FOM Newsletter January 2004
Morocco Week in Review 
January  17 2004

US Convinced Morocco-US Negotiations to be Completed by End January
Morocco-US FTA to be submitted to Congress This Year, chief US negotiator
No democracy can be consolidated without fighting poverty, says premier
Le Figaro Madame: Morocco could become women rights model among Muslim countries, academic
Parliament's Justice Committee Unanimously Adopts Draft Family Code
New code boosts women's rights in Morocco
Morocco's social reforms aim at more significant participation of women in active life, speaker
European Bank Praises Morocco's Successful Economic, Fiscal Reforms
Morocco's Fisheries Ministry Aims to Create 90,000 Jobs
Royal Advisor Talks to Spanish Economic Decision-Makers on Moroccan Economy's Growth Prospects
Over 3 million tourists visited Morocco past ten months, minister
Seventy percent of Moroccan enterprises able to face international competition, minister
Public groups built more than 110,000 dwellings in 2003, minister
Official visits construction site of cinema studios in Ouarzazate
Morocco's power utility plans $3.4 billion investments next 5 years
Morocco's tourism traffic down three percent in 2003
Morocco imported 36% less cereals in 2H 2003
Bread prices spark controversy in Morocco
King of Morocco Pardons 33 Prisoners
Morocco and Spain Seek EU Financial Assistance for Undersea Tunnel Project
U.S. Nears Trade Agreement With Morocco
Armitage: US-Morocco FTA appears to be on track
Morocco to re-launch fixed phone bid
Spain and Morocco agree to rail tunnel under Gibraltar strait
Government council adopts draft canceling special court of justice

Morocco a Voice Listened to and Respected in US, Diplomat
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9

Morocco is a voice listened to and respected in the United States on a great number of issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said, here Thursday, Ambassador Robert Pelletreau, former US assistant Secretary of state for the Middle East. The American diplomat, who was speaking on the sidelines of the forum on "challenges and opportunities of the democratic and economic liberalization" in Morocco, said that this country plays "an important role" in the Mediterranean, a role, he added, which is recognized by Washington.

Pelletreau, who served as Us ambassador to Egypt, Tunisia and Bahrain, described as "very positive" the economic and human rights reforms undertaken by HM king Mohammed VI. "H.M the King has taken a set of measures that are considered as very positive by the United States, non only in matters of human rights but also concerning the status of women", he said. The US diplomat insisted on the longstanding relations of cooperation between Morocco and the United States, citing in this regard the free trade agreement to be "finalized soon".

The forum is organized by the Washington-based think-tank "Center of Strategic International Studies" (CSIS) on the occasion of the visit of Moroccan prime, Minister Driss Jettou.  MAP 2003
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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US Convinced Morocco-US Negotiations to be Completed by End January
WASHINGTON, Jan.10

US deputy secretary of state, Richard Armitage, said he is convinced that Morocco-US Free Trade Agreement negotiations, at the level of specialized commissions, will be completed before end of January. Armitage who met on Friday visiting Moroccan prime minister, Driss Jettou, announced that US negotiators are due in Morocco farming issues, part of the Morocco-US free trade agreement. The two countries had announced in April 2002 plans to conclude a free trade agreement.

This will be the 6th or 7th visit, but it is normal for a free trade agreement, he said, adding that there are difficult questions such as agriculture of course, like in every country. The Moroccan premier also met Robert Zoellick, US trade representative and chief negotiator for a free trade agreement with Morocco. The two men surveyed the status of negotiations and bilateral ties at large. Jettou, who recalled Morocco's economic reforms and openness, stressed the importance of the farming and textile sectors in Morocco's economic tissue.

In a lecture he gave at Washington's Center of Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Moroccan Prime Minister said "We are in the final phase of (FTA) negotiations. There is a will to reach a conclusion and find a solution to a few remaining difficulties". Jettou was Friday guest speaker at a forum on challenges and opportunities of economic and democratic liberalization in Morocco, organized by the Center.

The Moroccan official later met head of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, on Morocco-WB relations and the kingdom's economic development. Wolfensohn hailed the economic performance of Morocco, which he termed as "exemplary," and announced the visit of a delegation from his institution to Morocco next month, to carry on consultations with Moroccan officials and executives and identify projects needing World Bank support.

Earlier, the Moroccan premier held meetings with top US officials, notably vice-president Dick Cheney, secretary of state, Colin Powell, defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, national security advisor, Condoleeza Rice, assistant secretary of state, William Burns, and commerce secretary, Donald Evans.

Driss Jettou also conferred with head of the USAID, Andrew Natsios. He said cooperation between Morocco and the US agency, which covers mainly micro-credits, rural areas, education, SMEs and self-employment, especially among rural women, has given good results. He voiced hope that his meeting with Natsios will enlarge the scope of this cooperation and reinforce Morocco-USAID ties. Natsios, on his part, praised Morocco's efforts to consolidate its democratic assets and foster development in several fields. MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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Morocco-US FTA to be submitted to Congress This Year, chief US negotiator
WASHINGTON, Jan.16

Assistant US trade representative and chief negotiator for the Morocco-US free trade agreement, Catherine Novelli, said Thursday she is convinced that the FTA, currently being negotiated, will be submitted to Congress this year for approval. Speaking at a meeting organized here by the Washington International Trade Association, Novelli voiced hope that talks on the agreement will be over next month. Talks with Morocco are at an advanced stage in several sectors and after the settlement of some minor details, I think negotiations will be over next month, she said.

The FTA with Morocco, which was first announced in April 2002, will be the second of the kind that the US signs with an Arab country. According to spokesman for the US trade representative, Richard Mills, discussions made it possible to carry on the important progress achieved. The accord aims at mutually advantageous and global agreement, Mills said, adding that the two parties are conducting the negotiations in a constructive manner. MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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No democracy can be consolidated without fighting poverty, says premier
Politics, 1/9/2004

Visiting Moroccan Prime Minister has insisted on the fight against poverty as the only means to consolidate democracy in the Kingdom. Driss Jettou, who was addressing on Thursday the Washington-based "Heritage Foundation," said that Morocco has been endeavoring to curb what he called "social deficits," insisting that "it is not possible to consolidate democracy, liberalism, respect of human rights and the rule of law without strengthening, at the same pace, the struggle against poverty."

The Prime Minister, who is paying an official visit, at the invitation of the Bush Administration, the first of its kind, laid emphasis on the friendship relations binding Morocco and the US, saying that "by choosing the United States as a partner, Morocco has in reality chosen a model of free enterprise society." This choice makes of it (Morocco) "one of the rare countries of the region to establish free trade not only with Arab and European countries, but also, on the other side of the Atlantic, with the United States," he added.

The issue of free trade with the US was also brought up by the Moroccan Premier in a speech delivered later at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in which he said that Morocco and the United States are putting the finishing touches on such an agreement that could be wrapped up later this month or in early February. He said conclusion of the accord would provide a strong signal of the vitality and permanence of relations between the two nations that extend back to a treaty signed in 1786. "We are in the final phase of negotiations"' Jettou said. "There is the will to reach a conclusion and find a solution to a few remaining difficulties."
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040109/2004010918.html
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Le Figaro Madame: Morocco could become women rights model among Muslim countries, academic
Politics, 1/13/2004

"Morocco could become a model for Muslim countries in the field of women's rights," said law professor Fatima Belqadi, the first woman appointed at Morocco's Advisory Council of Human Rights (CCDH). In an interview published Saturday by French magazine "Le Figaro Madame,"
Belqadi said "since the beginning of his reign, HM King Mohammed VI voiced support for women's rights. Today, she went on, His Majesty has launched a deep-rooted reform. And it takes courage to deal with such a hot issue in Muslim countries." For the professor, it is a reform that draws both on the principles of the universal declaration of human rights and Islamic teachings. "This reform is part of the country's evolution, but it is also a social revolution," she said. Belqadi had recently been elected administrator of the French Rene Cassin International Institute of Human Rights.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040113/2004011323.html
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Parliament's Justice Committee Unanimously Adopts Draft Family Code
RABAT, Jan.15

The justice, legislation and human rights committee of the Moroccan House of Representatives (lower parliamentary chamber) unanimously adopted on Wednesday the draft family code. The amendments announced last October 10 by H.M King Mohammed VI before representatives of the two parliamentary chambers consist mainly of raising the marriage age for women from 15 to 15, placing the family under the joint responsibility of the two spouses and imposing stringent conditions that make polygamy almost impossible. Member of the socialist group in the House of Representatives, Abderlkebir Tabih, told MAP the 110 amendments presented by parliamentary groups were constructive. On his part, president of the Justice and Development parliamentary group (PJD), Abdallah Baha, pointed out that the royal speech was a reference that guided discussions on the draft Code during the committee proceedings, noting that the amendments that his group brought to the family code mainly concerned terminology.  The proposed amendments still have to be submitted again to the two houses of parliament. MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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New code boosts women's rights in Morocco
Rabat, Morocco 15 January 2004

A parliamentary commission in Morocco has unanimously recommended a new family code putting wives on a more equal footing with their husbands, officials said on Thursday. Under the new law, which still has to go to the House of Representatives and to the Senate for approval, the legal age at which girls can marry will be raised from 15 to 18 and wives will be given "joint responsibility" with their husbands in family matters.
Polygamy will be permitted only under highly restrictive conditions and the new code also makes it more difficult for men to divorce their wives.
The parliamentary commission debated the new code for one month, studying 110 amendments to it, commission leader Abdallah Baha said in a statement.

Many of the amendments brought by the Islamic Justice and Development Party concerned the wording of the text, while parties from the governing coalition had proposed "constructive amendments", according to the head of the socialist grouping on the commission. King Mohammed VI had urged a revision of the old code, under which Moroccan women were seen as perpetual minors, under the authority of men, according to women's groups. "The king's speech [of October 10] served as a reference for discussions during the commission's work," said Baha, without going into detail. In his speech in October, Mohammed outlined the main principles of the proposed revised code, saying the suggested amendments were in line with the tenets of Islam. -- AFP
http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=29711
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Morocco's social reforms aim at more significant participation of women in active life, speaker
Politics, 1/13/2004

Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives (parliament lower chamber), Abdelouahed Radi, said Morocco's social reforms are meant to ensure a more significant participation of women in active life.During a meeting with a visiting delegation of Swedish deputies, Radi cited the presence of 35 women in the House of Representatives, which he said, evidence the kingdom's resolve to enhance women's role in political, economic and social fields. Touching on the new family code (Mudawana), under which women will have more rights, mainly in marriage, divorce guardianship and family management, the speaker said the draft means to protect women and children, and establish social justice between the two sexes, in accordance with Islamic teachings and the kingdom's democratic values, the chamber said in a release.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040113/2004011321.html
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European Bank Praises Morocco's Successful Economic, Fiscal Reforms
LONDON, Jan.15

Morocco is successfully carrying out economic and fiscal reforms, especially concerning economic adjustment and openness, said Thursday president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in eastern Europe "EBRD". I have been following Morocco's evolution in the last years and I can say it manages its reforms successfully, in completely different junctures, Lemierre told MAP news agency on the eve of his departure for Casablanca, where he will take part in a seminar on "Enterprise development, a major dimension of Moroccan economy."

Morocco's financing of infrastructure projects is promising and sharing its experience in the field will be a very fruit-bearing experience, he went on, adding that working with Morocco is very useful, either for EBRD or other institutions. It will be very interesting to debate (at the seminar) links between infrastructure and private investors and operators, and how to involve the private sector in financing infrastructure." The executive further called Moroccan enterprises to cooperate with Eastern European partners which offer trade and investment opportunities "worth prospecting together."

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development was established in 1991 when communism was crumbling in central and eastern Europe and ex-soviet countries needed support to nurture a new private sector in a democratic environment. The EBRD, owned by 60 countries and two intergovernmental institutions, uses investment tools to help build market economies and democracies in 27 countries from central Europe to central Asia. MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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Morocco's Fisheries Ministry Aims to Create 90,000 Jobs
RABAT, Jan.15

The strategy adopted by the fisheries department aims to create 90,000 jobs and an annual fish production of 1.7 million to 2 million tons of fish.
Fisheries minister, Tayeb Rhafes, who was explaining his department's strategy during the weekly government meeting, said other goals include raising fish consumption to an annual 14 kg per person, from an estimated 7 kg currently. He further explained that the strategy further means to guarantee sea resources preservation and sustained management by revising the legal, institutional and organization framework and adapt it to the new international environment. He went on the creation of new jobs will be made possible by tapping new fishing activities, diversifying production and outlets and modernizing and modernize fishing areas and associated industries.

Upgrading human resources, applying the compulsory health coverage system to all sailors, creating health units in all the kingdom's ports, consolidating rescue means and carrying on the construction of fishing villages are other components of the ministry's strategy. He also linked the present crisis in the sector to over-exploitation and non-observance of universal standards.

Royal Advisor Talks to Spanish Economic Decision-Makers on Moroccan Economy's Growth Prospects
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MADRID, Jan.15 - Andre Azoulay, the economic advisor to HM King Mohammed VI, talked on Thursday to Spanish economic decision-makers about priorities in Morocco's economic mid-term prospects. The royal advisor, who was invited by the Spanish "Euro Forum", an organization bringing together leaders of Spanish major enterprises, cited the recent macro-economic achievements scored by the Kingdom as the "structural pillar" of economic growth and of investors' confidence in Morocco. He also extensively talked about the political, economic and social reforms "enforced with utmost resolve and rigor," stressing that Morocco is now "at the stage of reaping the fruits of efforts made in the last ten years toward coherence, stability and attractiveness." He further praised the positive reaction of Spanish entrepreneurs to partnership opportunities offered by Morocco, especially in 2003 that saw Spanish investments increased even in sectors where the Spaniards were not traditionally present, such as tourism and environment and sanitation projects.  Spain is presently among Morocco's most important trade partners, both as regards direct investments and financial cooperation, concluded Azoulay who invited the Spanish business community active in Morocco to share their experience with would-be investors both in Spain and in Europe. © MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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Over 3 million tourists visited Morocco past ten months, minister
Economics, 1/7/2004

An estimated 3.23 million tourists have visited Morocco from January to October 2003, that is a 3 percent drop compared to the same period in 2002, according to official figures released Tuesday.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040107/2004010728.html
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Seventy percent of Moroccan enterprises able to face international competition, minister
Economics, 1/14/2004

Seventy percent of Moroccan enterprises are fit to face international competition, Moroccan minister in charge of economic affairs and upgrading economy, Abderrazak El Mossadeq said. Moroccan enterprises have achieved important steps in upgrading their competitiveness and consolidating their presence in national and international markets, the minister told the Moroccan TV channel 'TVM' on Monday. He added that incentive measures taken within the framework of the law of finance 2004 would enable enterprises to adhere to the process of increasing economic competitiveness. Morocco has launched a national communication campaign on upgrading the economy, destined to encourage the adherence of all economic operators in the upgrading process so that Moroccan enterprises would be ready for the lift of customs barriers that globalization will entail as of 2010.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040114/2004011424.html
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Public groups built more than 110,000 dwellings in 2003, minister
Economics, 1/7/2004

Moroccan minister of housing and urbanism, Toufiq Hjira, said some 110,000 dwellings were built by Moroccan public groups in 2003. Speaking at the question time of the House of Advisers (parliament upper chamber), Hjira, who termed the performance as "exceptional, said public institutions were marked this year by more significant openness on the private sector.

Al Omrane holding, the set up of which was announced by premier Driss Jettou in December, will muster all public groups operating in the field to be a "strong, efficient and competitive" structure, Hjira said. Al Omrane Holding is the fruit of the merger of three companies: The National Agency for Unhealthy Housing Fighting (ANHI), the National Company of Equipment and Construction (SNEC) and the Attacharouk Group. Morocco has received recently the prize of best low-cost housing project and the merit prize, extended by the council of Arab housing ministers. The low-cost housing experience of the kingdom, which eyes building 10,000 dwellings annually until 2010, is seen as pilot in the Arab states.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040107/2004010719.html
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Official visits construction site of cinema studios in Ouarzazate
Economics, 1/7/2004

Moroccan tourism minister, Adil Diouiri, visited on Monday the construction site of the "Dino De Laurentis" cinema studios, destined to be the largest in all Morocco. The project, extending over 150 hectares, consists of several cinema studios that will be operational by end 2004. Estimated to cost 40 million DH (around US$ 4 million), the first part of the project comprises a shooting site, four decoration crafts workshops, three production workshops and other locations for costumes. Figures released by the southern city's tourism board show that 419 movies were shot in the city in the last 6 years. The total includes 60 features movies, 32 short movies, 181 reports and 146 documentaries. These productions required 1.5 billion DH in investments (around US$ 150 million) and generated 100,000 provisional jobs. The city will also host the Euro-Mediterranean training Center for cinema and audio-visual professions. The project is carried out with an investment of over 2 millions Euro (22 million DH) by Italy's region of Latium, the Cinecitta Holding group, and the Kenzamane studio of ourzazate.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040107/2004010724.html
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Morocco's power utility plans $3.4 billion investments next 5 years
Economics, 1/13/2004

Morocco's power utility L'Office Marocain de L'Electricite (ONE) is planning 34 billion Dirhams (around US$ 3.4 million) in 2004, the energy federation said in its latest newsletter "Energy and Strategy." ONE plans to generalize power in rural Morocco by 2007, double the Morocco-Spain interconnection and develop renewable energies through three projects, the bulletin reads. The first project concerns two wind-generated electricity plants in Essaouira and Tangiers, to generate respectively 60 and 140 Megawatts, and bring up Morocco's total Aeolian energy production from 53 to 253 MW by 2006. The second project is the thermo-solar plant of Ain-Mokhtar, that will produce some 220 Megawatts, and the third consists in the building, in partnership with the private sector, of a second 400 megawatt combine cycle plant in the north of Morocco.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040113/2004011324.html
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Morocco's tourism traffic down three percent in 2003
Jan 7, 2004 (Al-Bawaba via COMTEX)

Morocco received approximately 3.23 million tourists in the first ten months of 2003, a three percent drop compared to the same period last year, according to official figures cited by MAP.  The cities of Agadir and Tangiers were the only destinations that recorded positive results from January to October, posting three percent and seven percent visitor increases, respectively. The city of Ouarzazate recorded an 11 percent drop in tourist arrivals, Fez witnessed a nine percent drop, Rabat and Casablanca posted a seven percent drop. In a bid to attract 10 million tourists annually to Morocco by 2010, the government launched a media campaign in 2002 geared toward local and foreign companies, promoting a new initiative for the construction of six new seaside resorts along the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coasts. -(menareport.com) By Mena Report Reporters (C) 2004 Albawaba.com, All rights reserved.
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=007w5081&Section=Countries&page=Morocco&l=152500040107
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Morocco imported 36% less cereals in 2H 2003
Morocco, Economics, 1/15/2004

Morocco has imported 36% less cereals during the second Half of 2003 than during the same period last year, the Moroccan inter-professional office of cereals and leguminous plants (ONICL) said. The United States is Morocco's largest cereal supplier with 24% of imports, followed by France (22%) Canada (19%), Argentina (18%) and Brazil (9%), ONICL says in its newsletter. Moroccan imports consist mainly of corn (616,000 tons), soft wheat (519,000T), wheat (370,000T) and barley (89,700T). Cereal stocks were of 1.04 million ton by December 31, 2003, including 708,000T of soft wheat, which will cover industrial mills' needs for three months.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040115/2004011518.html
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Bread prices spark controversy in Morocco
Wednesday, January 14, 2004 RABAT, Morocco (Reuters)

Moroccan bakers started a 48-hour strike on Wednesday to pressure the government to allow them to raise bread prices, a move which triggered bloody riots in 1981. The price of bread is such a sensitive issue in Morocco that it has not changed in 15 years. In 1981, a government-ruled hike in bread prices sparked popular unrest that was violently suppressed and left officially 29 civilians killed by security forces. Human rights groups say up to 500 were killed and buried in mass graves.

In theory, nothing prevents bakers from going ahead with the increase because the government in 2001 relinquished control over bread prices to them. But bakers say the government, maybe with the 1981 riots in mind, asked them last October to cancel a 10 percent increase.
"They told us to wait a month, arguing the issue is too sensitive. What are we supposed to understand by that, especially that they did not get back to us since then," said a spokesman for the trade union. Economic Restructuring Minister Abderazzak El Mossadeq, who is in charge of the issue, declined to comment.

The bakers' union wants a gradual rise of 27 percent over nine months. A loaf of bread in Morocco costs 1.1 dirham (12 US cents), about nine times less than its equivalent in France. Bakers say costs have risen sharply since 1989, when the price of bread last went up. "The price of yeast, for example, has more than doubled," the spokesman said. An industry expert called the whole affair an anomaly. "It's abnormal for bread prices to stagnate for years while electricity, sugar, clothes, school books, fuel prices and the minimum wage have risen time and over," he said.
State media said the strike disrupted supply in Casablanca. The union claimed an 80 percent national participation rate. "We're not making bread today...we make less than five percent margin on bread anyway," said the owner of a cafe and bakery in central Rabat.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/africa/01/14/morocco.bread.reut/index.html
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King of Morocco Pardons 33 Prisoners
By NICOLAS MARMIE Associated Press Writer January 7, 2004, 7:14 PM EST RABAT, Morocco

Morocco pardoned 33 prisoners on Wednesday, including a prominent journalist, drawing praise from frequently critical human rights groups. The palace ordered the release of Ali Lmrabet whose imprisonment had captured widespread attention. Lmrabet, editor of two satirical papers, had been serving a three-year sentence for "insulting the king." Among others pardoned were six more journalists and two human rights activists.

The pardons came as Morocco officially installed a commission to examine human rights cases. Among other things the commission's work includes identifying cases of disappearances and arbitrary sentences, locating detention sites and assisting survivors. Amnesty International and media advocacy organization Reporters without Borders earlier spoke out against Lmrabet's imprisonment. He has been behind bars since May, and Amnesty said he had undertaken a hunger strike. Amnesty praised the pardons as a "significant step in the right direction," but said more must be done. Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-morocco-prisoners-pardoned,0,7012826.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines
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Morocco and Spain Seek EU Financial Assistance for Undersea Tunnel Project
BRUSSELS, Jan.16

A Moroccan-Spanish delegation presented on Wednesday to the European Commission the project of an undersea rail tunnel linking the two countries and connecting Africa to Europe, said Thursday a European spokesman. The delegation handed the file to a European executive who will follow up the request of financial assistance, said Gilles Gantelet, spokesman for the European commissioner in charge of transport and energy. "It is a positive project that will develop Euro-Mediterranean transport networks, he told MAP, adding that it is too early to await, at this stage, an answer from the European Commission.

Morocco and Spain signed on December 2nd an agreement for a program of engineering tests and studies. The tunnel is expected to be 24 miles long, including 17 miles beneath the narrow and turbulent waters of the Gibraltar strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It will descend between 100 and 300 metres under the sea. The most suitable route has initially been established as that between Punta Paloma, 40 kilometres west of Gibraltar, and Punta Malabata, near the Moroccan city of Tangiers. A shorter route to the east that would be only about 12 miles has been dismissed, as it would require boring 900 metres below sea level. The final route and depth will be decided only after detailed geological studies.

The tunnel will be made up of two rail tunnels and one service tunnel in the middle connecting the two, similar to the Channel Tunnel running between Britain and France. The service tunnel will be the first to be built and work could begin in 2008. Spain has already bored an experimental tunnel 560 metres long. Core samples of the rock beneath the strait will be taken in order to develop a picture of its geology. A similar experiment on the Moroccan side was sunk to 300 metres.  A joint committee set up at the beginning of December between the two countries has approved the 2004-2006 action plan and the budget of 27 million euros. First estimates of the tunnel final cost vary between three and 10 billion euros. © MAP 2004
http://www.map.co.ma/mapeng/eng.htm
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U.S. Nears Trade Agreement With Morocco
Thursday January 8, 2004 7:01 PM By HARRY DUNPHY Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP)

Morocco and the United States are putting the finishing touches on a free trade agreement that could be wrapped up later this month or in early February, Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou said Thursday. He said conclusion of the accord would provide a strong signal of the vitality and permanence of relations between the two nations that extend back to a treaty signed in 1786. ``We are in the final phase of negotiations''' Jettou said. ``There is the will to reach a conclusion and find a solution to a few remaining difficulties.''

Morocco would become the second Arab country after Jordan with which the United States has a free trade agreement. An accord would benefit U.S. exporters of agriculture products because the association agreement Morocco has with the 15-nation European Union, which provides tariff advantages for manufacturers, largely excludes agriculture. Jettou urged American companies to step up their investments in Morocco, saying they could profit from its strategic location where Europe and Africa meet and provide jobs for Moroccans. ``We can become a major platform for production and marketing in the region,'' he said in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a private research group.
Jettou was on a working visit to Washington and planned meetings with U.S. officials including Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Assistant Secretary of State William Burns. He declined to say whether he was making preparations for a visit to the United States by Morocco's King Mohammed VI.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-3602109,00.html
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Armitage: US-Morocco FTA appears to be on track
Jan 11, 2004 (Al-Bawaba via COMTEX)

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said negotiations for a US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement are on track for completion by the end of January, according to Washington File. Armitage made this remark following his January 9 meeting in Washington with Moroccan Prime Minister Driss Jettou. Free trade negotiations between Morocco and the United States broke down last month over disagreements on access to US wheat, beef and poultry. Both sides hoped to finalize a free trade agreement (FTA) by the year's end. The United States seeks to liberalize trade with Morocco through multilateral, regional and bilateral initiatives. Negotiations commenced in January 2003 in Washington, DC. Three subsequent rounds have yielded significant progress toward a comprehensive agreement that will cover non-agricultural and agricultural goods and government procurement, liberalize services and strengthen investment, intellectual property rights, labor and environmental protections. - (menareport.com) By Mena Report Reporters (C) 2004 Albawaba.com, All rights reserved
http://www.zawya.com/Story.cfm?id=011w1646&Section=Countries&page=Morocco&channel=All%20Morocco%20News&objectid=22403786-8F1A-11D4-867000D0B74A0D7C
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Morocco to re-launch fixed phone bid
(REUTERS) 4 January 2004 RABAT

Morocco will try again to sell a second fixed phone licence, this time in the first quarter of 2004, after an earlier tender failed to attract bids, a senior government source said. "Telecoms watchdog ANRT will announce the new timetable for the liberalisation very soon, which will set the licence sale for the first quarter of next year," the Industry, Trade and Telecommunication ministry source said on the sidelines of a press conference by the ministry.

The first fixed licence is held by Maroc Telecom in which French giant Vivendi Universal has a 35 per cent stake. It plans to increase its stake to control the firm before the end of the first half of 2004. The sale in 1999 of a second phone licence to a consortium led by Spain's Telefonica led to a rapid growth in the number of mobile phone users in the country but has resulted in the loss of some 300,000 Maroc Telecom fixed-phone subscribers. Morocco tendered in 2002 for the sale of the second fixed licence but it proved fruitless although 12 firms had expressed an interest in the tender. "ANRT is trying to groom the licence to make it attractive enough for international telecom operators who are now much more selective in their investments," the source said. One of the scenarios ANRT was looking at would couple the fixed licence with a mobile phone licence, the source added. Sector analysts say Maroc Telecom's efforts to boost fixed phone segments, mainly through Internet services, have not met with anticipated success.
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/business/2004/January/business_January70.xml&section=business
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Spain and Morocco agree to rail tunnel under Gibraltar strait
By Vicky Short 5 January 2004

The governments of Spain and Morocco have taken a further step towards the building of a rail tunnel that will connect Europe and Africa, in what will be a historic technological feat. The Spanish Minister of Development Francisco Alvarez Cascos was quoted in Arabic News.com as stating that this tunnel will be "in the 21st century what the Suez Canal was in the 19th century and what the Panama Canal was in the 20th century."
By the time such a tunnel is in place a continuous rail link between the north of Scotland and Africa would be possible.

The agreement signed by Cascos and Moroccan Minister of Equipment and Transport Karim Ghellab is for a programme of engineering tests and studies and it is believed that digging under the strait could begin in five years time. According to the Spanish Transport Minister 27 million euros will be invested in this preliminary stage of geological survey by each of the two countries over the next three years.
It is thought that the tunnel will be 24 miles long, of which 17 miles will lie under the narrow and turbulent waters of the strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It will descend between 100 and 300 metres under the sea. The most suitable route has initially been established as that between Punta Paloma, 40 kilometres west of Gibraltar, and Punta Malabata, near the Moroccan city of Tangiers. A shorter route to the east that would be only about 12 miles has been dismissed, as it would require boring 900 metres below sea level. The final route and depth will be decided only after detailed geological studies.

The tunnel will be made up of two rail tunnels and one service tunnel in the middle connecting the two, similar to the Channel Tunnel running between Britain and France. The service tunnel will be the first to be built and work could begin in 2008. Spain has already bored an experimental tunnel 560 metres long. Core samples of the rock beneath the strait will be taken in order to develop a picture of its geology. A similar experiment on the Moroccan side was sunk to 300 metres.

A joint committee was set up at the beginning of December between the two nations, which approved the 2004-2006 action plan and the budget of 27 million euros. Estimates of the final cost of the tunnel vary between three and 10 billion euros. Morocco and Spain will seek financial assistance from the European Union for research and infrastructure.

The project to build a rail tunnel linking Europe and Africa was first discussed between Spain and Morocco in the 1980s and several meetings have taken place since, some under the auspices of the United Nations. The linking of the two continents would be a major achievement that would enable the development of communications, trade and cooperation to an unprecedented level. However, this is not a project intended to benefit humanity: it is a commercial enterprise. As such, all manner of new conflicts between the nations involved and those who will want to be involved will emerge, particularly over control of the Arab Magreb, a union of Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania and Algeria, by the European countries.
Tensions between Spain and Morocco have a long history, particularly over the sovereignty of Western Sahara, a Spanish former colony, which Morocco annexed in 1975. Morocco accuses Spain of supporting the Polisario Front independence movement and it is blocking the UN from approving Morocco's claim to sovereignty. Morocco insists on the principle of territorial integrity, while Spain supports a referendum on self-determination.

These tensions have intensified in the last few years, with continuing disputes about immigration, farming and the sovereignty of the two Spanish enclaves on African soil, Ceuta and Melilla, as well as some small islands.

Just a year and a half ago there was an armed exchange when Spanish marines forcibly evicted some Moroccan soldiers from the island of Perejil, which both countries claim. Diplomatic relations came to a halt when Spain withdrew its ambassador and then Morocco withdrew its ambassador.
In addition Spain wants to prospect for oil in the waters between Morocco's Atlantic coast and the Spanish Canary Islands. Spain also blames Morocco for the collapse of the European Union Agreement that allowed Spain to fish in Morocco's rich waters.

The two countries have made an effort to improve their relations. Some weeks ago a Spain-Morocco summit took place in Marraquech, which was attended by a delegation from Spain headed by Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. The summit reached what was described as "the biggest economic cooperation agreement in Spain's history". Spain provided $476 million, $279 million of which will be used to finance projects by Spanish companies. Spain is the second biggest market for Morocco's exports after France and its second biggest investor. Two other agreements were signed concerning employment and the reestablishment of cultural relations. This was followed this month by an agreement on joint patrols against illegal immigrants and for Spain's right to deport hundreds of unaccompanied minors held in detention centres back to Morocco, as well as cooperation against terrorism.

Already rightist forces are beginning to air their opposition to the tunnel, spreading fears of Spain being overtaken by "illegal immigrants", citing Britain's problems over the Channel Tunnel. It is believed that half a million people attempt to cross the strait every year into Spain as a route to the rest of Europe. Many of them drown when the small badly constructed boats capsize. Additionally, racist objections are voiced about the danger of Spain being invaded by terrorists, as the tunnel will connect directly with a Muslim country.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2004/jan2004/tunn-j05.shtml
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Government council adopts draft canceling special court of justice
Judicial, 1/7/2004

The government council, convened in Rabat Tuesday under the chairmanship of Premier Driss Jettou, adopted a draft law canceling the Special Court of Justice and transferring its prerogatives to appeal courts. The Special Court of Justice, based in Rabat, is a jurisdiction of exception set up in 1972 to sanction fund misuse by civil servants or magistrates, when the amount of money embezzled or misappropriated equals or is higher than 25,000 dirhams (nearly US$ 2,500)

In a press briefing following the meeting, Communication minister and spokesman for the government, Nabil Benabdellah, said the draft is part of the reforms aimed at modernizing the kingdom's judicial organization, easing citizens' access to justice and improving moral standards of public officials.
The move to cancel the court and transfer its prerogatives to specialized chambers of appeal courts, made up of qualified and experienced magistrates, confirms our country's judicial advance and its will to establish equality between citizens, by granting them the same rights and through the principle of power separation, said the spokesman.

The minister recalled King Mohammed VI's speech of January 29, 2003 announcing a package of measures to reform justice: "Our objective is to create a specialized justice that, in addition to an efficient settlement of disputes, will guarantee the right to a fair trial and to citizens' equality before the law in all circumstances and in all cases. Therefore, We order Our government to study the situation of the Special Court of Justice and to submit to us proposals and conclusions. In this endeavor, they should bear in mind the paramount necessity to set in place a jurisdiction specialized in financial offenses, in order to moralize public life, protect public finances against all kinds of corrupt practices and engrain in the minds the culture and ethics of accountability."

The government council also adopted other drafts providing for tougher sanctions for some financial crimes, mainly by adding fining and confiscation in case of concussion, corruption, trading of influence and public or private funds skimming, Benabdellah said. In the modernization of the Moroccan judicial framework, the spokesman said the five tribunals of first instance of Casablanca will be merged into one.
http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/040107/2004010722.html

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