US Ambassador: Free-Trade Zone with Morocco, Result of Long Bilateral Friendship .
Morocco-U.S. free trade zone, a promising project.
H.M. King Mohammed VI A Very Modern King, Leading his Country Toward Democracy and Modernity, US Ambassador
Laureus Sport for Good" Foundation Contributes to Rural School in Morocco
Michael Johnson to kick off women race in Casablanca Sunday.
Morocco launches cultural circuits tourism.
Fly to Morocco... and get high on trash.
Japan backs water supply project in Moroccan region.
UNICEF chief lauds king Mohammed's care for childhood.
Moroccan rights group calls for anti-racism law
International seminar on irradiation in Morocco.
German fund offers 200,000 euro to potential investors in Morocco.
Moroccan handicraft and tourism festival kicks off in Marseille.
Kuwait loans Morocco $36.4 mln for dam construction.
Casablanca hosts third Africa-USA ministerial conference on energy.
Former World Athletics Mega-stars in Morocco.
Enterprises' Association deplores government's failure to take any initiative for tariffs dismantling
American Film about Iraq Shot in Morocco

US Ambassador: Free-Trade Zone with Morocco, Result of Long Bilateral Friendship .

RABAT, May 17 - The creation of a Morocco-US free trade zone (FTZ) will crown a longstanding friendship and solid political ties between the two nations, says US ambassador to Morocco, Margaret Tutwiler. The US diplomat told economic weekly "La Vie Economique" the FTZ announced by US president George Bush during the work visit by King Mohammed VI in the US needs to be adopted by the congress. It will be preceded by negotiations to start probably in fall 2002, she went on. In the meantime, she explained, US top trade officials have visited Morocco last January and April to explore with Moroccan officials means for the creation of the zone. After she underscored that Morocco-US friendship is translated into deeper economic ties, the US diplomat said the FTZ agreement will no doubt have positive effects on the two countries' economies, noting that Morocco will, therefore, become the second Arab country, after Jordan, to conclude such an agreement with the USA. © MAP 2002

http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_dep11.htm

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Morocco-U.S. free trade zone, a promising project.

Morocco-USA, Economics, 5/15/2002

The free trade zone that Morocco and the USA contemplate, is a promising project likely to help the Moroccan economy have a stronger position in world economy and reduce dependency on the European Union (EU), an advisor at the U.S. Trade Department said. The materialization of the project, backed by President George W. Bush and by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Dennis Hastert, is "a necessity" particularly with the entry into force of the Morocco-EU free trade area getting closer (2010), Tom Bradmeyer, told MAP news agency. Morocco and the USA are due to start negotiations on the creation of a free trade zone. The accord will help Morocco appear on the very selective list of countries already bound to the USA by such an agreement. Only four nations, namely Canada, Mexico, Jordan and Israel, are on the list. Bradmeyer said "the Bush Administration is aware of the importance of consolidating economic ties with its strategic allies, particularly with Morocco, a long-time friend." The official urged the U.S. federal government and law-makers to speed up the process of creating the zone with Morocco, which offers an institutional frame favourable to investments and enjoys political stability. Kenneth Melton, from the U.S. Business Association, said he is confident as to the prospects of economic cooperation between Morocco and the USA. U.S. Businessmen closely follow the evolution of the Moroccan economy and appreciate the modernization efforts exerted by the North African nation, he said.

Melton noted that his Association welcomes the announcement made by President Bush regarding the creation of the free trade zone with Morocco during his talks in Washington with King Mohammed VI. He added that the materialization of the project will hoist trade and economic exchanges to the level of the excellent political ties that have always bound Morocco and the USA.

The creation of the zone is part of a wider U.S. vision to consolidate the American commercial presence in the region and to make of Morocco a gateway for U.S. exports to Europe, Africa and the Arab world, he said.

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020515/2002051537.html

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H.M. King Mohammed VI A Very Modern King, Leading his Country Toward Democracy and Modernity, US Ambassador

RABAT, May 16 - H.M. King Mohammed VI is a very modern king who "is moving this country at the pace that makes sense, more towards democracy, more towards modernity, US ambassador to Morocco, Margaret Tutwiller told NBC TV Channel. The US diplomat, who was interviewed by NBC's Matt Lauer, explained that the sovereign "is for women. One of his priorities is the increase in education of women. So he's a very modern monarch." In fact, she went on, the king, just like our president, people at home might be surprised to know, has a number of female advisers. "As far as what Americans should know about Morocco, Morocco looks west. We have a 225-year relationship with it. And they are a very tolerant people who like Americans", she stated answering a question about misperceptions between Americans and Moroccans. To another question on the last April's demonstration to support the Palestinian people, Tutwiler argued that demonstration was not anti-American. It was truly an outpouring of sincere support and solidarity with the Palestinian people, and it was done peacefully". Moroccans universally reject terror, she stressed underscoring that immediately after September 11th, H.M. the king was in Mauritania and called (me) within an hour to express his condolences, his horror, his shock. That's gone on all over this country. It's very genuine.

http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_dep10.htm

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Laureus Sport for Good" Foundation Contributes to Rural School in Morocco

MARRAKESH, May 16 - The "Laureus Sport for Good" Foundation is contributing to a rural school in the region of Al-Haouz (central Morocco) after the project was unanimously approved by the

institution. Edwin Moses former champ of the 400m hurdles, who Chairs the foundation, which groups most prestigious world athletes, like American Michael Johnson, five-time Olympic champ, Edwin Moses, car race champion Brazilian Emerson Fittipaldi and Morocco's Nawal Al Mutawakel, former Olympic champ of the 400m hurdles, said he is very happy to contribute, together with Moroccan banking foundation "BMCE", to a social project and to support Morocco's Al Mutawakel in this humanitarian action meant to improve living conditions of poorest populations. A group of most renowned members from the Laureus sport for good foundation are visiting Morocco to kick off on Sunday the "run for fun" women race in Casablanca. The charitable foundation, Sport for Good, targets and support community development projects which make the most of sport's ability to inspire people all over the world. Sport for Good uses the ability of sporting heroes -as the most trusted messengers in the world - to move whole populations to act as one, for useful actions, given that sports, as a universally popular and aspirational activity, sport is the most effective way to reach and help disadvantaged target audiences.

http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_dep13.htm

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Michael Johnson to kick off women race in Casablanca Sunday.

Culture, 5/16/2002

Five-time Olympic champion, Michael Johnson, will fly to Morocco on Wednesday to Kick off in Casablanca Sunday the 4th women race "Run for Fun." Michael Johnson will travel to Morocco together with fellow-members of the "Laureus Sport for Good" foundation that seeks to promote sports as a cure for social ills, like former king of the 400m steeple chase, Edwin Moses, and Brazilian former car race champion, Emerson Fittipaldi. The women race, held under the chairman ship of princess Lalla Meryem, is organized by the Moroccan Association for Sport and Development, chaired by former Olympic champ, Morocco's Nawal El Mutawakil.

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020516/2002051635.html

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Morocco launches cultural circuits tourism.

Economics, 5/14/2002

Morocco will start organizing cultural circuits trips for tourists to discover historical monuments and archeological sites in various regions of the kingdom. Culture and communication minister, Mohamed Achaari, who launched the first experience of the kind that will lead visitors to Oukaimden's rock paintings site, said the experience is meant to promote this type of tourism and attract more visitors. It will also help break the isolation of the rural world, initiate new activities when the winter sports season is over and contributing to sustained development. The Oukaimden's rock paintings site contains over 1,000 paintings representing weapons and animals some of which date back to 1,500 BC.

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020514/2002051424.html

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Fly to Morocco... and get high on trash.

Tom Templeton, Sunday May 12, 2002,The Observer

A load of old rubbish might be an unusual selling point for a holiday, but Travelbag Adventures is planning two trips to Morocco with the main activity being rubbish collecting. Holidaymakers will pick up plastic bottles, orange peel and chocolatewrappers left by inconsiderate hikers on North Africa's tallest mountain. Travelbag hopes its two non-profit trips to Mount Toubkal (4,167m) in the High Atlas Mountain range in September will not only leave it cleaner but discourage littering in future. Lack of toilet and waste disposal facilities coupled with increased popularity has left the area unable to cope. Travelbag boss Mark Wright said: 'We've been running treks to Mount Toubkal for six years, and we found that the last resting point before the summit was getting polluted, so we decided to do something.' But are potential travellers really going to pay to pick up rubbish?

'The trip is slightly cheaper than it would otherwise be,' said Mark Wright. 'We expect some of the people on the trip will have been to this part of the world and will want to put something back. Others will raise sponsorship for the trip, as it is a good cause.' In fact, the cleaning will take up only two days of a 10-day itinerary that includes ascents of Toubkal and Jebel Oukaimeden, and two days in Marrakech. As well as removing litter, trekkers will be putting up signs encouraging walkers to take everything they bring up to the mountains home with them, and (if the authorities agree) latrines. Any remaining money will be spent on educating the local muleteers to avoid pollution.

The Mount Toubkal Clean-up Treks will run 13-22 September (£579) and 16-25 September(£609). Prices include flights, accommodation, most meals, guides and clean-up equipment. Sponsorship forms are available from Travelbag Adventures (01420 541007).

http://travel.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,7445,713923,00.html

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Japan backs water supply project in Moroccan region.

Economics, 5/14/2002

The Japanese government gave Monday the rural commune of Sekoura (Ouarzazate region) an assortment of furniture worth some US$3.3 million, to back a water supply project. The donation, which is part of the Japanese government's (non-paid back) cooperation, will contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of some 57,00 inhabitants in 137 villages in the regions of Tiznit, Taza and Ouarzazate. Japan contributed US$16.2 million to Morocco's PAGER water supply project between 1995 and 1999.

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020514/2002051440.html

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UNICEF chief lauds king Mohammed's care for childhood.

Culture, 5/13/2002

Director general of the United Nations children fund (UNICEF), Carol Bellamy, lauded the interest and care granted by Morocco's King Mohammed VI to the protection of children rights."The Moroccan sovereign and princess Lalla Meryem (chairman of the national children rights observatory) deserve congratulations for the care they grant to children," Bellamy told the Moroccan TV channel (2M). King Mohammed VI attended on Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York the opening session of the UN special general assembly on children. The Moroccan delegation to the conference was chaired by Princess Lalla Meryem and included members of the government as well as non-governmental organizations active in the protection of children rights.

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020513/2002051329.html

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Moroccan rights group calls for anti-racism law

RABAT, May 15 (Reuters) - A Moroccan human rights group on Wednesday urged the government to protect non-Muslims in the country from racial discrimination by amending the penal code. The independent AMDH group criticised an Islamic cleric who created a stir by telling local newspapers in interviews that all Jews are Zionists and must be killed. AMDH Chairman Abdelhamid Amine, speaking at a news conference to present the rights group's 2001 report, said the government should take action against the sort of language used by Abdelbari Zemzmi, an imam at a Casablanca mosque. Morocco, which has a population of some 5,000 Jews, has no law against religious, ethnic and racial discrimination. Earlier this month, a radical Muslim cleric was jailed for six months for inciting violence after calling in sermons for Jihad (Holy Struggle) against Israel and the United States. Amine said human rights in Morocco did not improve significantly last year. "Previous progress, which had been relative, limited and weak, was not widened and consolidated, leaving Morocco far from establishing a state of law," he said. The number of political detainees in the North African country rose to 60 in 2001 from 31 in 2000, AMDH said, and six people died in police custody compared to one in 2000. The government has yet to shed light on the fate of 236 cases of forced disappearances and the country's prisons are overcrowded and in poor condition, it added. ((Rabat newsroom,+212-37 720065 fax +212-37 722499, rabat.newsroom@reuters.com))

http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=1021481416nL15122483&Section=Countries&page=Morocco&channel=All%20Morocco%20News&objectid=22403786-8F1A-11D4-867000D0B74A0D7C

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International seminar on irradiation in Morocco.

Economics, 5/15/2002

The city of Kenitra (40 km north of Rabat) will host this May 25-31 the biannual international colloquy on chemical irradiation, the first time that the conference is held outside Europe and Canada. Set up in 1978, the colloquy is the most important French-speaking event dealing with latest information and novelties in studies on consequences of ionizing radiation. The Moroccan center of energy, nuclear techniques and sciences (CNESTEN), which is organizing the conference with the Kenitra university, says it will promote Moroccan industrialists' awareness on economic advantages of irradiation technology, encourage research and consolidate exchanges between academics and industrialists. Participants will come from France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, England, Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. Over 50 Moroccan industrialists will also be participating to debate radio-sterilization techniques of medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics products, materials irradiationand development of irradiation in the Maghreb region.

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020515/2002051521.html

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German fund offers 200,000 euro to potential investors in Morocco.

Economics, 5/15/2002

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020515/2002051525.html

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Moroccan handicraft and tourism festival kicks off in Marseille.

Economics, 5/15/2002

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020515/2002051529.html

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Kuwait loans Morocco $36.4 mln for dam construction.

Economics, 5/16/2002

Morocco and the Kuwaiti Fund for Economic Development will sign in Rabat next Monday an agreement on a $36.45 Mln loan to finance the Arrouz dam, near the northern city of Tetuan. The project, to be completed by end 2005, aims to supply drinking and irrigation water to the region, and alleviate the impact of floods, the Kuwaiti embassy in Rabat said Tuesday. The Kuwaiti loan will cover 54% of the project cost estimated at $76,1 Mln. The loan will be paid back over 23 years with a 3% interest rate. The fund has so far extended Morocco a total of 27 loans for a total amount of $813 Mln, to finance several social-economic projects.

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020516/2002051628.html

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Casablanca hosts third Africa-USA ministerial conference on energy.

Economics, 5/16/2002

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020516/2002051627.html

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Former World Athletics Mega-stars in Morocco.

Culture, 5/16/2002

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020516/2002051638.html

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Enterprises' Association deplores government's failure to take any initiative for tariffs dismantling

Economics, 5/15/2002

http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/020515/2002051523.html

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American Film about Iraq Shot in Morocco

Entertainment

May 11, 2002

Shooting of the American TV film Life From Baghdad has recently started in the Moroccan Cities of Warzazat and Casablanca, according to the daily al Sharq alAwsat. The film is directed by Michael Jackson and stars Michael Keaton who previously played the starring role in the film Batman. The film tells the story of an American press team led by a production young man named Robert Wiener who goes to Baghdad when the crisis erupts and attempts to tackle the circumstances with objectivity and without prejudice. This attitude is different from the American and international press general orientation during the gulf war. The film describes the meetings between Wiener and the senior Iraqi officials who are close to Saddam Hussein as some sort of solidarity. It also talks about competition between two TV channels in securing an interview through satellite with the Iraqi president. The interview with Saddam constitutes the most prominent scenes of the film as the dialogue between the journalist and the president is shot on the sidelines and during the press interview. The film highlights the press work on the sidelines during war and the pressure which journalists face affecting their work and their strife to maintain the work ethics including honesty and professional performance -- Albawaba.com

http://www.albawaba.com/headlines/TheNews.php3?action=story&sid=212327&lang=e&dir=Entertainmen

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