'Operation Smile' Launched in Morocco.
WB Loans Morocco 25 Mln Euro
Japan grants a loan to Morocco to help finance education
Moroccan exporters welcome FTA with US, reserved about Turkey
Luxemburg allocates EUR3.7 million to development projects in Morocco
Belgium needs theology institute to train Islam teachers
Morocco Invested over 1 Billion DHs for Highways Construction in 2003
Government eager to promote Civil Society role, Minister
HM the King pays homage to late Moroccan Jew Historian Zafrani
Amitelo begins incorporation of subsidiary in Morocco
Equity and reconciliation committee, unique experience in the Arab states, human rights activist
Moroccans no longer first foreign community in Spain, official.

'Operation Smile' Launched in Morocco.
Health, 4/2/2004

The third mission of "Operation Smile" was launched in Marrakesh Thursday in Ibn Tofail Hospital in a bid to bring back the smile to some 200 children suffering from facial malformations. Operation Smile, founded in 1982, is a humanitarian and medical relief organisation dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children worldwide by correcting their facial malformations. This third mission will last until April 9 and will benefit to children afflicted with facial malformations, cleft lips, cleft palates and burns.

Some 50 specialized surgeons and nurses from Morocco and various countries will take part in this year's "Operation Smile." Similar missions are scheduled this year in Casablanca, Laayoune (south) and Al Hoceima (north). Dr. Gianluca Biavati that is part of this year's medical team explained that this mission is mainly destined to children of rural and landlocked areas of the region of Marrakesh-Tensift El Haouz (southern Morocco). Over 470 surgeries were carried out during the two last missions of "Operation Smile" in Marrakesh.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040402/2004040216.html
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WB Loans Morocco 25 Mln Euro
RABAT, Mar. 30

The World Bank (WB) has loaned Morocco 25 Million Euro destined to improve living condition of rural populations in seven non-irrigated agricultural areas. The loan is part of a US $41.2 million project to be carried out on a six-year period aiming to reduce the vulnerability of these regions to drought and reinforce partnership in rural development.

Moroccan finance and privatisation minister, Fathallah Oulalou, said during the signing of the agreement between Morocco and the World Bank the project is part of the 2020 strategy for rural development. He pointed out that Morocco has called on the international financial group to support three rural development programs and reform the agricultural sector in Morocco to "pave the way for the liberalization of the sector, develop public and private partnerships and restructure the sector in the light of the free trade zone, notably with the European Union and the United States."

Morocco had signed with Europe an association accord that would lead to the creation of a free trade zone by 2010 and it is expected to sign soon a Free Trade Agreement with the United States after more than a year of negotiations.

Representative of the World Bank in the Maghreb, Theodore Ahlers, said the agreement with Morocco is a concretisation of one of the top objectives of the cooperation strategy between Morocco and WB for the period 2001-2004, aiming to reduce poverty in impoverished rural areas. MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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Japan grants a loan to Morocco to help finance education
Rabat, Mar. 30

Japan has granted Morocco a 8.93 billion Yens loan (744,583,333 DH) to help finance a project of education in rural areas. The loan agreement was signed, here Tuesday, by Moroccan minister of finance and privatization Fathallah Oualalou and Japan's ambassador to Rabat Yoshitaka Kawamura.
This loan will help promote secondary school teaching rural areas, and construct and equip 101 high schools in several northern and southern regions. Citing 2001 statistics, the Japanese diplomat said Morocco was the first beneficiary of Japan's assistance in North Africa and the second in the African continent. © MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/eco_2f11.htm
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Moroccan exporters welcome FTA with US, reserved about Turkey
Morocco-Turkey, Economics, 4/2/2004

The "Association marocaine des exportateurs" (ASMEX) has welcomed the free trade agreement recently concluded between Morocco and the United States, but voiced reservations about the projected FTA with Turkey. The Moroccan Exporters Association voiced resolved to contribute, as part of the accord concluded with the US, to "the success of the process of marketing national products in the American market."

ASMEX which held the monthly meeting of its executive bureau lately in Casablanca, said it was ready to participate in "the national effort of study, communication and trade promotion to achieve the success of this accord and safeguard of the interests of the Moroccan productive sectors." It urged for the setting up of "the necessary accompanying measures and for upgrading of the production units, necessary to face this challenge." The Association finally expressed reservations about the planned FTA agreement between Morocco and Turkey because of "possible negative consequences on many sectors," they did not identify.

Morocco and turkey are due to sign this month a free trade agreement that will, according to Moroccan foreign trade minister, Mustapha Mechahouri, provide for the creation of a free trade zone in the sector of industry after a 10-year transition period and the lifting of all customs tariffs for Moroccan industrial products, while Turkish products would benefit from a gradual exemption of these tariffs. The flow of trade between the two countries rose from 870 million Dirhams (nearly 97 million dollars) in 1985 to 2.47 billion DH (over 270 million dollars) in 2003. Morocco imports from Turkey mine products, industrial fibres, cars, radios and televisions, and exports mainly phosphate acid, lead and leather products.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040402/2004040220.html
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Luxemburg allocates EUR3.7 million to development projects in Morocco
Mar 29, 2004 (Al-Bawaba via COMTEX)

The government of Luxemburg will extend EUR3.7 million to a Moroccan water and road construction project. The initiative will secure potable water supplies to the populations of Errachidia and Zagoura in Southern, Morocco, reported MAP. The funds will cover the analysis and follow-up of water quality, equipment maintenance and the installation of purification technology. The contribution from Luxemburg will also finance the construction of two roads, which will open up the landlocked region of Errachdia and Zagoura. Morocco's surface water resources are limited and must be saved in order to be able to satisfy the needs for drinking, industrial and agricultural purposes. While globally the water demand is satisfied, certain regions already suffer from water scarcity, especially during dry years. -(menareport.com)By Mena Report Reporters(C) 2004 Albawaba.com, All rights reserved.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=089w1953&section=Countries&page=Morocco&channel=All%20Morocco%20News&objectid=22403786-8F1A-11D4-867000D0B74A0D7C
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Belgium needs theology institute to train Islam teachers
MP Religion, 4/1/2004

Visiting Chairwoman of the Parliament of the French community in Belgium proposed, in Rabat Wednesday, the creation of an institute of theology to train teachers in Islam religion in Belgium. Francoise Schepmans said such an institute will allow the 500,000 strong Moslem community in Belgium have " a real status." She wished to set up this institute with Morocco's partnership, noting the existence in her country of professors who teach the Catholic and Jewish religions in Belgian schools. She regretted, in a statement to MAP after a meeting with the minister delegate in charge of Moroccan expatriates, Nouzha Chekrouni, that so far non recognized associations and teachers lacking the required training, are teaching Islam in her country. On her part, the Moroccan minister deplored the "amalgam between immigration, Islam and terrorism" and called for the Moroccan expatriates to participate in the ongoing democratic process in the Kingdom.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040401/2004040120.html
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Morocco Invested over 1 Billion DHs for Highways Construction in 2003
RABAT, Mar. 31

Morocco invested over 1 billion Dhs (10 Dhs : US $9.02) for the construction of highways, the Moroccan national company for highways
(ADM) said in a release. ADM recalled that the year 2003 was marked by the pursuit or the start of new projects on the axes of Casablanca-El Jadida, Asilah-Tangier (north) and Settat (near Casablanca). The net gains achieved by the company were estimated at 56 million Dhs in 2003, the release points out, underlining that the receipts of toll motorways increased by 8 percent compared to 2002 given the significant rise in traffic in different road sections. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/eco_2111.htm
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Government eager to promote Civil Society role, Minister
Morocco, Politics, 4/1/2004

The Moroccan minister of Human Rights has voiced the Government's resolve to cooperate with the Civil Society in Morocco, and hailed its contribution in promoting human rights in the Kingdom. Mohamed Aujjar who received on Tuesday a delegation of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (REMDH), recalled the Government's efforts in promoting human rights in the country as part of "a democratic and modern project initiated by HM King Mohammed VI in the respect of civilization and religious values of the Kingdom and in accordance with international conventions on human rights," said a communique of the human rights ministry.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040401/2004040119.html
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HM the King pays homage to late Moroccan Jew Historian Zafrani
Paris, Apr. 2

HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco has paid homage to Haim zafrani, a Moroccan Jew historian and writer who died early Wednesday in Paris at the age of 82, in a condolences message sent to his family. Born in 1922 in Essaouira (south-west of Rabat), Zafrani, an academician, member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco, and also member of several French institutes, was known for his writings about the Jewish thought, language and literature, in particular for his book "2000 years of Jewish life In Morocco."

In his condolences message sent to Zafrani's wife Celia and read out at the funeral, Thursday, by HM the king's advisor, Andre Azoulay, the monarch described as "an exceptional man" the Moroccan historian whose "encyclopedic knowledge, his fundamental writings have been and will remain decisive for the knowledge of the singularity of our Moroccan identity and heritage (..)." Other tributes were paid to Zafrani by academicians and writers including Morocco's Tahar Benjelloun who hailed "the spiritual richness, the generosity, the humility and the rigor" of this historian. MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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Amitelo begins incorporation of subsidiary in Morocco
Mar 31, 2004 (Al-Bawaba via COMTEX)

Amitelo Communications has started the incorporation of its 100 percent owned subsidiary Amitelo Technology in Casablanca, Morocco.
Amitelo technology is a fully owned subsidiary of Amitelo Communications. The company consists of an international network operations and monitoring center (NOC). The center will coordinate network troubles, provide problem management, routers configuration services, manages network changes, allocates and manages IP-Addresses, monitors routers, IP-gateways and other network elements.  Amitelo Communications is an international telecommunications and internet service provider. Its core business is the delivery of voice and Internet services. The company concentrates on providing both Voice over IP (VoIP) services and Broadband DSL via Satellite in regions lacking connectivity. - (menareport.com)
By Mena Report Reporters (C) 2004 Albawaba.com, All rights reserved.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=091w6391&section=Countries&page=Morocco&channel=All%20Morocco%20News&objectid=22403786-8F1A-11D4-867000D0B74A0D7C
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Equity and reconciliation committee, unique experience in the Arab states, human rights activist
Morocco, Politics, 3/27/2004

The creation of the Equity and Reconciliation Committee is a unique experience in the Arab world and an important step in the history of the country, a member of the Federation of international human rights league said. Kemais Chammari who was speaking at the opening session of a seminar held in Rabat on "committees of truth and reconciliation: the Moroccan experience" shed light on the importance of the process that started a few months ago in Morocco and the efforts made to turn the page of the past. He said the Moroccan experience will definitely be a source of inspiration to other countries.

The Equity and Reconciliation committee's mission is to look into past human rights violations such as forced disappearances and arbitrary detentions, in response to demands of the families of the victims. Federico Borello, member of the International center for transitional justice (ICTJ) said the creation of the Equity and Reconciliation Committee crowns the kingdom's efforts for human rights respect.

The seminar, held on March 25-27, aims to review international experiences in dealing with issues of human rights violations.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040327/2004032715.html
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Moroccans no longer first foreign community in Spain, official.
Local, 4/1/2004
The 378,979 strong Moroccan community in legal situation in Spain, is no longer the first foreign community in this country as it was outnumbered by Equadorian community which totals 390,297 people also in legal situation, according to official statistics published here Wednesday.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040401/2004040118.html

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