afrique " flour mill, a joint 30-milllion-Euro Morocco-Guinea venture that will create hundreds of jobs. In a joint statement, Guinea and Morocco called for deploying a strengthened UN peacekeeping force in the Central African Republic, where Morocco has already provided military support to help stabilize the country. In addition, President Condé expressed Guinea's continuing support for Morocco's autonomy initiative to end the Western Sahara conflict. Morocco received backing on the Sahara issue on the other three legs of the tour as well.

At his final stop, King Mohammed VI and Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba presided over the signing of 24 bilateral agreements. They also launched a strategic partnership to build, with Morocco's Office Cherifien de Phosphate (OCP), facilities in Gabon and Morocco to produce fertilizer that will significantly increase agricultural output and food security in neighboring countries.  

" King Mohammed's Africa tour delivered on Morocco's commitment to help build a strong, united, and prosperous future for the continent," said former US Ambassador to Morocco Edward M. Gabriel. "In deeds as well as words, Morocco and its partners have shown they are serious about ' Africa working with Africa' to overcome its challenges and chart a bright new course forward — together."

For more on Morocco and the region, visit http://www.moroccoonthemove.com/. Follow us on Twitter - @MorocOnTheMove. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MoroccoOnTheMove

The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP) is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform opinion makers, government officials, and interested publics in the United States about political and social developments in Morocco and the role being played by the Kingdom of Morocco in broader strategic developments in North Africa , the Mediterranean, and the Middle East . For more, please visit www.moroccoonthemove.com

This material is distributed by the Moroccan American Center for Policy on behalf of the Government of Morocco. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC.

SOURCE Moroccan American Center for Policy Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1787786#ixzz2vpsca6Jt
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Professional rock climber and Squaw Valley resident Emily Harrington will speak Thursday as part of the fifth installment of this year’s Alpenglow Sports Winter Film Series. Harrington’s presentation will focus on recent big-wall climbs in Morocco, according to a press release from Alpenglow Sports.

“While Harrington is known for climbing some of the hardest rock routes in the world and winning sport climbing competitions, she’s always been driven to reach for the next great challenge,” according to the release. “Last year, after her successful summit of Mt. Everest, Emily was off to Morocco’s harsh Atlas Mountains to take on a legendary, 3,000-foot big wall – all part of her quest for endless adventure.”

Harrington has been a leading figure in the climbing community since she was a teenager and has won five-time national championships, two North American championships and has numerous podiums in World Cups, according to the release.

“However, her true passion lies with outdoor climbing and exploring the mountains,” the release continues. “She’s excelled at nearly every aspect of the incredibly specialized disciplines of climbing. She’s reached the most elite levels in the gymnastic and physical discipline of sport climbing, free climbed 2500 foot big walls in remote corners of the world, won ice climbing competitions, and summited the world’s tallest peaks in the Himalaya (including Mount Everest in 2012).”

The show is free and is designed to motivate, inspire and educate. Raffles from The North Face, La Sportiva and Petzl will be on hand. All proceeds will benefit the Sierra Watershed Education Partnership.
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/northshore/10569505-113/climbing-harrington-emily-morocco
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Morocco, UK Set to Boost Economic Ties

Morocco and Great Britain have agreed to enhance further their economic partnership to match the excellence of political ties binding the two kingdoms. The agreement was reached during the latest visit the Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hugh Robertson, paid to Morocco. It was his first official visit to the North African country.

During this visit, Mr. Robertson met with the Head of Moroccan government, Abdelilah Benkirane, a moderate Islamist.  He also met Moroccan minister of foreign affairs Salaheddine Mezouar beneficiaries of a UK-funded project with the Moroccan Parliament. “There is huge potential for partnerships in sectors such as education, financial and professional services and renewable energy”, told the press Mr. Robertson at the end of his two-day visit paid from the 10th to the 11th of March. “We will continue to work to build the links between British and Moroccan business people to ensure we are capitalizing fully on this potential in both our countries’ interests”, he added.

The UK Foreign office minister hailed “the democratic reform process unfolding in Morocco”, saying that his country is working closely with the Moroccan government and civil society in various sectors of common interests.

Talks also covered British-Moroccan partnership on a number of international issues as the two countries are seating at the UN Human Rights Council which offers a great opportunity for cooperation between the two countries.

The trip of Robertson to Morocco is part of UK foreign policy and strategy set out for the North Africa and the Middle East. Since 2011, the region, which is very important for Britain, has experienced major changes, driven by the political and economic demands of citizens of the region for more inclusive, democratic societies with a fair prospect of employment.

North Africa & the Middle-East also matters a lot to the UK. Trade between the UK and this region exceeded £30 billion in 2011, and millions of British tourists visit the area each year. For these reasons, the UK is supporting political and economic reforms in the region to help build a more inclusive, accountable and democratic society.
http://medafricatimes.com/2610-morocco-uk-set-to-boost-economic-ties.html
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Baked Moroccan eggs recipe.
By Tori Haschka

After six months of an extended London winter, we were as bland as egg whites. Come Easter we ran to the orange sands of Morocco. The coast of Agadir has real surf; one dunk in the waters and we were reborn. These eggs may not have been the traditional pink-hued shells from our childhood holidays, but they served me well for brunch on Good Friday. Over a base of spiced and stewed peppers, onions and carrots, we placed poached eggs. We chased after their streaking yolks with puffed breads. Baked eggs are less of a fuss than poaching. These ones still carry a good kick of life. The cumin brings some dark murkiness to the table and the chilli sings of warmth. The best thing is that these eggs don’t require your full attention. Make the spiced ratatouille base and crack the eggs on top (don’t break the yolk). Give the yolks a bonnet of yogurt and garlic, then leave them be. Go surfing. Go walking. Spend time with loved ones. All they need is 16 minutes in the oven and a sprinkling of salt and pepper, or a dash of chilli sauce. The yolks will bleed into the base like sunset over sand. Every time I eat them, these eggs transport me straight to a place where it’s warm. I hope they do the same for you.

11⁄2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, cut into thin half moons
1 carrot, grated
1 teaspoon chopped red chilli
1 red pepper, cut into 1-cm strips
1 yellow pepper, cut into 1-cm strips
2 teaspoons salt
2 eggs
2 tablespoons natural yogurt
1 garlic clove, grated

Toasted pita bread, to serve

Two 250-ml ramekins

Serves 2

Preheat the oven to 180˚C (350˚F) Gas 4.

Toast the cumin in a dry frying pan for 30 seconds until it smells nutty. Add the olive oil and onion. Sauté the onion until it is translucent.

Add the grated carrot, chilli and strips of pepper. Sauté for 5 minutes until the peppers have softened their hard edges.

Add 120 ml water and turn the heat down to medium. Continue to cook for about 15 minutes until the peppers and onions have relaxed into a gentle compote. You should end up with 250–350 ml compote. Season well with salt.

Divide the compote into 2 ramekins, making sure there’s at least 2 cm clear at the top of the ramekin. Create a well in the centre of the compote with the back of a spoon. Crack an egg over the top of the peppers. Don’t allow the yolk to break.

Float a tablespoon of yogurt over each egg yolk. Sprinkle half a teaspoon of grated garlic over the yogurt. Bake for 16 minutes, until the whites are set, but the yolk is still runny.

Serve with toasted pita bread.

You can also make this with stewed aubergine, roasted tomatoes or caponata as a base.

'A Suitcase and a Spatula ' by Tori Haschka is published by Ryland Peters & Smallat £18.99.
http://world.einnews.com/article/194976998/Y4Zm1XeoCqxqKObN?n=1&code=F0A6UI8SDeLVJB2O&continued=1
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Overwhelmed in Morocco
By Putri Zanina | traveltimes@nstp.com.my 13 March 2014|

THUD! “Oh no, you’ve hit him!” As I say this, I swallow hard, as if I’m swallowing a stone. I turn to look at my husband and I see that his fingers are shaking, as he holds the steering wheel. I figure he’s trying to gather his composure, perhaps trying to think of a way to deal with a situation completely beyond what he has ever experienced.

Outside our car, a crowd has gathered and the man (whom I think was hit by my husband just moments ago) is shouting angrily, his hands flailing, his mouth spouting words we don’t understand. Thankfully, he isn’t hurt.

His hand gestures tell us that my husband should have honked. Instead of waiting to hear my husband’s profuse apologies, the man walks off hurriedly. The crowd disperses. The drama ends, much to our relief. But the memory still bubbles up inside me like I’m having acid reflux — churning and burning.

What I didn’t see earlier was that the car had only brushed the man’s side and he had banged the car bonnet hard with his hand.

Everything has been a blur as we inch our way into the medina — the old part of the Moroccan city of Marrakesh. It’s packed with people and madness. Pedestrians walk almost shoulder to shoulder.

Riders on old rickety bicycles, motorcycles and even in donkey and horse carts, weave in and out of traffic that moves rapidly along a maze of lanes flanked by dirty stalls and carts stacked with fruit and food, boxes and bags. The air is dusty, the noise deafening.

The whole scene is overwhelming. And we are lost.

DAZED AND HELPLESS

We cannot find our hotel in the maddening medina. Even the GPS system has gone wacky. It’s telling us to turn right. We do, straight into a souk!

My husband steps on the brake at that instant, confused as to where he should turn now.“Hey brother, where are you going?” asks a large bearded man on a motorbike as he approaches us.

Though it’s a relief to hear someone speak in English, a bad feeling once again coils in my gut.

Before coming to Morocco, I was determined I would not be scammed. Morocco is famous for scams. I have read and seen on TV how tourists have ended up paying hefty sums to seemingly friendly locals looking to make a fast buck. So I tell my husband and my brother to be careful. Yet, as we sit in the car feeling dazed, we know we have no choice but to seek help. Later, we find out we are being scammed — on the very first day we arrive in Marrakesh!

The sun casts long shadows and although it’s only 6pm, the sky is turning dark. We try calling the hotel — a traditional Moroccan riad called Dar Salam, to no avail. No one is answering the phone. So my husband asks the bearded man for directions and he replies: “Follow me.”

We trail him, passing one small lane after another, all congested with sellers, shoppers and pedestrians.

Before long, we stop in a dodgy-looking side street. The man points, and we see a tiny signboard that reads Dar Salam. We heave a sigh of relief.

The man then leads us to a small parking area. It’s here that the hustling and haggling start. The man demands 600 dirham (RM242) which will include parking charges for two days. He finally settles for half the amount. As for us, we just want to get out of there.

LONG DRIVE

We’re tired and our nerves are frayed. We’ve just arrived from Casablanca — Morocco’s famous sea resort city — after a three-hour drive. There, the medina, walled in among Casablanca’s posh buildings with white marbles and tall glass windows, is as madly congested as Kuala Lumpur’s old Chow Kit market area. We had to battle our way out of that medina too.

In the distance is the bluest of sea I’ve ever seen, the Atlantic, while miles away the Sahara Desert sizzles under the sun.

We had entered the African continent through the Moroccan port city of Tangier, the gateway to the African continent from Europe. A half-hour ferry ride from Tarifa in Spain across the Strait of Gibraltar brought us to Morocco. Though the journey was short, the choppy sea left us walking like drunkards on board the giant multi-level FRS ferry.

ESCAPE INTO A RIAD

Pulling our trolley bags, we walk to Dar Salam and ring the bell. The door opens and closes very quickly.

A waif-like woman with long hair and wearing a pink dress welcomes us with a warm smile. It melts my heart. The woman, whose name is Ilham, instantly makes us feel at home in the old, three-storey house with antique furniture, richly hued carpets and pictures, tall ceiling, spiral staircases and towering stone walls. There are no windows.

Payment is in euro and a room here costs 25 euro (RM113) per night.

We are led to our room on the roof-top patio which opens up to the night sky and the twinkling lights below. The room, set like a traditional Berber tent, is as exotic as its name — Chez les Touaregs Tent. Heavy and shiny turquoise drapes cover the walls and even the ceiling. A turquoise curtain separates the small bedroom from the toilet. If not for the air-conditioner, it would have been quite stuffy inside.

Thankfully, the door opens to the patio with seats and tables where Ilham serves us the much welcomed hot mint tea and bread with dips.

As we enjoy the freshly brewed tea, Ilham’s son, Mounadil Abdelmoula, plays the guitar and sings Arabic and French songs. Joining us are four other guests from France and Germany.

Ilham sways to the tunes, her body moving gracefully like the slender stem of a willow tree blown by the wind.

We feel as if we’ve been blown away to some dreamy place, away from the noisy, dusty world down below. That night, we stay snugly in our little abode.

SCAMMERS AT WORK

In the morning, we are set to explore the medina. Alas, Ilham fails to fulfil her promise of getting a guide for us. “No guide is available,” she explains with that oh-so-sweet smile of hers. “Don’t worry, here’s a map,” she says. Armed with that, we set out for our adventure for the day.

Minutes after we are out the door, we hear “Hey brother, remember me?” Oh no, the same man from the previous evening. We ignore him. “You don’t remember me? Last night? Where do you want to go? Come, I take you,” he says. We ignore him. We continue to walk. And he leaves.

Then an old man, pushing a bicycle that has seen better days, walks alongside us. He tells us, in good English, that his wife works as a cook at Dar Salam. “Oh, your wife?” my husband responds. A friendly conversation ensues and the man says he likes to practise his English... bla, bla, bla. Then, he asks: “Do you want to try traditional Berber tagine? I can take you.”

Alarm bells ring in my head. They seem to ring in my husband’s head too and he says: “No.” We walk with our heads straight, giving the old man the cold shoulder. Eventually, he falls back and out of our sight.

SOUk SENSATIONS

Entering the souq quickens our senses. We walk between rows of closely packed stalls where you can buy freshly made sweet treats in one stall and leather bags from the next.

There are boys wearing tattered rags and vendors with rolled turbans on their heads. The souq is packed with bicycles, motorcycles and donkey carts as well as pedestrians, all weaving through the maze of narrow alleys.

The air buzzes with voices and the pitchy sounds of horns and bells as the riders zoom past the narrowest of spaces with the ray of sunlight coming through as thin as razor-sharp lalang.

I stop at a stall where a turbaned man with large, hairy hands is selling nuts. Understanding my signal of wanting to buy some, he quickly scoops the nuts with his bare hands! For a second, I think about cancelling my order but then, he does remind me of the kacang putih man back home some 40 years ago when most people didn’t bat an eyelid over unhygienic handling of food. Here at the souq, vendors scoop dried but still moist dates and figs the same way.

Everything leaves me feeling heady — from the mountains of dates, nuts and spices with the bright yellow saffron taking centre stage and the rows of bottles filled with preserved olives to the precious argan oil — Morocco’s liquid gold with nutritive and cosmetic properties.

FAR FROM DEAD

Our excitement reaches its peak when we set foot on the world heritage-listed Djemaa el-Fna. The ancient market square is exactly as seen on TV. In the day, horse-drawn carriages fight for space in between orange juice stalls and sweetmeat carts. At night, Djemaa el-Fna can leave you breathless. Smoke swirls from the stalls stacked with large pots of boiling soups, and from grills with fiery charcoal sizzling below barbecued meats.

It’s a live, action spot with eye-catching street sellers, jugglers, traditional dancers and musicians, story-tellers, snake-charmers and much more. Ironically, the site for the halqa or street theatre was once the site of public executions (around 1050 AD), hence its name Djemaa el-Fna which means Assembly Of The Dead.

However, Jemaa also means “congregational mosque” while “fana” can mean either “death” or “courtyard space in front of a building.”

Whatever the origin of its name, Djemaa el-Fna is a must visit when in Marrakesh besides other attractions, including Koutoubia Mosque, the royal palace and a centuries-old madrassa (Ben Youssef).

Just watch where you are going at Djemaa el-Fna. And stop before you click your camera to capture the action of the street performers. It may cost you one euro a click!

HOW TO GET THERE

There are no direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Morocco. Catch a connecting flight to the Moroccan city of Casablanca at your preferred transit airport. You may also fly to major cities in Spain, and then take a ferry across the Strait Of Gibraltar. The best route is from Tarifa in Spain to Tangier in Morocco (half an hour ferry ride). Driving distance from Casablanca to Marrakech is 220km (about three hours).

Glorious Moroccan food

NEVER leave without sampling traditional Moroccan food cooked in tagine, the conical ceramic pot. Tagine dishes vary but basically, they are a meat stew with lamb, chicken or beef with vegetables and spices.

Dishes with prunes and apricots are yummy. All tagine meals come with bread or you can have couscous.

The breads are large and filling. Try the flatbread or khobz (fluffy Moroccan bread) or French-style bread. Choices of dips include creamy smooth hummus (mashed chickpeas blended with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, tahini and salt).

The best part of Moroccan-style food is the salad, comprising chopped pepper, tomato and onion. The mixed salad with nearly 10 small tagine dishes with lentils, eggplant, cucumber, carrot, potato, etc can be a meal on its own.

Also try a dish called pastilla, with flaky dough sandwiched with layers of chicken or pigeon with ground almonds and cinnamon.

Grilled kebabs of beef, lamb or chicken served with rice or fries are great at any time of day.

For dessert, choose banana slices sprinkled with cinnamon or yoghurt and mixed chopped fruit. Fresh fruit such as oranges and honey melon are excellent and taste great when juiced.

Watch out for scammers

YOU’VE heard about them, read about them and seen them on TV. In the famous Moroccan scams, friendly locals show you directions and then rip you off and aggressive shopkeepers hustle you or pass off inferior products as prized antiques. The list goes on.

But yet, there are genuinely friendly, honest locals who’ll help you for nothing. Morocco is truly an exotic, lovely place worth repeat visits. Just be street savvy as no amount of reading can really prepare you for what’s to come.
If you are not adventurous, engage a tourist guide but make sure you get an official guide through the local tourism office.

Unofficial guides have many tricks up their sleeves, such as taking you to over-priced restaurants or to merchants who are in cohort with the hustlers and swindlers. Get street smart and you’ll find the hustlers leaving you alone.

Morocco is generally safe but like travelling to any foreign land, carry small amounts of cash, hide your valuables and hold your camera tight. Be extra careful in crowds.

Read more: Overwhelmed in Morocco - Travel - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/holiday/overwhelmed-in-morocco-1.509652#ixzz2vpvhEeKI

More tips for your moroccan adventure.

Visa: Your Moroccan adventure may begin with your visa application. Papers may get lost and making a trip to the Embassy of Morocco in Wisma Selangor Dredging, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur may be necessary. So allow more than two weeks to get your visa.

Money: The Moroccan currency is dirham (MAD or DH). The current exchange rate is RM1 > MAD2.47 (at time of writing). You’ll find it very difficult to exchange or buy it in Malaysia so get it on arrival in Morocco. But if you enter from the Spanish cities of Algeciras or Tarifa, you’ll find money exchange kiosks selling dirham. Preferred foreign currencies are the Euro and US dollar so make sure you bring these currencies with you. Keep small change in the local currency as it’s handy for shopping, tips, etc. I find that most Moroccan merchants prefer to deal in cash instead of credit cards so bring enough cash. But it’s better to withdraw just enough money that you need from the ATMs which can be found quite easily in Marrakesh.

Tipping: Tipping is part of Moroccan life and parting with a few dirham can make life easy. Tipping in restaurants is about 10 to 15 per cent of the bill. Tips for city guides are around MAD400-500 a day while bathroom attendants expect MAD5.

Language: The official languages of Morocco are Arabic and Berber. Berbers form the majority of the population. French is also widely spoken. Communication can be a problem if you speak neither language but quite a number of locals do speak English.

Bargaining: Haggling is part of the game, so enjoy it. Start with half of the asking price. Wander around and compare prices before buying but don’t start haggling if you don’t intend to buy. It’s a scene that you won’t want to be caught in.
Accommodation: Stay in a riad to soak in the atmosphere of a traditional Moroccan house built around an indoor courtyard or garden and with rooftop patio. Service is often Moroccan hospitality at its best.

Driving: It’s right-side driving here. In the city centres, it can drive you mad or leave you feeling like a confused and scared chicken. Daredevils rule the roads. Drivers and motorcyclists don’t seem to obey any traffic rules. They weave in and out of traffic and even go the wrong way, so be on the alert at all times. It’s even more confusing at roundabouts — you go anti-clockwise and not the other way round. Roads are generally well-maintained, with modern, tolled expressways linking the major cities of Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat and Fez. Road signs are in Arabic and French... hmm, don’t worry, you’ll get by though. Use GPS.

Police roadblocks are aplenty outside the cities. Have all your papers in order. But the police don’t seem to “target” tourists. Their focus is on the locals.

There’s a parking attendant at every parking lot. Tip them and they’ll “protect” your car. And they’ll always find you a parking spot no matter how crowded the area is.
http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/holiday/more-tips-for-your-moroccan-adventure-1.509649
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Souk up the sun in Fez .

Liz Hoggard steps back in time to the ancient city of Fez, home to a beguiling medina and beautifully restored riads

Although I’d been dreaming of winter sun in Morocco, everyone warned me it might be slightly chilly in December. In the event it was gloriously warm, and I spent most of my weekend in Fez sunbathing on the roof terrace of Palais Amani in my petticoat, looking like a blowsy Fifties actress.

This exquisitely refurbished art deco riad is the perfect setting for faded Hollywood glamour. A large central garden leads on to 14 bedrooms and suites over two floors, with a restaurant, salon, library and a spa, as well as a traditional hammam. Best of all, the riad’s sun terrace, dotted with tented seating areas, offers spectacular 360-degree views of the ancient city and surrounding mountains.

Palais Amani is actually a great London story. Owners Jemima and Abdelali originally ran the Twenty Trinity restaurant in Brixton and the Mimosa catering business in Herne Hill. Eight years ago, they decided to start a hotel in Fez. When they found the dilapidated 17th-century palace, rebuilt in the 1920s with art deco touches, they knew they had their site. Four years later, Palais Amani emerged.

Abdelali was born in Fez and raised in France, but he remains strongly connected to the city. Part of the motivation behind Palais Amani was to help the young people of the medina get professional training. They have commissioned local artisans to match the original century-old tiles and restore honeycomb plasterwork.

Fez is perfect for a weekend break: a three-hour flight, then a 25-minute drive to the hotel. Arriving downtown, you’re led up a narrow, dusty street to a carved wooden door. As you step into a jasmine-infused courtyard, with fountains and bird song, all stress drops away. Check-in is over a plate of Moroccan pastries and hot mint tea.

My mezzanine suite, overlooking the courtyard, had a king-size bed upstairs (complete with Egyptian hand-embroidered linen) and a sitting room and bathroom downstairs, with stained-glass windows, mosaic-tiled flooring and Moroccan prints. 

Everything has been beautifully thought out, from the natural aromatic bath products to the traditional leather pointy-toed slippers left as gifts, and the fresh rose petals strewn across the bed.

Food is all-important in Morocco (a fusion of Arab, Berber, Moorish and Mediterranean influences). Before my trip, I’d pored over a new book, Colour of Maroc: A Celebration of Food and Life, by Rob and Sophia Palmer. Fez didn’t disappoint. The riad’s blue-and-white tiled restaurant offers local Moroccan cuisine, with produce bought fresh in the market each morning.

You can choose from tagines, slow-cooked beef with wild artichokes or chicken pastille. But I fell in love with the tapas menu, devouring “briouats” (succulent, paper-thin layers of crispy pastry filled with local cheese and honey, shredded saffron chicken or vermicelli and spicy prawns), zaalouk (smokey aubergine purée) and a frothy avocado mousse, followed by lemon tart made with fruit from the hotel’s own trees.

At dusk you hear the call to prayer, best enjoyed from the jewel-like bar on the roof terrace over pre-dinner cocktails, accompanied by cured olives and home-smoked almonds.

Come morning, savour a five-course breakfast including natural yogurt, dried fruit, chorba (vegetable soup), homemade breads and jams, and eggs in the gardens planted with lemon, orange and clementine trees, drinking endless coffee.

Fez is Morocco’s third-largest city yet it’s remarkably unspoilt. There are no large-build hotels and resorts. Dating back to the eighth century, the walled medina (the oldest in Africa) is a Unesco world heritage site. Fashionistas and fans of handmade crafts will find it shopping heaven. At Terrasse de Tannerie, where you watch animal skins being dyed in brilliant-coloured vats, there are bags made from butter-soft suede and leather.

I visited Bou Inania Madrasa (a religious school) to admire the Islamic spiritual architecture and the Musée du Bois (Museum of Wooden Arts and Crafts) for a roof-top mint tea.

There are colour-coded signs on the walls of the medina to correspond with your map. But if you find it too labyrinthine to navigate (I confess that we did) you can book a guide. In the evening, restaurant owners will come down to the riad to escort you to supper.

Palais Amani runs its own cookery masterclasses but I preferred to bliss out in the hammam. Lying on a marble slab, in a dark, scented world, I was scrubbed and massaged, then had a clay mask applied to my hair and torso.

Never before have I stood naked as three sturdy black-clad women poured kettles of warm water over me.

Any self-consciousness ebbs away. I entered the hammam as an uptight Londoner and emerged glowing. Just like that.

DETAILS: MOROCCO

Ryanair flies to Fez from Stansted, returns from £129.98, ryanair.com
Palais Amani has doubles from £140 B&B, palaisamani.com
Fez hosts the annual Festival  of World Sacred Music, June 13–21, moroccofestivals.co.uk
http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/travel/souk-up-the-sun-in-fez-9187238.html
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Great Deals on 'One of a Kind' Moroccan Furniture: Works of art straight from master craftsmen
Clearwater, FL (SBWIRE) 03/12/2014

Moroccan furniture is known to have a very ethnic feel and look to it. It is the kind of furniture that decks the halls of well-known hotel rooms, suits and commercial spaces that are visited by the page 3 socialites and well known personalities.

It is the kind of furniture that ranks high up on the wish list of collectors as well as home owners. But, with the kind of imitation furniture that is available in the market today, there is no real way to tell each piece apart. That said those who want to invest in key pieces to preserve their passion for the Moroccan style of furniture, often hesitate from spending a fortune.

One company though which manages to maintain the perfect harmony between price and quality is justmorocco.com. This is one place where furniture lovers will find everything they are looking for.

Moroccan furniture is highly intricate and detail oriented. The design and artistry have to be top notch in order to create the right kind of visual effect. This is why the furniture sold on the website is by far the best as it comes from master craftsmen who have been a part of the business for very long and have been passing on their knowledge from one generation to the next.

One can expect to find a wealth of choice when it comes to pieces sold on the website. There is Moroccan furniture to suit every corner of the living space. For instance, there are living room pieces, armoires, mirrors, tiles etc. There is something for everyone.

About Justmorocco.com
Justmorocco.com is the place to shop for unique furniture pieces inspired by the Moroccan culture and art. One can find beautiful accent pieces, home décor items, accessories and a lot of other things that can liven up any space. Some of the many popular items sold on the website are Baraka sofa, the Kilim Bench and so on.

Customers can wish to shop via phone or online. Shopping is easy and very convenient. Just by clicking on the item, customers will be redirected to the checkout page. The process is very basic and simple. To know more and check out other amazing Moroccan furniture pieces, log onto: http://www.justmorocco.com

Media Contact : justmorocco@aol.com
http://world.einnews.com/article/194901799/e3k04YFRsaPWfEPN?n=1&code=F0A6UI8SDeLVJB2O&continued=1 ##########################################################

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