For a low salary ranging from 220 DHs to 500 Dhs per month (US$ 24 to US$ 55), these house employees don't have days off nor have annual holidays. In addition to housework, the maids also work babysitters, the High Commissioner for Planning says. They are the first ones to wake up and the last ones to go to sleep, the survey notes. Some 22,940 maids under 18 years work in Casablanca. More than half of them (59%) are under 15 and 88.8% are from rural areas. The majority of these girls started their work as housemaids at the age of 7 and some even at the age of five, notably to support their destitute families, the survey concludes.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040409/2004040922.html
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Road accidents cause 11 bln dhs losses per year in Morocco
Economics, 4/8/2004

Road accidents cause over 11 billion Dhs (around US$ 1 billion) losses in Morocco per year, accounting for 2.5 percent of the GDP, the equipment and transport ministry says in a release.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040408/2004040820.html
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Road accidents kill over 3,700 people in Morocco yearly
Rabat, 08/04

Road accidents kill over 3,700 people in Morocco each year, while 14,900 others are seriously injured in a population estimated at 30 million. According to a release issued by the kingdom`s equipment and transport minister, the toad carnage causes a loss of over 11 billion dirhams (1 million euros). The death toll rose by 3.2 percent in 2003, when 3,878 people were killed, compared with 3,761 the previous year. Forty seven percent of vehicles involved in accidents are over ten years old.

Morocco has created an inter-ministerial road security council to co-ordinate a national strategy fighting the "plague", the ministry said. Upgrading the control instruments, reviewing the Highway Code and stepping up sanctions for offenders are some of the measures taken to reduce road
accidents.
http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=243094
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ISU officials will trek to Morocco: Trip is part of ongoing international exchange between countries
By Sue Loughlin/Tribune-Star April 3, 2004

An Indiana State University delegation will visit Morocco next week to help develop the country's higher education system and make it more accessible to Moroccan citizens. Perhaps more important, the educational exchange is a way to promote international relations in a region of the world where anti-American sentiment is pronounced.

ISU President Lloyd Benjamin and a delegation of 12 other ISU representatives will be in Morocco as part of an ongoing international
exchange agreement between ISU, Hassan II University-Mohammedia and other higher education institutions in the North African country.
The delegation, which includes ISU trustee Charlotte Zietlow, will meet with Moroccan educators, governors and government leaders to discuss joint initiatives with Moroccan universities in the areas of higher education administration and leadership, sport management, rural health and public
administration.

Beyond educational benefits, the exchange is a way to promote good relations with Morocco and develop a greater understanding of concerns in that region of the world, Benjamin said. Morocco is doing all it can to become a contemporary state, Benjamin said. It has been one of the most moderate of Islamic countries and often has put itself in a role of wanting to mediate some of the difficulties in the Mideast. "The Moroccans have shown a willingness to try to help negotiate, understand and temper things in ways we don't always hear about," Benjamin said. "I think they can be strong allies of the United States as we try to deal with that part of the world."

Morocco is one of the longest standing allies of the United States, said Gaston Fernandez, executive director of ISU's International Affairs Center
and a member of the contingent to Morocco. It is important to continue that relationship, he said. The ISU delegation is traveling to Morocco at a time when terrorist threats and activities throughout the world are daily news occurrences. Also, the March 11 attacks in Madrid are being blamed on an Islamic extremist group from Morocco. The ISU president said world events have not affected his desire to go to Morocco and he is not unduly concerned about safety issues. Bad things can happen anywhere, he said. "To what extent do you allow those things to govern your life?" he said.

Morocco is full of travelers from all over the world. "I have no reason to think we'll be singled out in any way," Benjamin said. The delegation views its visit to Morocco as part of its job. "It's what we need to do," Benjamin said. "It's good for Terre Haute, it's good for Indiana, it's good for the country." The visit will help promote better world understanding. Zietlow, too, is adamant about going to Morocco. "There is good will to be
built," she said. "I think it's important we work with Arab nations" to improve relations between those countries and the United States.
As far as terrorist risks, she said, "What can you do?"

The ISU team will participate in the third phase of an exchange program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, a program that
builds on an agreement signed in September 2002 between ISU and Hassan II University-Mohammedia. The 15-month project is designed to help Moroccan universities address significant management and administration reforms in the country's higher education system. Those reforms include a shift from centralized, government-driven university management to a decentralized, autonomous management system, similar to that of the higher education system in the United States.

ISU's work with higher education in Morocco can help promote positive change there, the president said. "Our effort is intended to help the Moroccan government provide more educational opportunities for its citizens." The existing capacity is somewhat limited. "It is a country somewhat divided in 'haves' and 'have nots,'" Benjamin said. There is a strong effort to help people improve their lives and economic status through education.
ISU will work with Moroccan higher education in the areas of administration and delivery of educational programs. Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
http://www.tribstar.com/articles/2004/04/05/news/news08.txt
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Hot New American Radio Station Shakes Up Morocco's Biggest Markets.
WASHINGTON, Apr 5, 2004 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/

U.S.-sponsored Radio Sawa, the most successful network of youth-oriented radio stations in the Middle East, has taken Morocco's two biggest cities by storm. After only six months on the air on FM in Casablanca and Rabat, Radio Sawa is now the number one station among all radio listeners 15 and older. Radio Sawa did it with a customized Moroccan version of its upbeat mix of Arabic and Western pop music and comprehensive up-to-the-minute news. An in-depth media survey conducted by ACNielsen in February and March of 2004, showed that 73 percent of all persons 15 and older in Casablanca and Rabat tuned to Radio Sawa every week, more than any other station. Listening for Moroccans under the age of 30 was 88 percent and for those over the age of 30 was 64 percent.

Along with its unique 50/50 mix of the biggest Western and Arabic pop hits, Radio Sawa broadcasts over five hours of news daily and 300 newscasts per week -- newscasts whose goal is to present accurate and balanced information about events in the Middle East and the world. The ACNielsen survey found that 77 percent of Radio Sawa's audience considered its news "reliable." "We had high hopes for our Moroccan version of Radio Sawa but I am very pleased at how quickly its popularity has grown. Our first Moroccan FM radio station launched in the Moroccan capital of Rabat last August and now six months later, we're number one in both Rabat and Morocco's largest city Casablanca," stated Norman J. Pattiz, Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Middle East Committee. "Our unique blend of music and news has proven popular time and time again. Radio Sawa provides an important service to the local population and becomes a vital and constructive part of the local media scene."

Radio Sawa's popularity in Morocco follows its success in prior ACNielsen surveys done in 2003, in Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab
Emirates. In those surveys, Radio Sawa's average weekly audience was 39% of the population 15 and older. By the fall of 2004, Radio Sawa will be broadcasting on FM in six additional cities in Morocco: Tangier, Marrakesh, Meknes, Fes, Agadir and Oujda. Because of the success of Radio Sawa, the BBG recently launched Alhurra (Arabic for "Free One"), the latest and most technologically advanced television organization to transmit into the Middle East. The U.S.-funded satellite channel is a 24-hour news and information network broadcast entirely in Arabic and can be seen in 22 countries throughout the region.

Radio Sawa is operated by a non-profit corporation called "The Middle East Television Network, Inc" (MTN). MTN is financed by the American people
through the U.S. Congress. MTN receives this funding through the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent and autonomous Federal
agency. The BBG serves as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of the broadcasters. SOURCE Middle East Television Network, Inc. CONTACT: Deirdre Kline, Director of Communications of Alhurra, +1-703-852-9250 URL: http://www.alhurra.com http://www.prnewswire.com Copyright (C) 2004 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=096p1835&Section=Main&page=Homepage&channel=Latest%20Press%20Releases&objectid=F441F2B1-2AAF-11D5-867D00D0B74A0D7C&l=204800040405
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Radio Sawa rules Morocco's airwaves US claims new Arabic radio network has become top broadcaster in Morocco's two largest cities.
Published 2004-04-07,WASHINGTON

A US-funded Arabic-language radio network launched to stem rising anti-American sentiment in the Middle East has become the top broadcaster in Morocco's two largest cities, officials said Tuesday. After six months on the air, Radio Sawa is now the number one station among the coveted youth audience in Rabat and Casablanca, they said, citing a survey by global media ratings giant AC Nielson. That survey, conducted in February and March, found that 73 percent of all radio listeners 15 years and older in the two cities tuned in to Radio Sawa every week, more than any other station, the officials said.

Eighty-eight percent of listeners under 30 and 64 percent of those over 30 reported said they tuned in weekly to Radio Sawa, which offers a mix of
English and Arabic pop music and news programming, they said. "We had high hopes for our Moroccan version of Radio Sawa but I am very
pleased at how quickly its popularity has grown," said Norman Pattiz, Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Middle East Committee, which oversees the operation. Radio Sawa was dismissed as a lightweight replacement for the Arabic-language broadcast of Voice of America when it went on the air in March 2002.

But it now has an average listenership of 31.6 percent of the general population in Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates,
making it the leading station in those countries, according to an earlier Nielsen survey conducted in August and September. Its newscasts are designed to present "accurate and balanced information about events in the Middle East and the world" and the latest Nielsen survey
found that 77 percent of Radio Sawas audience considered its news "reliable," according to a BBG statement.

The BBG is an independent and autonomous congressionally funded US federal agency which operates the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and TV Marti and alHurra, a new Middle East satellite television network.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=9542
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U.S. Trade Advisory Groups Support FTA With Morocco.
08 April 2004

Say agreement will expand economic freedom and support democracy U.S. trade advisory committees voiced widespread support for the proposed
U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA), saying the agreement will spur openness and economic growth in Morocco and create new opportunities for U.S. exports. According to an April 8 press release from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the 32 trade advisory committees are required by law to prepare reports of their opinions on proposed trade agreements for the President and the Congress.

According to USTR Robert Zoellick, the reports "show that the Morocco FTA is a cutting edge, modern trade agreement that will expand economic freedom and support democracy. This agreement will open new opportunities for American manufactured goods, farm products, and services ... [and] recognize that this agreement is a vital step in creating a foundation for openness and economic growth, and is another step forward in the President's vision of a Middle East Free Trade Area."

The Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations urged the FTA's "quick adoption and implementation," saying it found the agreement to be "strongly in the U.S. interest and to be an incentive for additional bilateral and regional agreements," according to the press release. According to the Intellectual Property Rights advisory committee, the U.S.-Morocco FTA contains "the most advanced [intellectual property] chapter
in an FTA negotiated so far."
Following is the text of the USTR press release: (begin text)
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20508
USTR PRESS RELEASES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE USTR WEBSITE AT www.USTR.GOV 2004-30
For Immediate Release: Contact: Richard Mills/Neena Moorjani
April 8, 2004 (202) 395-3230

Trade Advisory Groups Report on U.S. - Morocco FTA
WASHINGTON - The Office of the United States Trade Representative yesterday transmitted to the President and the Congress reports from 32 trade advisory committees, comprising more than 750 practitioners representing diverse interests and views, regarding the recently completed U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The Trade Act of 2002 requires these committees to prepare reports on proposed trade agreements for the Administration and Congress. Support for the agreement was widespread among nearly all the committees. "The trade advisory committee reports show that the Morocco FTA is a cutting edge, modern trade agreement that will expand economic freedom and support democracy. This agreement will open new opportunities for American manufactured goods, farm products, and services," said U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick. "The reports recognize that this agreement is a vital step in creating a foundation for openness and economic growth, and is another step forward in the President's vision of a Middle East Free Trade Area."

Support for the agreement was widespread. The Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN), which is appointed by the President and is the most senior committee, urged the U.S.-Morocco FTA's "quick adoption and implementation." ACTPN found the agreement "to be strongly in the U.S. interest and to be an incentive for additional bilateral and regional agreements." Members of ACTPN also stated "the Morocco FTA will serve as a catalyst for other agreements in the Middle East and is a significant step in the President's stated goal of creating a Middle East Free Trade Area." A majority of the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC) said that the agreement provides adequate safeguards for the environment and noted, "this agreement, as well as the Administration's larger Middle East Trade Initiative, might help contribute to economic growth and stability and to positive national security outcomes in the region." TEPAC urged that new environmental mechanisms from other recent agreements, such as CAFTA's citizen-submission process, be included in all U.S. free trade agreements.

Additional and differing viewpoints were expressed among committee members on issues such as intellectual property protection for pharmaceuticals, investment, and dispute resolution provisions. Broad support was also expressed for the Morocco FTA by advisory committees
on services, goods, and intellectual property. These committees highlighted the comprehensive nature of the agreement and its rapid elimination of
tariffs on U.S. exports. Several committees particularly highlighted the agreements strong provision on intellectual property rights, with the advisory committee on Intellectual Property Rights saying that the Morocco FTA contains "the most advanced IP chapter in any FTA negotiated so far."
Advisory committees on capital and consumer goods applauded the comprehensive nature of the agreement and its rapid or immediate elimination
of tariffs on priority U.S. exports. Committees representing the automotive and chemicals sectors expressed support for the agreement, but indicated concerns about the timetable for tariff phase elimination and with regard to the rules of product origin. Agricultural advisory committees voiced broad support for the agreement. The senior-level Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) said the FTA "will improve opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports...new tariff rate quotas will assure access to Morocco's markets for U.S. common and durum wheat, beef, and poultry." Particularly strong support was voiced by agricultural advisory committees for meats, grains, and processed foods.

The committee of state and local government representatives (IGPAC) expressed support for the Morocco Agreement, finding that "America's
economic growth and prosperity are best served by embracing strategies for more open and fair global markets." IGPAC representatives again stressed, as they have in the past, the need for trade agreements to continue to respect the authority of state and local governments to regulate in areas under their jurisdiction. The Labor Advisory Committee (LAC) urged Congress to reject the agreement, alleging deficiencies in local labor laws. Other criticisms in the LAC report are similar to the committee's criticisms of all U.S. free trade agreements negotiated under Trade Promotion Authority, such as alleged non-equivalence of dispute settlement procedures and opposition to provisions on investment and government procurement. The full text of the advisory committee reports are available on the USTR website, www.ustr.gov.

Background
The trade advisory committee system was established in the Trade Act of 1974. The purpose of the system is to ensure that the Administration
receives advice and assistance from a broad range of stakeholders in setting U.S. trade policy and developing balanced U.S. positions in trade
negotiations. The advisory program is run jointly by five federal agencies:USTR, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Agriculture, the
Department of Labor, and the Environmental Protection Agency. USTR is the lead agency. The advisory groups are made up of more than 750 cleared advisors from business, agriculture, labor, environmental groups, consumer groups, state and local governments, as well as academic experts and retired U.S. government officials.

There are 32 advisory committees which meet with U.S. trade officials to provide advice on proposed and on-going trade initiatives. In FY03, more
than 150 advisory committee meetings were held. In addition, USTR and other agencies keep advisors informed by e-mail and the Internet of important developments in trade negotiations. More than 125 such communications were sent to advisors in FY03.

Other recent improvements in the advisory system include daily webcast briefings at trade ministerial meetings, more frequent briefings during the
concluding phases of trade negotiations, a secure website for review of documents, and a complete re-structuring of the industry sectoral and
functional advisory committees to reflect the changing makeup of the U.S. economy.
# # # (end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=April&x=20040408141758ESnamfuaK0.8195154&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html
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EU Approves Euro 71 Mn-worth Development Projects in Morocco
BRUSSELS, Apr.07 (MAP)

The European Commission (EC) has approved a budget of 71.79 million Euro for environment protection and development projects in
northern Morocco, the Commission announced Wednesday. The budget allocated by the European Commission is part of MEDA program, the
principal financial instrument of the European Union (EU) for the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Through MEDA, the EU
supports economic transition and strengthens the socio-economic balance in partner countries. According to the Commission, 42 million Euros will go to the Mediterranean by-pass, a 550 km-long road from the Moroccan northern city of Tangiers to the eastern borders with Algeria. The EC described the project as an essential factor in plans to develop the northern province and break the isolation of the Rif region.

The EC also approved 7 million Euros under a program for sanitation in the Moroccan towns that will provide Oujda (eastern Morocco) with waste water disposal facilities, improving the quality of water resources and helping to prevent flooding and urban pollution. An amount of 4.7 million Euro goes to another environmental protection project, ONEP IV, designed to minimize the environmental impact of seven major water treatment plants in the northern and central areas of Morocco.

Two projects designed to balance economic and environmental considerations:one to clean up the Mohammedia power station and the other for urban drainage get EUR 9 million each. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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The Commission approves development operations worth over EUR 140 million for Morocco, ...

The European Commission has given its approval for EUR 140.79 million of development spending for Morocco, Egypt and Jordan. The EUR 71.79 million for Morocco will be used primarily to fund sustainable and balanced economic development in the north of the country and reduce environmental damage. EUR 64 million is allocated to Egypt, to upgrade the quality of the environment and improve living conditions in South Sinai. The remaining EUR 5 million will finance Jordan's Al Meyah Programme to support management of the country's water resources. The operations will be carried out under the Meda Programme's 2003 National Financing Plans.

Community cooperation with Morocco will focus on two priorities: migration management and environmental protection. Additional funding of EUR 42 million goes to the "Rocade Méditerranéenne" project for a 550 km highway from Tanger to the border with Algeria, an essential factor in plans to develop the northern province and open up the Rif. The money will be used mainly to pay for extra stabilisation and support work.

Under the heading of environmental improvements the Commission is providing EUR 7 million under a programme for sanitation in Moroccan towns to provide Oujda with waste water disposal facilities, improving the quality of water resources in the area and helping to prevent flooding and urban pollution. EUR 4.7 million goes to another environmental protection project, ONEP IV, to minimise the environmental impact of seven major water treatment plants in the northern and central areas of Morocco. Two projects designed to balance economic and environmental considerations one to clean up the Mohammedia power station and one for urban drainage get EUR 9 million each.

The allocation under the 2003 National Financing Plan is EUR 71.75 million.

Meda: Launched in 1995, the MEDA Programme still constitutes the EU's main financial instrument for implementing cooperation activities under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. Bilateral cooperation with partner countries focuses on certain key objectives including the implementation of Association Agreements and major structural reforms supporting economic transition and the private sector with a view to the creation of a future Euro-Mediterranean free-trade area; the strengthening of basic social services; support for democratic pluralism and respect for human rights and the universal principles underpinning the rule of law; and the promotion of sub-regional cooperation with a view to better South-South integration..
http://www.tenders.co.uk/news/article.asp?id=447&page=1&pagesize=10&orderby=date
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JBIC supports secondary education in Morocco.
Thursday 8th April 2004

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has signed an ODA loan agreement totalling up to 8.935 billion yen (approximately US$ 85 million) with Morocco to help finance their Rural Secondary Education Expansion Project.

The Moroccan Governments economic and social development agenda places an emphasis on people and this is demonstrated by its adoption of a National Education and Human Resource Development Charter and the preparation of the Economic and Social Development Plan for 2000-2004. This loan agreement will enable 101 junior high schools to be built and equipped in the rural areas of the following regions: Marrakech, Tensift and Al Haouz, Taza, Al Hoceima and Taounate, Doukkala and Abda, Tanger and Tétouan, and Souss, Massa and Draà.

Strenuous efforts have also been made to extend and improve the provision of basic education. As a result, the national primary school enrolment rate rose from 52.5% in the academic year 1990-1991 to 90% in 2001. However, infrastructure development such as school construction and educational equipment has failed to keep up with the sharp increase in the number of students graduating from primary schools, thereby restricting the number enrolled at secondary schools to 63.1% in 2001.

The shortage of educational facilities is particularly serious in rural areas, where only 42.1% are enrolled in secondary school. Another problem is the low enrolment rate of girls living in remote rural areas, which stood at 32.9% in 2000, compared with 78.9% in urban areas. Therefore, one of the priorities of the educational sector in Morocco is to construct junior high schools within commuting distance of these students.

Financial support for the project is expected to help reduce the existing disparities between urban and rural areas and between boys and girls in accessing education, thereby helping to raise living standards in the rural areas of Morocco.

Note to Editors: The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the result of the merger between the Export-Import Bank of Japan (JEXIM) and the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF), was established in 1999. With its capital fully subscribed by the Japanese Government, JBIC is the main institution responsible for Japan's official financing overseas. JBIC undertakes lending and other financial operations, which contribute to
the sound development of the Japanese and international economy. JBIC's operations consist of International Financial Operations (IFOs), such as export and import loans, overseas investment loans, bridge loans and equity participation. These aid the promotion of Japanese exports, imports and economic activities overseas, while encouraging the stability of the international financial order.

JBIC's operations also consist of Overseas Economic Cooperation Operations (OECOs). The principal purpose is to assist developing countries in their efforts to develop economic and social infrastructure and stabilise their economies through the provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA) low-interest and long-term loans and private sector investment finance. The dollar figures given above are calculated using the exchange rate of
105.09 yen to US$ 1 (source: Financial Times, 6 April 2004).

For further information please contact:
Yoshiharu Sato, Chief Representative
Yukihisa Hayakawa, Representative
Naoki Yoneda, Representative
Japan Bank for International Cooperation
Tel: 020 7638 0175
Fax: 020 7638 2401
Email: y-sato@jbic.go.jp
yu-hayakawa@jbic.go.jp
n-yoneda@jbic.go.jp Pernille Goodall Raitt Orr & Associates Ltd Tel: 020 7222 5479 Fax: 020 7222 5480
Email: pernille@raittorr.co.uk
http://www.sustdev.org/industry.news/2004/08.04.04.html
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Family law in Morocco, a revolution in the Arab states, writer
Politics, 4/7/2004

The Moroccan francophone writer, Tahar Benjelloun, described in Tripoli Monday the newly-approved family law in Morocco as a revolution in the Arab states.

Addressing a conference themed the "Arab World and Modernity," Benjelloun said the reform of laws related to the situation of women in Morocco is a "bold step" that was favourably greeted worldwide. The reformed Family law highlights the principle of "equality of rights and duties" within the marriage and abandons the principle of the "wife's obedience to her husband." According to the new reforms, the age of women in marriage raises from 15 to 18 and polygamy can only be practised under highly restrictive conditions.

Benjelloun insisted that Arab countries should give more attention to the situation of women and heed personal liberty, democracy, equality, the fight against poverty and marginalization. He added that "misunderstanding between the Arab world and the West stems from the lack of a common vision concerning the individual," highlighting the need to draw inspiration from the apogee of the Arab-Islamic society from the 9th to the 11th century.

The 60-year old writer, currently visiting Libya on the invitation of the French institute of Tripoli, presented his book "l'auberge des pauvres" (the Hostel of the Poor) at a meeting last Saturday with Libyan intellectuals. Benjelloun won in 1987 Prix Concourt for his book "la nuit sacree" (sacred night).
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040407/2004040720.html
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Morocco launches sheep pox immunization
Local, 4/8/2004

The Moroccan ministry of agriculture and rural development said it will start this April 12 a free campaign to immunize more than 12 million sheep against ship pox. The operation, for which a budget of 30 million Dirhams (US$ 3.3 million) was earmarked, will mobilize 500 veterinary medical teams and will be carried out on 20,000 locations.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040408/2004040823.html
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Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation: Medical, Hygiene, Food, Psychological Assistance to Quake-Stricken Populations
RABAT, Apr.0

The Mohammed V solidarity foundation has provided several forms of assistance and support to victims of the earthquake that jolted last February 24 the Moroccan northern region of Al Hoceima.

The foundation says in a roundup-statement released on Wednesday that as soon as the 6.6 quake that left 629 people dead, thousands of people injured and others homeless erupted, the foundation rushed to the region various forms of support, including equipped medical teams, devices to preserve the hygiene of the regions, psychological support and specific operations for people left in a precarious situation by the tremor.

Thus, 3 mobile medical units together with ambulances and 42 four wheel-drive cars were dispatched to offer diagnosis and medical treatment services. A total of 30 voluntary doctors and 360 social workers were on the site, both in fixed units (in 2 localities) and as part of itinerant teams. These relief teams were supplied with medicine and other medical equipment while the hospital of Al Hoceima was provided by the Foundation with a mammography device in addition to other equipment, worth 8 million DH (US$ 888,000), donated by the foundation last September.

Regarding supplies of foods and other relief products, the foundation says it has distributed 2,500 tents, thousands of blankets and other foodstuffs for a total value exceeding 20 million DH (US$ 222 million), including 3 million DH (US$ 333,000) that went to school bags given to school pupils.

The foundation has distributed the assistance through its own teams or through local associations to which it provided 17 vehicles.

To prevent the appearance of diseases and epidemics, the Foundation says it has provided antirabic vaccinations, hygiene products and other equipment, particularly 2 waste-collection vans and garbage containers. The bivouacs accommodating the quake-struck populations were also endowed with prefabricated and concrete toilets.

In a contribution to alleviate the moral sufferings of the traumatized population, the foundation opened psychological support centers where sociologists, psychologists, psychiatrists and pedo-psychiatrists brought support to the victims.

In addition to these emergency relief operations, the Foundation says it has started acting to support orphans and women who lost relatives or suffered physical handicaps, as a result of the quake.

The Foundation, which says it will publish an audited report on donations it received, announced that it was given donations worth 34 million DH (US$ 3.7 million) by enterprises, individuals and associations. MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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Morocco seeks international help against locusts.
02 Apr 2004 RABAT, April 2 (Reuters)

Morocco appealed on Friday for international help against the threat of locusts ravaging its cereal crops. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said last month the problem of locusts in northwest Africa risked turning into a full-blown plague. Algeria and Morocco were among the countries most at risk, it said. "The situation calls for more vigilance. In a few days, eggs laid after recent rains in northern Mauritania will hatch and the little insects will need to eat," said Abdelaziz Arifi, an engineer in charge of the issue at the Agriculture Ministry. Asked if the locusts had reached cereal-planted areas, Arifi said: "Thank God they have not. Locusts are still confined to the extreme southern and eastern part of the country." "But we have to act and we are preparing a campaign to stop the newly born locusts," he said, adding that the insects were mainly coming from Algeria and Mauritania. The Moroccan authorities, who have so far treated 532,000 hectares and spent nearly $14 million to kill the winged insects, need mainly pesticides, sprayers and communication equipment, Arifi said. "We can do our best to eradicate locusts...But we need international help to do that," he added. Moroccan farmers are otherwise expecting a second straight bumper cereals harvest this year thanks to generous rainfall.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L02631877.htm
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Morocco receives 22% more tourists in Jan-Feb. 2004
Economics, 4/9/2004

Morocco received last January and February 619,000 foreign tourists, which is 22% higher than in the same period of 2003, according to statistics
released by the tourism ministry.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040409/2004040919.html
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Twenty eight e-government services on line
Local, 4/9/2004
Morocco counts 28 e-government on line services, with the launching of two new services via the internet, an official source announced. The two new on-line services are an e-justice service displaying the list of hearings at the trade courts in Casablanca and Rabat and Casablanca 1st instance court, in addition to a mobile justice service that makes it possible to consult via mobile phones commerce registers and notices of verdicts for insurance companies. The second most recent Internet service is a consultation of information related to civil servants salaries. With these two new services, the number of e-services reaches 28. Casablanca will launch its e-wilaya (larger province) portal on April 15.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040409/2004040918.html
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Moroccan Human Rights association presents annual report for 2003
Politics, 4/8/2004

The Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH) presented in Rabat Tuesday its annual report on the human rights situation in Morocco. On this occasion, AMDH chairman, Abdelhamid Amine, told the Moroccan TV channel "TVM" the year 2003 was marked by the adoption of the family code that makes men and women equal in rights and duties in marriage and divorce and restricts polygamy to very specific cases. The Code, adopted early this year by the parliament, aims at promoting the situation of women in society.

For Amine, the royal pardon granted to several political prisoners last January was also a step forward in human rights promotion in Morocco as well as the creation of the Equity and Reconciliation committee that is in charge of out-of-court settlement of past human rights breaches, notably forced disappearances and arbitrary detentions.

Director of the Moroccan branch of Amnesty International, Mohamed Sektaoui, said the international organization "hails Morocco's efforts in human rights regardless of some negative points in the report." "Significant developments were registered in human rights education," he added.

AMDH report comprises three chapters dealing with various issues including "the situation in prisons," "kidnapping," "personal security" and "the right to life." The 265-page document also discusses women and children's rights and includes a report on immigration.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040408/2004040821.html
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MATRA AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERING: ENGINEERING CENTRE IN MOROCCO.
(AGI) - TUrin, Apr 9.

An engineering centre in Morocco will be opened by the Pininfarina Group: the objective being the growth in the automobile engineering sector by training personnel in this sector, at"Matra Automobile Engineering", (Pininfarina Group). An agreement with such an aim has been signed, at Rabat, with representatives from the Moroccan government, with the Prime Minister Driss Jettou and Andrea Pininfarina present. The engineering centre which will be set up in Morocco, will be controlled by the Matra Automobie Engineering company which, forecasts a minimum of 60 operative staff by 2006. 091716 APR 04
http://www.agi.it/english/news.pl?doc=200404091716-1170-RT1-CRO-0-NF30&page=0&id=agionline-eng.bnessitaly
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Morocco human rights record criticized.
CASABLANCA, Morocco, April 8 (UPI)

Human rights groups are criticizing the Moroccan government for undermining freedom of expression in its fight against terrorists, the BBC said Thursday. Moroccan Human Rights Association spokesman Abdel Ilah Benabdeslam said journalists and people defending human rights are being repressed, while suspected Islamic militants are being kidnapped and tortured by the authorities. Four people were sentenced to death in connection with bombings in which about 45 people were killed in Casablanca in five simultaneous attacks. The association's report for 2003 said arrests of Muslim fundamentalists are followed by unfair trials and heavy sentences that can include capital punishment. The human rights group, however, said there had been improvements in Morocco, under King Mohammed VI, who acceded to the throne in 1999 on the death of his father, Hassan II.
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040408-101824-2041r.htm
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EC Welcomes Morocco-Turkey FTA as Major Stride in Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area.
BRUSSELS, Apr.07

The European Commission welcomed this Wednesday the signing on the same day of a free trade agreement between Morocco and Turkey as "a significant stepping stone towards the conclusion of the Euro-Mediterranean free trade area by 2010". EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said: "Today's move by two key Mediterranean trading partners to open trade between themselves is the right step in that direction (regional integration). We are getting closer to our goal of creating a fully integrated trade area around the Mediterranean rim by 2010."

"Now that the network of free trade agreements between the EU and its Mediterranean partners is almost completed, the focus must be on fostering regional integration between Mediterranean countries", he said. Morocco and Turkey agreed in Ankara to gradually create a Free Trade Area (FTA).

The European Union and its Mediterranean partners had agreed in 1995, by virtue of the Barcelona process, to create a comprehensive Euro-Mediterranean free trade area by 2010. This means that by that date all countries must have signed free trade agreements with the EU and with each other. © MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/eco_001.htm
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Morocco Reviews Laws on Anti-seismic Construction
RABAT, Apr. 01 - The Moroccan government council, that convened here Thursday, adopted several draft laws related to anti-seismic construction. Communication minister and the government spokesman, Nabil Benabdellah told a press briefing that the council examined other draft laws aimed at reviewing, modernizing and harmonizing legal provisions related to the control of housing in conformity with the instructions of HM king Mohammed
VI.

This comes in the wake of the earthquake that hit last February 24 the northern region of Al Hoceima, killing 629 people and injuring 926 others. The quake left over 15,000 people homeless after the collapse of 2,539 houses.

In a speech delivered last Thursday, the Moroccan monarch criticized the "irresponsible behavior", and "dereliction of duty on the part of public authorities and elected officials" concerning anti-seismic regulations, urging them to strictly reinforce anti-seismic regulations and put a stop to all illegal practices "for which the entire country pays a particularly heavy price, whenever a natural disaster strikes."

HM the king instructed the government and parliament to "pass during the next spring session of the House, legislation criminalizing practices which encourage unauthorized housing or violate earthquake-resistant construction regulations."

Benabdellah said a ministerial delegation will hold next Saturday a meeting with local authorities of Al Hoceima to discuss the reconstruction program of the houses destroyed by the earthquake and examine the situation of the populations that were deeply affected by the disaster.

HM King Mohammed VI had instructed the government to "undertake immediately the preparation of an integrated structural development plan for the rehabilitation of Al Hoceima and the development of the Rif region." The plan aims to provide the region with the basic infrastructure it needs, such as electricity, water supply networks and roads and accelerate the reconstruction and restoration of basic public facilities like schools and
hospitals. © MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/politics/pol_019.htm
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Morocco accused over war on terror .
Thursday, 8 April, 2004

Anti-terrorist measures being taken by the government in Morocco are undermining the freedom of expression, human rights groups say. Moroccan Human Rights Association spokesman Abdel Ilah Benabdeslam says journalists and people defending human rights are being repressed. Mr Benabdeslam said suspected Islamic militants are being kidnapped and tortured by the authorities. Four people were sentenced to death in connection with last May's bombings. About 45 people were killed in five simultaneous attacks in Casablanca.

Improvements
"We're not opposed to the fight against terrorism, but we demand that this struggle is carried out within the rule of law," Mr Benabdeslam told AFP news agency. The association's report for 2003 says arrests among the ranks of Muslim fundamentalists are accompanied by unfair trials and heavy sentences ranging up to capital punishment. The human rights group however acknowledged that there had been improvements in Morocco, since King Mohammed VI acceded to the throne in 1999 on the death of his father, Hassan II. Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3610839.stm
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Anti-terrorism operations erode rights in Morocco
Published 2004-04-07,
Report warns against deterioration of economic rights, repression of press, people defending human rights.
RABAT - Anti-terrorist measures taken by Moroccan authorities have caused "serious setbacks" for human rights in the north African kingdom, the independent Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH) said Wednesday. In its annual report for 2003, the AMDH said such "setbacks" included "arrests among the ranks of Muslim fundamentalists accompanied by kidnappings, torture, unfair trials and heavy sentences ranging up to capital punishment." "There is also repression of the press, journalists and people defending human rights," said the report, stating that the turning point came after suicide bomb attacks in Casablanca on May 16, 2003, killed 45 people. The AMDH acknowledged that there had been improvements in Morocco, since King Mohammed VI acceded to the throne in 1999 on the death of his father, Hassan II.

The report gave the examples of a new family code, the freeing of many political prisoners, the creation of a body responsible for fairness and reconciliation, which will take charge of cases arising from the country's "dark years" under governments renowned for repression. However, such progress was "partial and vulnerable" and could even be reversed, the AMDH said, because of the lack of a "democratic constitution" and the "official choice taken to fight terrorism, sweeping aside respect for human rights." "At a time when we would have wished to see major developments in civic and political rights, the state has announced that it wants to settle past cases and we're seeing a return to the old methods," AMDH official Abdel Ilah Benabdeslam said in a comment on the report. "We're not opposed to the fight against terrorism, but we demand that this struggle is carried out within the rule of law," he said.

The annual report said there had also been a deterioration of what it described as "economic rights". "Unemployment has spread everywhere, and the lack of jobs for graduates is a flaw," it said, warning that joblessness "leads to criminal behaviour, clandestine emigration and an inclination towards terrorism."
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=9551
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Major Tourism Compound Launched in Casablanca
CASABLANCA, Apr.06

A ministerial delegation launched this Tuesday construction works for "Casablanca City", a major tourism compound in Casablanca to be carried out by French group "Accor". The compound, located in downtown Casablanca, consists of three hotels (three, four and five stars) that will have upon completion in 2007 a total accommodation capacity of 7,600 beds for an investment of 1.3 billion DH (around US$ 133 million). Investors said the landmark project also features a shopping mall, buildings for offices and 700 parking places. Casablanca authorities are hoping to bring the number of visitors from 350,000 presently to one million tourists by 2010. CEO and founder of Accord, a leading French hotel group that owns some 4,000 hotels worldwide, said his group is intent on supporting Morocco's ambitious tourism promotion policy. The tourism outlook for 2004 is positive, said tourism minister Adil Douiri, as the number of tourist guest nights nationwide grew by 6% in January and 15% in February. © MAP 2004
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HM the King chairs opening of needy children festival
Casablanca, April 5

HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco on Sunday chaired the opening of the 2nd festival of children with "specific needs" organized on the occasion of the National Day of the Handicap. This festival is organized by the department in charge of the Family, Solidarity and Social action to the benefit of handicapped children with the help of the charity Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation. © MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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Equity and reconciliation committee to probe HR breaches from independence
Politics, 4/7/2004

The Equity and Reconciliation Committee in charge of out-of-court settlement of human rights breaches will study cases dating back to the independence of Morocco (1956) in a bid to resolve all pending issues of human rights violations, the Committee's chairman said. Driss Benzekri said in an interview aired Tuesday in the Moroccan TV channel "TVM" the Committee will establish the truth about the fate of the disappeared people and will determine the reasons and circumstances of kidnapping and arbitrary disappearances.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040407/2004040719.html
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Through the Desert

Evocative photographs of Morocco may not deliver on photographer Simin Soroush's artistic agenda, but they are beautiful and stunning nonetheless The mystery, beauty and drama of Morocco come to Nashville in a new show featuring more than 40 archival prints by Iranian photographer Simin Soroush, currently at The Parthenon through May 1. Soroush, who now lives in Nashville, describes her development as a photographer as one of "internal revolution," brought about in part by her personal experience of the Iranian Revolution in 1979. During the revolution, Soroush lived close to a prison and witnessed the execution of countless innocent people. Her husband had already fled for his life, leaving Soroush and her young daughter in Iran. In the face of increasing harassment by the authorities, she also fled to the United States in 1984. Immediately, Soroush began to look for ways to deal with the horrors she had experienced in her native country. Almost by chance, photography presented itself as a creative means to deal with her experiences. Through her photographs, Soroush sought to express the sadness and injustice she felt by being expelled from her homeland without knowing when or if she would be able to return. Since coming to the U.S., she has traveled extensively to locales as far-flung as Argentina, Guatemala, Peru, Ecuador, Russia, Uzbekistan, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Spain. The images that comprise "Land of the Setting Sun" were made on the artist's photographic odyssey to Morocco in the fall of 2002. Soroush deliberately
shunned major tourist centers and instead visited small towns and villages, where she sought to capture the true spirit of the people and their culture.

The resulting photographs are beautiful and, on occasion, stunning. Notable images include "El Jadida," a beautifully lit study of a cavernous Portuguese water cistern built in 1541 and used by Orson Welles during the filing of Othello. "Tannery of Fez" depicts what is thought to be one of the oldest tanneries in the world, with a history of more than 7,000 years. The star of the show, predictably, is the Sahara Desert itself--endlessly shifting, changing color from white to gold to salmon, depending on the time of day. Arab legend, says Soroush, tells us that every single grain of sand in the Sahara represents a human lie. When humanity becomes sincere again, the desert will disappear. Soroush elegantly captures the dangerous, seductive beauty of the windswept terrain, which, she notes poignantly, continues to grow unchecked and covers more land with every passing year.

Soroush attempts to represent her subjects simply--direct, real and undoctored. She professes to eschew the temptation to alter scenes or to use color filters. Of course, there is more than one way to apply "filters" to photographic subjects--for example, by carefully discriminating between what to shoot and what to bypass. And so it is here. This is travelogue Morocco: the bustle and exotic swirl of the bazaar; the dark interiors of
subterranean chambers illuminated by desert light streaming through overhead portals; restless golden sand dunes receding endlessly under cyan skies; the twisting, maze-like alleys of the Old Medina in Tetuouan evoking mystery and intrigue.

Never less than aesthetically pleasing, this is a glossy, consciously beautified Morocco with no hint of edginess. It is, then, an idealized view. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but in her artist statement, Soroush explains how her photography unmasks and exposes many defining commonalities of the human condition that exist below the surface of superficially diverse cultures. The artist describes this underlying connection as the spirit of "us-ness." Such a philosophical and artistic agenda is entirely suited to investigation through the photographic medium.
Whether such a profound vision can be realized simply by a kaleidoscopic swirl through the more visually arresting aspects of Morocco and its culture (or any culture, for that matter) is another point entirely. Soroush admits that her attempts to highlight the universality of the human experience through her photographs is not one easily described--rather, the viewer must see it for him- or herself. She suggests that it is the spiritual energy she pours into her pictures that touches the soul of viewers everywhere--whatever race or nationality that person happens to be.

Does she make her point? Ultimately, the viewer is left to judge the artist's success in this highly subjective endeavor. Regardless, the images stand on their own merit without programmatic explanation or conceptual rationale. This is a beautiful and evocative show--a celebration of a fascinating, distant culture--and that's reason enough to take a look. --Paul Deakin
http://www.nashvillescene.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?story=This_Week:Arts:Art--Through_the_Desert
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FTA with Turkey will help Morocco Complete membership to Euro-Mediterranean space
Morocco-Turkey, Economics, 4/6/2004

Moroccan Foreign trade minister, Mustapha Mechahouri, underlined that the free trade agreement (FTA) between Morocco and Turkey, to be signed on April 7 in Ankara, will help Morocco complete membership to the "Euro-Mediterranean space."

In an interview published Monday by the Moroccan daily "Assahra a Maghribya," Mechahouri said that the importance of the agreement stems from the fact that Turkey is one of the candidate countries for European Union membership.

According to the Moroccan minister, this agreement is different from those that Morocco has signed or is about to sign with other countries as it stipulates for the abolishment of all customs tariffs for Moroccan industrial products by January 1st, 2005, date of its entry into force, while Turkish products would benefit from a gradual exemption of these tariffs in ten year time.

Regarding agriculture, the Moroccan official underlined that as it had been convened with Turkey, Moroccan agricultural products will benefit from total protection.

On his part, Turkish ambassador in Morocco, Algan Akin, told the same newspaper that Turkey grants great importance to this agreement, the first of its nature to be signed with an Arab state, particularly as Morocco is about to sign an FTA with the United States, which will enable Turkish investors based in Morocco to export their products to the American market.
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Tech Access follows Sun to North Africa
Wednesday, 7 April, 2004 by Stuart Wilson

Tech Access will expand its Channel Development Partner (CDP) role for Sun Microsystems by opening a regional office in Casablanca, Morocco, to tap into growing IT investment in North Africa.

"North Africa is witnessing significant growth in IT spending, particularly in key industries like energy and telecommunications, and we anticipate that demand for hardware and software will continue to rise as the key economic sectors continue to expand," said Philippe Weppe, channels director EMEA, Sun Microsystems MENA. "Our partners in North Africa have delivered strong results for Sun in the region, and we are convinced that the North Africa regional office will enable them to continue to support the technological development of the region."

Tech Access' direct investment in the region will boost support levels for Sun's partners in North Africa. As well as serving Moroccan Sun partners, Tech Access' new office will also cover the surrounding territories of Mauritania, Algeria and Tunisia.

The Morocco office will provide an extra layer of support for Sun's customers in North Africa, which include Maroc Telecom Credit du Maroc, BIAT and Sonatrach. Current partners in the region include Ib-Maroc.com for Morocco, Dimension Data, Ares Maghreb, and JBM for Algeria, and TMI for Tunisia. Sun Microsystems is currently boosting its partner network in North Africa, and Tech Access' office will support this drive.

"The office will provide a key role in recruiting new partners in the region, engaging independent software vendors, and expanding Sun's channel coverage in the region," said Rachid Rami, regional manager, North Africa, Sun Microsystems.

"Tech Access has opened this office to assist resellers in identifying new business opportunities, and provide the highest levels of technical and professional support across North Africa. This strategic investment will further build and strengthen the position of Sun partners across the region," said Saad Tazi, regional manager, North Africa, Tech Access.

Given Sun's channel model, Tech Access' move to open a Moroccan office is a strong signal that IT investment continues to grow in North Africa. Tech Access will assist the local channel with pre-sales technical support, training, marketing and technical assistance as well as generating leads in the region. As North African IT spending grows, the need for vendors to match this with feet-on-the-street and a genuine local presence also
increases.
http://www.itp.net/news/details.php?id=11561&category
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When the Boat Comes in
April 2 Volume 31. 07.04.2004

A year after officially launching the Tangiers-Mediterranean port project (TangerMed), Morocco's King was back on site late March, looking at progress in one of the country's most important construction projects. Meanwhile, the construction sector was also digesting news of a major new investment in Morocco's cement industry.

First, the port project. Situated on the Straits of Gibraltar some 35 km east of Tangiers, the deep-water harbour is part of an ambitious regional plan known as the Special Development Zone of Tangier. The basic idea is to transform the area into a major transport and distribution hub, at the intersection of two major world sea routes, from Europe to Africa and from the Atlantic into the Mediterranean.

The zone will be made up of a seaport, export free zones, tourism-dedicated areas and connecting infrastructure, such as roads, highways and railways. The port itself will take on some of the container and cereal traffic currently using the old port of Tangiers while also serving as the import/export point for goods and services produced in the new, local free zones. The idea is that the old port will then be able to turn itself into something less industrial and more aimed at the cruise ship and yacht market.

The plan's ambition goes further however - the eventually aim is to use Tangiers as a springboard to develop the whole of the northern region, pulling in investment and jobs. The port project also dovetails with a wider attempt by the Moroccan authorities to develop maritime transport in and out of Tangiers and the country's other harbours. With this in mind, late March saw the announcement of a new ferry route between Tangiers and Port Vendres in Mediterranean France, due to start up in October this year. There was also a meeting of the Moroccan-Syrian merchant navy joint commission, which called for a boost in trans-Mediterranean co-operation.

After this meeting, Azzedine Diouri, a senior official at the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment and Transport, told reporters that currently, the Moroccan merchant fleet consisted of 46 boats, which carried around 6.8m tonnes of cargo in 2002, while they had carried out trade worth around Dh1bn. What Rabat is hoping is that this can be expanded significantly through co-operation with other Mediterranean states, and in particular, through the exploitation of Euro-Mediterranean projects.

The benefits have also already started to flow around the region. Last June saw the Tangier Mediterranean Special Development Agency, which is managing and administering the $1bn TangerMed project, sign a $242m contract with a group of construction contractors led by the French Bouygues Corporation for the building of the basic port facilities. Nine months on, work has been progressed some way, with King Mohammed VI's visit designed to boost the project's profile.

The port zone will also see major investment in the regional transport infrastructure. Figures from the Moroccan National Highway Company (ADM) released in March showed that it had invested over $1.1bn in highway construction in 2003, a year marked by developments in new projects between Casablanca and el-Jadida, Asilah and Tangiers and around Settat. It was alsoa year marked by some good receipts, with ADM declaring it had earned around $60m in 2003, with motorway toll revenue up by 8%.

The port project is likely to see that figure boosted in years to come, while it is also likely to continue to have a beneficial effect on the country's cement industry. One market leader in this sector is Lafarge Maroc, the local subsidiary of the French giant.

Lafarge has been having a successful time of it recently in Morocco, posting net gains of Dh784m (Dh1/$0.902) for 2003. This was an increase of 16.5%, year-on-year and was based on boosted sales, which had risen 12.8% y-o-y to Dh2.98bn for the 12-month period. Building on this achievement, Lafarge announced March 30 that its 50%-owned subsidiary, Lafarge Ciments, would be building a new production line at Bouskoura, near Casablanca, to increase its cement capacity by over 900,000 tonnes a year. Production is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2006, with the expansion costing a total Dh2.5bn over the 2004-2008 period.

Lafarge CEO Bernard Kasriel said that this investment would significantly increase the plant's profitability.

"Together with the successful start of our new cement plant in Tetouan", he told reporters, "the increase of capacity in Bouskoura will enable us to pursue our development with very good returns in this fast-growing market."

Lafarge Ciments, a subsidiary of Lafarge held in partnership with Société Nationale d'Investissement (SNI), has four cement plants in Morocco - at Bouskoura, Tangiers, Meknes and Tetouan. These currently bring in a total capacity of 4.2m tonnes a year, a figure that will top 5m once the new Bouskoura plant investment comes on stream. With infrastructure construction such a major priority in the country's development, many Moroccans are also hopeful that such projects as the TangerMed development will start to make real inroads into the country's growing socio-economic problems - such as unemployment and uneven development between the big cities and rural areas. These are big goals, yetthe government's plans are certainly not lacking in the ambition to reachthem.
http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/weekly01.asp?id=830
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Marathon des Sables 2004

The Marathon des Sables is almost on us again. This Thursday, 610 runners will be flying from around the world to Ouarzazate in Morocco for the 19th Marathon des Sables. From there they will head down into the Sahara Desert, to the start in southern Morocco (location as yet unrevealed). After a day's equipment testing on Saturday the adventure will start on Sunday morning.

The MdS is of course the original desert race. 250 kilometres in six stages over seven days. It's self-sufficient, so competitors carry all their own food, bedding and equipment. They start with perhaps 20lbs in weight and by the end of the week they finish with 10lbs. They will be ragged, exhausted, their faces encrusted with sweat-salt and dust, but they will be exhilarated. They will have faced a classic race and won.

Over the coming two weeks we will be following the racers in the 19th Marathon des Sables, tracking their every painful pace through the desert, through the oueds, over mountain ranges, past oasis valleys. We will carry daily diaries and a series of race blogs. Their reports will start on Wednesday.
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Moroccan-based show unites sacred music from three faiths: International Muslim, Jewish and Christian musicians work to build peace through song.
By Ann Stifter Savannah Morning News ann.stifter@savannahnow.com 912-652-0332

The gospel singers filled their dressing room with silence. They had just finished prayers and sat in quiet meditation in darkness. No music played to pump them up two hours before they were scheduled to walk onstage and perform in the Lucas Theatre for the Arts as part of the Savannah Music Festival. Yet, they each heard singing. It blared in their hearts and souls. "The music is in you," Maria Jackson said shortly after ending her
meditation. At 34, the Goldsboro, N.C., resident traveled to Savannah with her six sisters to help an international group of performers spread peace through music.

The sisters sang gospel after a Palestinian man and an Israeli man gave a joint invocation in Hebrew and Arabic. The gospel singers performed after Francoise Atlan, a Jewish woman from Algeria, sang religious songs in Hebrew and Ladino (the language of the Spanish Jews) and a group of Moroccan women (Hadra des Femmes de Taroudant) sang religious Islamic songs. Even listeners who don't understand Hebrew or Arabic could feel the passion as the vocalists hit high notes and elongated the lyrics. Whether a listener understood what message was being conveyed didn't matter either. Each internalized the songs based on his experiences.

Since the beginning of March, the musicians and vocalists have been performing in The Spirit of Fes Tour, an interfaith program by the Fes Festival of Sacred Music, based in Morocco. The 16-city tour was the first North American show since the program was started in 1991. This tour ends in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday. The performers, who at first didn't sit next to each other on the tour bus because they didn't understand each other's languages, will leave as friends.

Now, they try to talk to each other with hand gestures. They know they share the desire to express their spirituality through music. "If everybody lived their religion the way the people on this tour do, I would find religion a lot easier to take," said George Cruze, company manager for The Sprit of Fes tour. "There's no hypocrisy. People on this tour are living their faith."
http://www.savannahnow.com/stories/040404/LOC_fesfestival.shtml
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Major Tourism Compound Launched in Casablanca
CASABLANCA, Apr.06

A ministerial delegation launched this Tuesday construction works for "Casablanca City", a major tourism compound in Casablanca to be carried out by French group "Accor". The compound, located in downtown Casablanca, consists of three hotels (three, four and five stars) that will have upon completion in 2007 a total accommodation capacity of 7,600 beds for an investment of 1.3 billion DH(around US$ 133 million). Investors said the landmark project also features a shopping mall, buildings for offices and 700 parking places. Casablanca authorities are hoping to bring the number of visitors from 350,000 presently to one million tourists by 2010. CEO and founder of Accord, a leading French hotel group that owns some 4,000 hotels worldwide, said his group is intent on supporting Morocco's ambitious tourism promotion policy. The tourism outlook for 2004 is positive, said tourism minister Adil Douiri, as the number of tourist guest nights nationwide grew by 6% in January and 15% in February. © MAP 2004
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Blatter Launches Construction of FIFA-funded Project in Morocco
RABAT, Apr.08

President of the international football federation (FIFA), Joseph Blatter, launched Thursday the construction of a center for football training in Maamoura (near Rabat). The US $845.000-worth project is funded by FIFA, part the Goal project that is a development initiative destined to meet specific needs of member national associations. The project is aimed at bridging the gap between the developed European countries and the under developed nations in Africa, Asia and South America to help develop football worldwide, as it offers the beneficiary countries the opportunity to train coaches, referees, and football administrators as well as to embark on youth development programmes.

The training center in Morocco, to be built on a 2,200 meter area, will comprise 24 double rooms and 10 individual rooms, a restaurant, in addition to a body-building and care rooms.

President of the Moroccan football royal federation, Housni Benslimane, said the center is part of efforts aimed at upgrading national football. He added that the center is part of a series of sports infrastructures, including Moulay Rachid national sports institute, the royal institute for cadres training and the sports center. These infrastructures, he said, will constitute in the near future the Olympic city of Maamoura. In the same connection, Blatter said he is proud of this project that would enable over sixty people to follow an adequate training in football.

Some 170 countries have already benefited of the Goal project that will enter in the second phase in the near future, said president of the Goal Project, Mohamed Ben Hammam Al Abdellah, underlining that it is a dream that comes true. Blatter, who is on a two-day visit to Morocco, was received Thursday by HM king Mohammed VI. © MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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