Locust Invasion: Some 707,623 ha Treated in Morocco
Turkey And Morocco Sign Environmental Co-operation Agreement.
Moroccan-American FTA, best ever concluded agreement with USA, Minister.
Informal economy contributes 24% to morocco's GDP.
IDB Allocates US $50 Mn for Development Project in Morocco.
FC Conferences on Small and Medium Enterprise Finance Launched in Morocco
USA Supports Morocco's 2010 World Cup Bid
Morocco Promotes Soccer in Schools
Morocco to combat high level of road deaths
Morocco Sets up Fund to Increase Road Investments to 500 Mn Dhs per Year
Moroccan and European textile professionals probe implications of Morocco's FTA with USA and Turkey.
International Women Arts Festival in Assilah.
Washington will not impose a solution to Sahara dispute, whatsoever, Ambassador
Less than 200 Movies Produced in Morocco in 30 Years
EU Enlargement to benefit Morocco, Says EU Official
Diwan Al-Madhalim in Morocco, an institute for the protection of citizens
Ombudsman Office, A Tool to Incite administration Respect Rule of Law
DJ Morocco Envoy:Nation Committed To Destroying Terror Cells.
Commission Receives 20,000 Compensation Claims for Past Human Rights Abuses
Government announces drafting of anti-corruption law
New labor code heralds mutual assistance and partnership in enterprises, minister
No incompatibility between Islam and democracy, Says Moroccan Islamic party chief
French company to launch automobile engineering center in Morocco
One-month Moroccan Siamese Pass away
Morocco: Fight of Human-Trafficking a Top Priority
Moroccan railway traffic: 1.73 bln dhs receipts in 3Ú4 of 2003

Locust Invasion: Some 707,623 ha Treated in Morocco
RABAT, Apr.15

Some 707,623 hectares of agricultural land have been sprayed so far with anti-locust pesticides by Moroccan authorities as part of the fight against locusts invasion, announced on Wednesday the central command of the fight against locust invasion (PCCLA).  Morocco continues to be invaded by locusts coming from neighboring countries in particular Algeria, said the PCCLA noting that only Spain has so far extended Morocco help in fighting this invasion by lending some planes.

Donor countries met in Rome on April 8 in Rome to discuss Morocco's needs, said the central command. Last week, Morocco appealed for international help against the threat of locusts ravaging its cereal crops. The UN 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. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/eco_003.htm
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Turkey And Morocco Sign Environmental Co-operation Agreement.
Anadolu Agency: 4/16/2004 ANKARA

Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe and Territorial Management, Water and Environment Minister Mohamed El-Yazghi of Morocco have signed an environmental co-operation agreement. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Pepe said on Friday that joint efforts to be carried out by Turkey and Morocco in environment protection would be discussed during the meetings between the two delegations. Meanwhile, El-Yazghi said in his part that Turkey and Morocco had signed a free trade agreement a few days ago.

El-Yazghi stressed that the agreements would make an important contribution to further improvement of economic and commercial relations and friendly ties between Turkish and Moroccan peoples. Highlighting importance of the issue of environment in regard to social health and future of the world, El-Yazghi recalled that the Moroccan parliament had adopted new laws about environment protection and prevention of desertification.
Later, Ministry of Environment and Forestry Undersecretary Hasan Zuhuri Sarikaya and Moroccan Ambassador to Turkey Muhammed Cherti signed the First Action Plan for the years of 2004 and 2005. (UK-AY) 16.04.2004 http://www.turkishpress.com/turkishpress/news.aspID=19200
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Moroccan-American FTA, best ever concluded agreement with USA,Minister.
Economics, 4/13/2004

The recently concluded Moroccan-American Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is the "best agreement ever concluded with the United States," insisted, in Tangiers Saturday, Moroccan minister of industry, commerce and telecommunications. Rachid Talbi Alami who was speaking at a seminar, said this accord is the best "because of the importance of the results achieved by the Moroccan negotiating team."

"It is the best agreement of free trade so far obtained by a country with the United States as it allows 99.73 percent of Moroccan products to access duty-free the American market," the minister explained. He also underlined the importance of the opportunities provided by this agreement to foreign investors established in Morocco as it will allow them to achieve 12 to 65 percent savings on duties to access the American markets, noting in this respect that several Chinese, Pakistani, Indian and Italian industrialists are already envisaging to set up businesses in Morocco. He finally urged Moroccans to upgrade their enterprises before the entry into force of this agreement.
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Informal economy contributes 24% to morocco's GDP.
Economics, 4/10/2004

The informal economy accounts for 17% of the Moroccan added value and contributes 24% to the GDP, said Morocco's high commissioner for planning, Ahmed Lahlimi. The official told a conference in Marrakesh on the informal economy, informal activities are a very important sector, as it employs half of the Moroccan manpower working in the economic sector and the number of its enterprises are twice higher than the formal sector companies. For Lahlimi, this sector that is adapted to the Moroccan traditional society is dominated by trade (50%), followed by handicraft and services (20% each). Informal activities also supply 60% of raw materials used by small and medium-sized enterprises. The conference debated problems encountered to improve the competitiveness of the Moroccan economy.
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IDB Allocates US $50 Mn for Development Project in Morocco.
RABAT, Apr.13

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will contribute US $50 million in the funding of a rural electrification project in eight Moroccan provinces, the Bank's regional bureau in Rabat announced. The project is designed to improve living conditions of populations in rural areas. It will benefit to 1,221 villages, that is 54,009 families. The plan, initiated by the Moroccan national electricity office (ONE), was approved by IDB's executive directors' board at a meeting held recently In Jeddah. Since its creation in 1974, IDB has financed several development projects in Morocco in the sectors of infrastructure, agriculture, industry, water and electricity. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_depmayy14.htm
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FC Conferences on Small and Medium Enterprise Finance Launched in Morocco
RABAT/WASHINGTON D.C., April 10, 2004.

The North Africa Enterprise Development (NAED), a regional small and medium enterprise business development facility program managed by the International Finance Corporation, has convened the first of five planned conferences in Rabat on best practices, international experiences and methods to increase access to finance for small and medium enterprises in Morocco.

The series of conferences reflect the joint efforts of NAED's and the Central Bank of Morocco to improve the local environment for SME lending.
NAED signed a partnership agreement with the central bank in March 2004 to look at the possibility of creating a database for the financial statements of companies, addressing a major barrier to higher bank lending: issues of transparency and the dearth of reliable information about SME creditworthiness.

IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, held the first conference, "Making SME Finance Profitable", on April 2 in partnership with the central bank. Some 170 participants from Morocco and Algeria, ranging from financial sector representatives, government officials, and representatives of Morocco's donors, attended the conference, which was held under the patronage of H.E Abdellatif Jouahri, the central bank governor. The conference addressed topics such as SME marketing strategies, credit scoring and rating and other risk management practices, debt collection systems and product development, and included success stories on stimulating finance for SMEs in other emerging countries and industrialized states.

A further four conferences on SME finance will be convened in Morocco by NAED, and will also include participants from commercial banks and senior government officials drawn from the kingdom's other neighboring countries -Tunisia and Mauritania.

NAED (www.ifc.org/sme) is the first small business development facility in the Middle East and North Africa region and is managed from IFC's headquarters in Cairo, with IFC offices in Algiers and Rabat as well. It is a five-year $20 million technical assistance program for small businesses, co-funded by IFC and donor countries, including Belgium, France, Italy, and Switzerland. NAED's key objective is to foster job creation by supporting the development of small businesses in Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco - the bedrock of all those countries' economies. Helping financial institution put in place the right products and practices to encourage greater access to credit for SMEs is the main focus of NAED.

The mission of IFC (www.ifc.org) is to promote sustainable private sector investment in developing countries, helping to reduce poverty and improve people's lives. IFC finances private sector investments in the developing world, mobilizes capital in the international financial markets, helps clients improve social and environmental sustainability, and provides technical assistance and advice to governments and businesses. From its founding in 1956 through FY03, IFC has committed more than $37 billion of its own funds and arranged $22 billion in syndications for 2,990 companies in 140 developing countries. IFC's worldwide committed portfolio as of FY03 was $16.8 billion for its own account and $6.6 billion held for participants in loan syndications. -Ends- © Press Release 2004

In Washington: Ahmed Badawi-Malik Phone: (202) 458-7148 Fax: (202)
974-4384 Email: Abadawi@ifc.org

In Rabat: Joumana Cobein Phone: (212) 3765-2479 Fax : (212) 3765-2893 Email:jcobein@ifc.org  http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfmid=ZAWYA20040410063856&Section=Main&page=Homepage&channel=Latest%20Press 20Releases&objectid=F441F2B1-2AAF-11D5-867D00D0B74A0D7C&l=063800040410
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USA Supports Morocco's 2010 World Cup Bid
RABAT, Apr.15

Washington will support Morocco's bid to host the 2010 world football cup finals, said US ambassador in Morocco, Thomas T. Riley. The US will support Morocco in its bid to play host to the world cup finals in 2010, the US diplomat told Moroccan "L'Opinion" daily in an interview published this Thursday. The US thus joins a host of other countries, including France and Spain, who support the Moroccan fourth bid.

The FIFA executive committee will decide on May 15 which of the five candidate countries (Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and South Africa), will organize the world's most coveted sports event. On May 14, Morocco will be the first to make its presentation before the executive committee of the International Football Federation (FIFA). The running order will be as follows: Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Libya and Egypt. Each country will have ten minutes to convince members of the executive committee of their capability to host the international sport event. FIFA chairman, Joseph Blatter, who was last week on a visit to Morocco said the kingdom has a "very strong bid". © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_depmay1155.htm
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Morocco Promotes Soccer in Schools
SETTAT (south of Casablanca), Apr.08

Morocco has launched operations to promote football in schools under the motto "assisting football in schools, a means to guarantee the national team's success." The national education and youth minister, Habib El Malki, chaired Tuesday a ceremony to hand medals to teams participating in the eighth edition of this operation dubbed "60,000 football players" organized by the ministry this April 4-6. Some 71,663 pupils took part in the eight edition of "60,000 football players", which exceeded the expectations of organizers. Twenty-four matches opposing teams of different ages were organized. A team from Meknes (northeast of Rabat) which won the final match will represent Morocco in the international championship of school sports. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/spo_cult/spor1602.htm
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Morocco to combat high level of road deaths: Road accidents in north African country left 3,878 people dead, more than 15,000 injured in year 2003.
CASABLANCA, Morocco

The Moroccan government is introducing a national road safety campaign to try and cut the high level of road accidents, notably in the city of Casablanca, the transport ministry said. In an announcement Monday, the ministry said road accidents left 3,878 people dead and more than 15,000 injured in Morocco last year, for a population of some 30 million. Casablanca, the country's main business centre, is particularly deadly.
Launching the campaign, Transport Minister Karim Ghellab said that more than one-fifth of all traffic accidents in the country took place in the city.
He said the campaign would include upgrading traffic monitoring equipment, reforming the highway code and enacting tougher penalties for bad drivers.
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Morocco Sets up Fund to Increase Road Investments to 500 Mn Dhs per Year
RABAT, Apr.14

The creation of the Roads Fund will enable to increase investments for the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads from 450 million DHs to 500 million Dhs (US $1= 9.15 Dhs) ) per year. The statement was made by Moroccan equipment and transport minister, Karim Ghellab, in an interview published Wednesday by the daily "L'Opinion." After the implementation of the national program of rural roads in 2005, the department will start a new program financed by the Roads Fund, said Ghellab. This project aspires to build a minimum annual average of 1,500 Km of rural roads instead of 1,000 Km presently, he pointed out.

On highways, the minister said construction has passed from 40 Km to 100 Km per year, with the highway to Tangiers to be completed by summer 2005 and the highway to Marrakesh to be operational this month. A highway between Marrakech and Agadir (southern Morocco) is due to be constructed in 2010, said the minister. As for air transport, Ghellab underlined that 2004 will see the materialization of the project of air transport liberalization. This liberalization aims to develop the national air transport, he said, explaining that no particular advantage will be given to the national airliner RAM in this operation. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/eco_2f11.htm
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Moroccan and European textile professionals probe implications of Morocco's FTA with USA and Turkey.
Economics, 4/16/2004

Moroccan and European textile producers held a meeting here to probe implications on the textile and apparel sectors of the free trade agreements Morocco has recently concluded with Turkey and the USA. Delegates of the Moroccan association of textile and garment industry
(AMITH) and the European apparel and textile organization (EURATEX) highlighted the potential synergies between Morocco and the EU as the multi-fiber quotas are set to be abolished on January 1, 2005.

The suppression of these quotas will mark the end of quantity restrictions in textile and apparel trade. This move is of particular importance to developing countries which account for 50% of the world textile exports and 70% of apparel exports.

The session was also an opportunity for the Moroccan professionals to present to their European colleagues the new opportunities offered by Morocco's FTA with the USA and Turkey and the investment incentives available in the sector.
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International Women Arts Festival in Assilah.
Local, 4/10/2004
The third international women arts festival will be organized this April 10-18 in the Moroccan northern city of Assilah by the Moroccan association of contemporary creators (AMCC).

Seminars, concerts, expositions and artistic shows will be organized part of the festival with the participation of 17 renowned artists from Morocco, Lebanon, Senegal, France, Japan, Spain, Germany and Italy. Symposiums on women's creativity and the newly-adopted family code in Morocco are also on the agenda of the festival.

Fashion shows showcasing Moroccan traditional garments and choreographies inspired from the Moroccan folklore and African rhythms are also scheduled in the eight-day event that is designed to highlight the contribution of women in the evolution of contemporary arts in Morocco. Organizers also aim to involve women artists in cultural and artistic projects in rural areas.
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Washington will not impose a solution to Sahara dispute, whatsoever, Ambassador
Rabat, April 15

The United States do not intend to "impose a solution whatsoever to the Sahara dispute", reiterated on Thursday the US Ambassador to Rabat.
"As far as the Sahara issue is concerned, I can clearly say that our Government has no intention to impose a solution to the concerned parties, whatsoever", said Thomas T. Riley in an interview with the Moroccan daily "l'Opinion".

"I have confidence in the ingeniosity and the good approach of James Baker (UN Secretary general's personal envoy to the Sahara) to find a political compromise," he added.

This is not the first time the US Administration rules out any "imposed" solution to the internationally known as Western Sahara dispute opposing Morocco to the Algeria-backed separatist movement « Polisario ». The latter is claiming independence of the former Spanish colony, retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords.

James Baker has been trying to draft a peace plan for the nearly three decade dispute in the North West African region, acceptable to all parties, Morocco, Algeria and the Polisario. Morocco, however, rejected the latest version of this plan as it does not care for the Kingdom's sovereignty over this territory in accordance with the Madrid Accords. The same rejection was voiced by the Moroccans native of the Sahara who fear that this plan would trigger tribal wars.

In this interview, the US Ambassador also touched on the free trade agreement recently concluded between Morocco and the United States, saying it will "increase exports opportunities" (for Morocco) and therefore pave the way for more US investments in the Kingdom where only 120 American companies are operating. A figure, he noted, that does not reflect the excellence of relations between the two countries.

The US Ambassador was speaking in Marrakech (South of Rabat) where he was participating in a meeting with economic operators of the region. Riley gave assurances on the "precious opportunities" provided by this agreement.

Thomas Riley finally recalled that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has earmarked US$ 30 million in support of the Moroccan economy for the five coming years. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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Less than 200 Movies Produced in Morocco in 30 Years
RABAT, Apr.16

Morocco has produced less than 200 movies in the past 30 years, including 132 feature movies, said researchers at a conference on the Moroccan motion picture. The participants noted that with such a low figure -an annual average of 4.5 movies since 1980, it is impossible to speak about the Moroccan cinema as a form of creation.

Women were the main theme of 64% of Moroccan movies, while history was the topic of 20%. Other major themes were occupation (7%) and childhood (7%), said the participants. Morocco has also produced 22 adventure movies, 15 movies based on literary books, 12 political ones, 12 musicals, 11 thrillers, four documentaries, three war movies and three martial arts movies.

In the opening session, communication minister Nabil Benabdellah, said his department will earmark 30 million DH (US$ 3.3 million) to support the Moroccan motion picture and will bring the amount to 100 million DH (US$ 11 million). He also praised the skills of Moroccan cinema technicians who work both for Moroccan productions and for foreign movies shot in the Kingdom. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/spo_cult/spor3002.htm
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EU Enlargement to benefit Morocco, Says EU Official
RABAT, Apr.16

The European Union enlargement to 25 countries will not affect Morocco which will, on the contrary, have access to a wider market, said EU trade commissioner, Pascal Lamy. The EU Official told Moroccan new economic weekly "Challenge Hebdo" Morocco will draw benefit from the adherence to the EU, as of May 1st, of ten new member states mainly from central and eastern Europe. "Enlargement is a plus for Morocco", as it will enable the Kingdom to increase its trade to a market of 25 countries. With the ten new member countries, the EU population will increase to around 450 million citizens. He also stressed that the EU new neighborhood policy will not replace the Barcelona process, under which the EU and its Mediterranean partners had agreed in 1995 to create a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area by 2010.

In the same context, Lamy pointed out that trade between Morocco and the EU has been growing for 10 years by an average 10% annually. This is why, he went, the EU has supported the Agadir process, providing for the creation of a free trade agreement between Morocco, Jordan, Tunisia and Egypt, as well as the creation of free trade zones between Turkey and other Mediterranean countries. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/economy/eco_2111.htm
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Diwan Al-Madhalim in Morocco, an institute for the protection of citizens
By Abdelrazzaq Traibiq  RABAT, April 17 (KUNA)

The Moroccan government has decided to establish  Diwan Al Madhalim, the institution responsible for reconciling the  administration with the citizens and to restore certain injustice by the  public utility against the users.   Diwan Al Madhalim, soon to be completed and operated, is no different than  other institutions in western countries such as (the people's defender) in
Spain, (mediator of the republic) in France and the (Ombudsman) in other European countries. 

Created in 2001, it was necessary to wait more than two years so that this institution is implemented.  With its establishment, citizens can say good-bye to the abuses of power of  the administration since it is the principle of this institution placed under  the supervision of the Sovereign.   Among its objectivesm the Diwan Al Madhalim aims at the reconsideration of  the relation binding the administration in its various components and bodies  and the citizens whatever their social class and their membership.  Even while using of all the recourse of justice, the applicant can hope to  find an exit at his request.

Diwan Al Madhalim cannot examine all the questions which are  subjected to him.  Certain complaints aiming at the revision of an irrevocable decision of  court are one example.  If the applicant did not exhaust the recourse which the laws and payments  in force provide, the request there for will not have a continuation.  The persons in charge for the administrations and other publicly-owned  establishments are held to grant their support to the Wali (person in charge  of the Diwan) or to its delegates in order to allow them to enquire of all the  aspects of the litigation in addition to exercise their authority to  facilitate the mission of the Wali's investigations.   However, the Wali and his collaborators can seek with the plaintiffs of  other ways being able to help them to solve their disagreements.   The Wali is assisted by ministerial and regional delegates designated by  himself.   They will take care of representing the person in charge for Diwan at the government level.
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Ombudsman Office, A Tool to Incite administration Respect Rule of Law
RABAT, Apr.15

Prime minister, Driss Jettou, chaired this Thursday a ceremony to present the Diwan Al-Madhalim (Ombudsman), an institution set in December 2001 as a mediation between the citizen and the administration. When sealing the Royal Dahir setting up the institution on December 9, 2001, on the occasion of the world human rights day, the sovereign had stressed that the Diwan Al-Madhalim is designed "to correct iniquities, uphold rights and safeguard freedoms. This mission was confirmed by Moulay Slimane El Alaoui, Wali (ombudsman) Al-Madhalim, who said the institution seeks to act as "a practical extra-judiciary mechanism for individuals and groups to ask that injustice, inequity and abuse of power be repaired". The official also said the institution will be a proposal force, submitting to the government recommendations to ease red tape, improve the efficiency of administrative bodies, upgrade public services and help in reforming the legal framework regulating the action of various public services.

He went that Diwan Al-Madhalim means to promote "conciliation and intermediation between citizens and their administration, as part of relationships based on transparence, the respect of rights and freedoms and the enforcement of a proximity policy". Moulay Slimane Alaoui explained that the institution, whose rules of procedures were outlined by the constituent royal dahir and by its internal statute, will be represented at the prime minister's office and other ministries and in various regions nationwide. Although, the ombudsman institution does not have any compelling means, he went on, the efficiency of its action lies in the annual reports it will refer to HM the king, to the prime minister and to the human rights advisory council. He further insisted that the report submitted to the sovereign will be published in the official gazette, which is a very important pressure means. In the same vein, the Diwan may refer to the prime minister a report when an administration deliberately fails to carry out judiciary decisions or when an official impedes the investigation or refuses to cooperate with the Diwan. He cited as other compelling means deadlines set for the administration to move to enforce the Wali's proposals and recommendations.

On the institution's independence, he said guarantees in this regard consist in the fact that it reports to HM the king and that it enjoys total
financial and administrative autonomy vis-à-vis the government. © MAP 2004
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DJ Morocco Envoy:Nation Committed To Destroying Terror Cells.
16 Apr 2004 Dow Jones Newswires ATLANTA (AP)

The Moroccan ambassador to the U.S. said Friday that his country is committed to destroying any terrorist cells operating there. Spanish authorities believe the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group - an organization with ties to al-Qaida - may have been responsible for the March 11 train bombings in Madrid that killed 191 people and injured about 1,800. The group is also believed to be linked with suicide bombings last year in Casablanca that killed 45 people, including 12 attackers.

That attack shocked Moroccans as much as the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington shocked Americans, Ambassador Aziz Mekouar said. "Morocco is a very safe and quiet country," he said during a visit to the tomb of the U.S. civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. "Unfortunately, this shows no one is immune from terrorism." The U.S. has provided training, equipment and intelligence to Morocco and other countries in the region as part of the fight against terrorism. Dow Jones Newswires
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Commission Receives 20,000 Compensation Claims for Past Human Rights Abuses
RABAT, Apr.16

Chairman of the Equity and Reconciliation commission, Driss Benzekri, a body inaugurated last January to pursue out-of-court settlement of past human rights abuses, said the commission has received about 20,000 compensation and repair requests.

Benzekri told a press conference the commission -which replaces the independent arbitration commission- is resolved to go ahead with its mission to establish truth, in keeping with the directives issued by HM King Mohammed VI when he inaugurated the commission members.

The sovereign had stressed Morocco's resolve to settle once and for all, the "thorny" issue of human rights abuses "through further equitable, out-of-court settlements, as well as by healing past wounds and redressing the damage done."

HM the king had called the commission to adopt "a bold, comprehensive approach, seeking justice, rehabilitation and reintegration... to uncover the truth and draw lessons from the past".

For Benzekri, secretary general of the Human Rights Advisory Council (CCDH) and founding member of the "Justice and Truth Forum", the commission is part of democratic transition process Morocco has embarked on.

He further explained that the commission will cover the period extending between Morocco's independence in 1956 till 1999 when the now-defunct independent arbitration commission was set up. Its mandate includes massive and/or serious human rights abuses. It will conduct investigations and fact-finding missions in order to identify the categories, seriousness and massive and/or systematic abuses of human rights.

Since it officially became operational last January 7, the commission has held nine plenary sessions and 12 sessions of its task-groups to draft its internal regulations texts, in addition to meetings with truth commissions in other countries and international experts.

Its assigned mission is to establish categories and seriousness of human rights violations by conducting investigations, hearing testimonies and statements, collecting information and data likely to help in establishing truth, carrying on investigation on unresolved cases of forced disappearance and proposing solutions to proved cases of death.

It will also establish the responsibility of state bodies or any other body in past breaches and compile a final report containing the findings of its investigations and analyses on human rights abuses and the context in which they took place. Compensating victims, either financially or by rehabilitating them, promoting their social integration or any other forms of repair is also part of the commission mandate.

The body's national reference is the royal speeches on the settlement of serious human rights violations and on the consolidation of the protection of human rights, the final report and decisions of the independent arbitration commission and memoranda and proposals submitted by human rights-advocacy associations and victims associations. At the international level, its work is based on the rules of procedure of truth and reconciliation commissions in other countries, international law provisions, including the UN recommendations and decisions, and comparative studies.

The commission comprises 16 members. Eight members are from the CCDH and eight others are figures from various backgrounds. MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/home_dep/h_dep217.htm
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Government announces drafting of anti-corruption law
Politics, 4/16/2004

The Moroccan Government has worked out a draft law to fight corruption in public services, with the aim to promote transparency. The announcement was made, here Wednesday, by Najib Zerouali Moroccan minister in charge of modernizing the public sectors, during the weekly question time at the House of Representatives (Parliament). He said the law project which was drafted by his department in coordination with the Justice ministry, aims to promote transparency, guarantee equality of chances concerning access to the public services, and also encourage competition. The draft law also provides for "administrative sanctions and repressive measures and encourages citizens to denounce corruption." The minister added that his department has also drafted a "chart of good conduct" for civil servants in their relations with citizens http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040416/2004041624.html
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New labor code heralds mutual assistance and partnership in enterprises, minister
Economics, 4/14/2004

The new Labor Code to come into force next June heralds a culture of mutual assistance and partnership inside the enterprise said Monday the Moroccan minister of employment, social affairs and solidarity. The new version of the Code, he explained, meets the expectations of all social partners as nearly 600 articles which were hindering the development of the Moroccan enterprise have been amended.
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No incompatibility between Islam and democracy, Says Moroccan Islamic party chief
Politics, 4/15/2004

Saad Eddine Othmani, who was elected over the week end new secretary general of Morocco's only Islamic party -party for Justice and Development- stressed that from a practical point of view there is no incompatibility between Islam and democracy. The PJD new chief who is taking part in Istanbul in the congress of Islamic World Democrats told MAP correspondent both Islam and democracy share the same concern to associate the community to the political decision-making, to the election of representatives and to the consolidation of civil rights.

He went on that the problems facing developing countries in general, be they Islamic or not, are rather cultural, social and economic, stressing the need to address the plagues of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. For him, the real problem lies in means to establish democracy in these countries while blatant discrepancies still separate northern and southern countries. He further argued that the bottom line of democracy is social justice, explaining that the wealth amassed by northern countries at the expense of southern countries has a direct incidence on southern countries and their citizens and delays democratic transition.

He called on democracy-advocating countries and institutions to endeavour to establish of a fair world order where a minimum of social justice is ensured, upholding that illiteracy, unemployment and poverty are fertile grounds for all forms of extremism. "Developed countries should assume their responsibilities in this context," he insisted. Democracy is not a ready-to-wear exportable goods, but an endogenous dynamic that implies that some principles and values be adapted to the reality and culture of each country, he went on. "democracy cannot be decreed, it should be established gradually after people are convinced of its pertinence."

Of the Moroccan democratic experience, Othmani, whose party is an opposition party represented in the parliament but not in government, said the Moroccan model is a unique and pilot one in the Arab states. Morocco has covered considerable stages in democracy, but, he stressed, many reforms are still needed because democracy is a painstaking process and no democratic system can claim to be perfect.

The PJD secretary general is taking part in the Istanbul meeting together with first secretary of the Moroccan socialist union of popular forces (USFP-in the government) and Mohand Laenser, secretary general of the Popular movement (MP-also in government) and three women representatives from the Istiqlal party (in government), the PJD and the USFP. The four-day conference (April 12-15) is the first of the kind organized by the American National Democratic Institute for international affairs (NDI) with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Turkish Foundation for Democracy.

It is bringing together 190 delegates from political parties from Islamic countries as well as former and current presidents, ministers and MPs to probe different aspects of democracy based on their own experience. A press release of the NDI says the Istanbul meeting will "highlight the compatibility of democracy and Islam by discussing their direct experience with democratic governance and their countries' common commitment to multiparty elections, independent legislatures, women's political participation and an active civil society."
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040415/2004041526.html
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French company to launch automobile engineering center in Morocco
Business, 4/10/2004

The French company Matra Automobile Engineering, an affiliate of the Italian group Pininfarina, will launch in Casablanca a 34 million DHs ($ 3.7 mln) worth automobile research and development center. The project, to be operational in two years, will generate 60 jobs for automobile engineers and technicians. Matra also committed to train cadres and higher education students of automobile engineering. President of the group, Andrea Pininfarina told the press after the signing of the agreement with the Moroccan government, a group of Moroccan engineers and technicians will undertake a six-month training in France to be operational by 2005.

Some 18 million Dhs (US$ 2 million) of the overall cost of the project will be exclusively dedicated to training in order to guarantee the independence of the center whose sales is estimated at 33 million Dhs ($ 3.6 million). Pininfarina added that Morocco will be a platform for the activities of his group that has plans to expand its activities in the automobile sector in the kingdom. Pininfarina group employs some 2,486 people around the world and makes designs for renowned automobile constructors like Ferrari, Alfa, Peugeot, Mitsubishi and Hyundai.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040410/2004041020.html
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One-month Moroccan Siamese Pass away
RABAT, Apr.13 - A Siamese twins who are linked by the same liver have died at age of one month, reports "Assahra Al-Maghribya" daily.  The two sisters succumbed to "acute heart failure", says the source quoting prof. Chlilek, head of paediatrics at the university hospital of Casablanca.
In another to being linked by a single lever, one of the twins had the left part of her heart stuck to the heart of her sister's heart. The pediatrician said the separation surgery was almost impossible because one of the sisters suffered a heart failure in addition to the fact they shared one liver. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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Morocco: Fight of Human-Trafficking a Top Priority
GENEVA, Apr.09

Fighting human-trafficking groups is a priority for the Moroccan government that calls for a comprehensive and integrated approach to deal with the issue of emigration, Moroccan ambassador to the United Nations said. Omar Hilale, who was addressing the 60th session of the Human Rights commission in Geneva, gave an overview on the country's "continuous efforts" to fight illegal emigration, that "has become a genuine problem in Morocco, due to its geographic location as a gateway to Europe."

"Morocco is among the most affected countries because it serves as a transit for illegal emigrants from different nationalities who look forward to improving their living conditions in Europe. Faced with harsh visa restrictions, they seek the help of mafia-like human-trafficking networks,"
he said. Hilale pointed out that Morocco has dismantled 265 human-trafficking networks in 2003 and that an average of 16,000 illegal immigrants are arrested every year in Morocco.

"Being aware of the acuteness of this issue, Morocco has enacted a law on migration and has created two institutions, namely the Directorate of Migration and Border Surveillance and the Migration Observatory," noted the diplomat. However, he went on, the problem cannot be settled by efforts of an individual state, but need a global partnership and through the reinforcement of regional and international cooperation."

The diplomat added that Morocco also gives a particular importance to Moroccan expatriates that are estimated at two millions and a half, the majority of whom live in Europe. He said several initiatives were taken to protect the rights of Moroccan expatriates, including the creation of a ministerial department in charge of the Moroccan community overseas as well as other institutions such as the Hassan II Foundation for Moroccan expatriates. © MAP 2004 http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/news/politics/pol_019.htm
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Moroccan railway traffic: 1.73 bln dhs receipts in 3Ú4 of 2003
Economics, 4/12/2004

Railway traffic generated 1.73 billion DHs (9.04 Dhs: US $1) receipts from January to October 2003 against 1.65 billion Dhs the previous year, the equipment and transport ministry said. This 4.8 percent rise resulted from the increase of the number of travelers ("12.9 pc), the ministry said in its monthly report. Some 12 million people traveled in trains during the first 10 months of 2003 against 10.61 in the same period of 2002, it pointed out.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040412/2004041216.html

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