Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
July 21 , 2007

Morocco takes new measures to free capital movement.
Rabat, July 19

Morocco has taken new measures to free capital movement, as part of Moroccan economy's openness on world markets, said, here Wednesday, Moroccan Finance Minister, Fathallah Oualalou. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the minister noted that these measures are due to come into effect as of next month, and aim to accompany the process of structural changes in the Moroccan economy, underlining that the North African country enjoys an ongoing macro-economic stability as well as a healthy financial sector.

These measures enable local companies to hold 50% of their export income in foreign currencies, up from 20%, reducing their currency risks and foreign exchange costs. They will also contribute to liberalizing buyer's credit for exporters. Through the envisaged measures, banks will be able to hold a greater variety of investments abroad, while insurers will no longer need authorization to place 5% of their assets abroad.

Morocco achieved a growth rate of 5% over the 2002-2006 period, compared to 3.3% in 1999-2001, said, on Tuesday, Prime Minster, Driss Jettou who presented the results of the government action before the House of Representatives. He said that despite climate hazards and the difficult international juncture, Moroccan economy was able to preserve positive growth rates, and to be the first destination of capitals in the region, with foreign direct investments estimated at USD 3Bn in 2006, compared to USD 700Mn in 2002.

Global volume of projects, subject to investment agreements, moved from USD 2.5Bn in 2005 to 7.5Bn in 2006 to reach USD 7.25Bn in the first half of 2007, he said. Inflation stagnated at an average 2% over the 2002-2006 period despite the upsurge of oil prices. Budget deficit stood at 1.7% in 2006, compared to 4.1% in 2002 in spite of the aggravation of compensation costs and wage bill, while global debt of the treasury downed 7 points of the GDB during the last four years to stand at 57% in 2006.

The premier also revealed that unemployment rate decreased to reach 9.7% in 2006 and 10% in the first quarter of 2007.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_economy/morocco_takes_new_me/view
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Morocco to build over 15,000 km of rural roads by 2015, Minister.
Rabat, July 19

Morocco has devised a second national program to build 15,560 km of rural roads over the period 2005-2015, that is an average of 1,500 km every year, revealed, here Wednesday, Moroccan Transport minister, Karim Ghellab. Speaking at the House of Representatives' (lower house) question time, the minister said a national fund was set up to provide the required financial resources, estimated at some USD 1.3Bn.

Mr. Ghellab went on to say that the first stage of this program includes building 7,732 km of roads over the period between 2005 and 2010, at a global cost of about USD 700,738, noting that a total of 1,700 km was programmed for 2007. With the aim of opening up the rural areas, the minister pointed out, 7,316 km of rural roads are to be built over the period October 2002-September 2007, i.e. an average of 1,625 km a year. He recalled that 10,600 km were built up to late 2005, as part of the first national program, with an average of 1,000 km per year.

The minister had recently said that Morocco had earmarked about USD 3.7Bn to overhaul the capacity of and surface roads across the country, and that maintenance operations are carried out at a yearly basis to reinforce and surface a total of 1,200 km. The official had also said that 304 kilometers of motorway were built since 2002, while another 635 km are under construction. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/morocco_to_build_ove/view
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Morocco achieved 5% growth rate in 2002-2006 period, PM.
Rabat, July 17

Morocco achieved a growth rate of 5% over the 2002-2006 period, compared to 3.3% in 1999-2001, said, here Tuesday, Prime Minster, Mr. Driss Jettou. Despite climate hazards and the difficult international juncture, Moroccan economy was able to preserve positive growth rates, and it is the first destination of capitals in the region, with foreign direct investments estimated at USD 3Bn in 2006, compared to USD 700Mn in 2002, said Mr. Jettou at the presentation of the balance sheet of the government action since 2002 before the Representatives House.

Global volume of projects, subject to investment agreements, moved from USD 2.5Bn in 2005 to 7.5Bn in 2006 to reach USD 7.25Bn in the first half of 2007, said the premier. Inflation stagnated at an average 2% over the 2002-2006 period despite the upsurge of oil prices. Budget deficit stood at 1.7% in 2006, compared to 4.1% in 2002 in spite of the aggravation of compensation costs and wage bill, while global debt of the treasury downed 7 points of the GDB during the last four years to stand at 57% in 2006.

Touching on social indicators, unemployment rate decreased to reach 9.7% in 2006 and 10% in the first quarter of 2007, which confirms that the national economy has been able, during the last five years, not only to face new job demands, but to reduce a part of the accumulated deficit, said the Prime minister.

In education, the government, said the premier, continued its structural and pedagogical reforms. Schooling rate reached 94% in primary education and 75% in middle school. The State has consolidated the budget allocated to this sector by 5%, notably destined to increase the host capacity of education institutions and launch a vast program to equip them with multimedia rooms, worth USD 120Mn.

Touching on the forthcoming legislative elections, the premier said the government has taken all legislative and regulatory measures to ensure fair competition, and all necessary guarantees in order to make it a normal moment in the democratic process of the country.

As for the Sahara issue, Mr. jettou reaffirmed that the Moroccan initiative to grant substantial autonomy to its southern provinces, the Sahara, constitutes a radical break off with the previous plans and grants all Sahrawis, both at home and abroad, the right to participate in the management of their own affairs through legislative, executive and judicial institutions within a large regionalization and beyond any discrimination or exclusion.

The Sahara dispute broke out in 1976 when the Polisario, backed by Morocco's eastern neighbor, Algeria, started laying claims to the territory, a former Spanish colony that was ceded to the North African country in 1975 under the Madrid Accord. The Polisario continues to hold thousands of Moroccans against their will in the Tindouf camps (south western Algeria).
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/morocco_achieved_5/view
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Living cost index up 2.1% in 2007 H1.
Rabat, July 19

Living cost index increased by 2.1% in the first half of 2007, compared to the same period in 2006, said on Wednesday a press release of the High Commissioner of Planning (HCP). The rise is due, according to HCP, to the increase in foodstuff index by 2.6% and non-foodstuff index by 1.6%. As for June 2007, HCP revealed that the living cost index witnessed a 0.3% increase, compared to last month. This rise concerned foodstuff and non-foodstuff indexes by 0.7% and 0.1% respectively. Except the eastern city of Oujda, where the index dropped by 0.7%, the increase was recorded all over Morocco, added the same source.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_social/living_cost_index_up/view
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100k students graduate from high school in Morocco.
Rabat, July 18

105,930 students graduated from high school in Morocco in the 2007-2008 school year, i.e. a 2.4% increase from last year, said director of the National Center of Exams at the Ministry of Education, Mohammed Sassi. Speaking at a press conference, here Tuesday, Mr. Sassi said the success rate reached 47.33%, noting that the number of high school graduates in the scientific and technical fields rose to 60,089 students with an increase of success rate of 54.3%. Successful candidates in literary and Islamic fields reached 39,097 students with a 39.6% success rate.

Some 23,521 candidates underwent the make-up exam session. 521 students passed, he added. Graduates from middle schools reached 232,775 students, marking a 51% success rate. Around 294,334 students were from urban areas and 180,882 from the countryside. As for primary school, Mr. Sassi said 474,916 students graduated, i.e. a success rate of 89.89%, including 264,334 students in urban areas and 180,582 in the countryside.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/100k_students_gradua4782/view
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The 'Andalusia Garden' arrives to Essaouira.
Essaouira (Atlantic coast), July 19

The itinerary exhibition "the Andalusia Garden", which is part of an ambitious project that aims at promoting Morocco's old historical and botanic gardens, has arrived on Wednesday to Essaouira. This initiative, put together by the Madrid-based Islamic culture foundation (Funci) and the City Hall of Essaouira, will run until August 7. It is meant to promote the garden as a space for dialog between different cultures where peace and tolerance prevail. It also aims to offer a balanced and objective perspective of Islam and inform visitors about the positive role that the Islamic civilization plays in the history of our socities.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_culture/the__andalusia_garde/view
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Childhood Being Stolen. By Amina Barakat
RABAT, Jul 15 (IPS)

Habiba Hamrouch describes her daughter, Sanaa, as her "revenge" -- her blow against the mixture of abuse, tradition and indifference that enables thousands of girls to be exploited as domestic servants in Morocco. The law in this North African country forbids children below the age of 15 from being employed. But this has not stopped households from taking on girls as young as five, and subjecting many to grueling hours and mistreatment of various forms when their work is not considered good enough, as well as sexual abuse. In addition, the girls are often denied education, a proper diet and medical care.

"I saw all sorts of things after I was placed with a family as a domestic in 1990," Hamrouch said. "This is a very bad memory…I was just eight when I started working." The fate of her two sisters was no better, she added, as they were also found positions as servants: "My mother, a woman who was submissive (towards her husband), could do nothing except cry in silence, as we were really in need…" "I hated my father for what he did with me -- a poor little servant who didn't have anything."

Now aged 22, married and the mother of two -- a daughter of 10 and a two-year-old son -- Hamrouch is doing everything to ensure that her own children experience a different life. "My little Sanaa is my revenge, I will do everything for her to study (and) I attend literacy classes to be able to ensure a future for my children," she said. Her daughter is about to graduate to the next grade with a good average.

Hafida Hosman*, 18, was also able to escape a life of exploitation, thanks to a neighbour. "I was 14 when my mother gave me to a rich family in Rabat (the capital); their son, a teenager of 16 or 17, did everything to take advantage of me when his parents were away (and) I could say nothing about it," she told IPS."Even his cousin, a dreadful little snot, pinched my bottom each time that he came to the house. They were so spoiled that no-one would believe me…they were the masters and allowed to do anything."

With mention of sexual harassment considered taboo in Morocco, young girls are loathe to come forward in the instances when they are abused in this way. And, simply running away can prove difficult: all too many girls face obstacles to doing so such as a lack funds, or the fear of being reported to the police by their employers.

"It's scandalous to see young girls of school age placed as servants; their place is on the school benches with a book between their hands, and not a floor cloth or a broom that is much bigger than them," said Fouzia Tawil, an activist from the Association for the Defence of Women and Children's Rights, based in Casablanca, the economic capital. "Between the dishes, the housework and the care of children, their childhood is stolen," she told IPS. The meagre payment for this stolen youth is typically given to the girls' parents. "I never saw money for all the time that I worked, until the age of 17," said Habiba.

A government survey carried out in 2001 with the support of the United Nations Children's Fund found there were some 22,000 girls younger than 18 working as domestics in big Moroccan cities such as Rabat and Casablanca (these are the most recent figures on this issue). About 59 percent were younger than 15, all from poor and illiterate backgrounds.

The exploitation of young girls employed as servants has also been investigated by the New York-based Human Rights Watch, which issued a report two years ago condemning this mistreatment, 'Inside the Home, Outside the Law: Abuse of Child Domestic Workers in Morocco'. Of the child servants interviewed for the study, Human Rights Watch noted that most worked 14 to 18 continuous hours a day, every day of the week, for between four and eleven cents an hour: "In comparison, Morocco’s minimum wage for other forms of non-agricultural work is…$1.07 per hour, and working hours are limited to forty-four hours per week and ten hours per day."

The report indicated that Morocco has "one of the highest rates of child labor in the Middle East and North Africa, and one of the lowest rates of school attendance for working children outside of sub-Saharan Africa." It further noted that "Police, prosecutors, and judges rarely enforce Penal Code provisions on child abuse or on forced labor in cases involving child domestics, and parents are rarely willing to press for time-consuming prosecutions that will subject their daughters to stigma without providing any direct benefit to them."

Mistreatment of child domestics persists even though Morocco has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which outlaws exploitation of children for economic reasons. But, the views of Fatima Zénoul* -- one of the women who recruit young girls for domestic work and place them with families -- shed some light on the attitudes that underpin the ongoing abuse.

"My task ends the moment that I place the servant with her employers; what happens afterwards does not concern me, but she is free to leave if this does not meet her expectations, and I could then search for another family for her, and this will earn me an additional fee," she says. Intermediaries earn 30 dollars for every child placed. "If their parents do not worry about their fate, why should I?" asks Zénoul, who works in Takaddoum, a suburb of Rabat. "I am not responsible for what happens to them; it's a paid service that I provide, and it's my bread and butter."

On a more positive note, the fight against exploitation of child domestics is receiving high-profile support from Princess Lalla Meriem -- the eldest sister of King Mohamed the Sixth and president of the National Children's Observatory. She joined the drive against the mistreatment of children, including young servants, two years ago. This has seen Morocco develop a strategy to promote children's rights; a children's parliament has also been created to help address child abuse.

In a statement at the Third Regional Conference on Violence against Children, held in the Egyptian capital of Cairo at the end of last month, the princess announced the creation of a referral centre to shelter children who are victims of violence, and to provide them with legal assistance and the necessary psychological help. In addition, an awareness campaign for the education of young servants was launched at the end of June.

* The names of certain persons have been changed to protect their identities. (END/2007)
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38541
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IFC Supports the Microfinance Sector in Country. 
Washington, D.C. / 12 July 2007.

IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, and the Association Al Amana pour la Promotion des Microentreprises, a leading microfinance institution in Morocco, have signed an investment agreement to promote the country's microfinance sector. The $20 million agreement, which includes a subordinated loan to Al Amana, a local currency guarantee, and a partial credit guarantee, will help the company increase its microfinance operations and improve services for more than 400,000 active borrowers.

Al Amana helps low-income people become productive contributors to economic growth, giving them the opportunity to improve their lives and escape poverty. Al Amana provides financial support and advice, particularly to women in rural areas and young people, many of whom have lucrative projects but lack access to the traditional banking system. Al Amana is part of the Women World Banking network, a close partner of IFC.

Fouad Abdelmoumni, Al Amana's General Manager, stressed the importance of microlending. He also noted, "Our growth in the region is critical as we expand our products and services to reach poor people who seek to become successful entrepreneurs. IFC's support will provide us with better leverage and help increase our microfinance operations throughout Morocco."

Jyrki Koskelo, IFC Director for Global Financial Markets, said, "This project shows IFC's continued priority to promote the sustainable development of microfinance associations in Morocco. The package demonstrates our continued efforts to support the microfinance sector, an industry that serves the poorest segments of the society with crucial access to financial resources."

Michael Essex, IFC Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa, said, "By supporting the leading provider of microloans in the Middle East and North Africa, this partnership is expected to spur the growth of microfinance in Morocco, which will help create jobs and reduce income disparities."

About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, fosters sustainable economic growth in developing countries by financing private sector investment, mobilizing capital in the international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments. IFC's vision is that poor people have the opportunity to escape poverty and improve their lives. In FY06, IFC committed $8.3 billion, including syndications, to 284 investments in 66 developing countries. For more information, please visit www.ifc.org.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200707120752.html
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Literacy education up in Morocco.
By Sarah Touahri – 17/07/2007

Recent Ministry of Education data show that more than 709,000 Moroccans have received training from national literacy programmes, an increase of nearly 54,000 over the previous year. Enrollment in Morocco's literacy education programmes is on the rise. According to recent data from the Ministry of National Education's Literacy Department, the number of people benefitting from literacy programmes rose this year to 709,155 -- an increase of nearly 54,000 over the previous year. Children from the informal education sector accounted for 190,941 of the participants. Academic year 2006-7 has had richer success than previous years because it saw the introduction of a number of key measures, notably the publication of teaching manuals specific to the literacy programmes and the creation of CD-ROM teaching aids to combat illiteracy.

In the past, the pace of literacy growth was a slow one. But lately, we have been gathering speed," said Secretary of State for Literacy and Informal Education Anis Birou at the end-of-year ceremony on Thursday, July 12th. " In fact, the total number of beneficiaries since the creation of the State Secretariat in charge of this project now sits around two million, six hundred thousand, surpassing by half a million the number benefiting in the twenty years leading up to the programme launch."

He appealed to every citizen to encourage literacy programmes, and also saluted the efforts of civil society, which provides teaching to 43.8% of the beneficiaries. As of this year there are more than 750 independent organisations involved in literacy education, some of them international groups. Thanks to the collective efforts of these organisations, many have learned to read and write.

Imane Jbili is one such beneficiary. "I left school five years ago because my parents couldn’t afford for me to stay, but I was able to return this year to the non-formal education program and I am learning a trade, jewelry-making," she said.

Even school pupils are getting involved in spreading awareness amongst their parents and others who might benefit, particularly on the outskirts of cities and in rural areas. Ali Maarouf helped a friend to return to school, and he talks proudly of his initiative. "I was very insistent that my friend come back to study. He was reluctant. But I did all I could to convince him and to help him catch up. I am happy now that he has succeeded," he exclaimed.

Spurred on by children, a number of adults who have benefited from the literacy drive expressed their sense of satisfaction. Nora Charaf, 42, learned to read and write over a period of two years. "Now, I understand a lot of things. I am no longer ashamed of being illiterate. I feel that I have become someone," she said.

Rachid Salimi, a teacher, points out that although many children benefit from the literacy classes, there are still millions of illiterate Moroccans. The current illiteracy rate for the Moroccan population aged 10 and over is 38.45%. "We must redouble our efforts to defeat this scourge," he said. For some years now, a programme has been underway to encourage children to stay in school. Support centres have been established inside schools to identify challenges children face, as well as any problems that might hamper the literacy initiative itself.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/07/17/feature-01
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Moroccans plan Amazigh-Jewish association.
17/07/2007

A group of Amazigh workers in the Souss region of Morocco are planning to set up the Souss al-Aalema Association for Amazigh-Jewish Friendship on July 20th in Agadir. Those behind the idea say they "want to create bridges between Amazigh Jews across the different countries and their Amazigh brothers and sisters in Morocco". The plans have stirred up debate among two associations – the Moroccan Collective for the Support of the Iraqi and Palestinian Peoples and the Association for the Support of the Palestinian People who, alongside left-wing and even some pro-Amazigh groups, have called for a boycott of the planned association's activities. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2007/07/17/newsbrief-04
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Morocco inflation up 2.1 pct in H1 - government body.
Thu 19 Jul 2007, RABAT (Reuters)

Moroccan consumer prices grew 2.1 percent in the first half of this year versus the same period in the previous year on higher food prices, the government's High Planning Commission said on Wednesday. The inflation rise in the January-June period this year stemmed mainly from a 2.6 percent increase in food prices because of a severe drought that sharply cut farming output, the Commission said. On a monthly basis, consumer prices were up 0.3 percent in June from May on a 0.7 percent rise in food prices, it added. The government envisages the inflation rate will remain unchanged at 2.0 percent for this year and 2008. But the Central Bank is expecting inflation at 2.3 percent this year compared with 3.3 percent in 2006.
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Morocco unveils its energy strategy for 2007-2012 .
20/07/2007 By Sarah Touahri

Morocco has announced an aggressive programme to reform its energy sector, committing $7.7 billion through 2012 to diversify its energy sources and enhance competition in domestic and regional markets. Morocco plans to invest $7.7 billion in the energy sector over the next five years, Energy Minister Mohamed Moutaleb announced in a press statement July 12th. Moutaleb explained that projects both underway and planned for the future will satisfy the country's energy needs and support its socioeconomic development.

Morocco added natural gas to its national energy supply system in February 2005, as part of a bid to diversify its energy sources. This fuel currently accounts for 13% of the country's generated electricity. The government has decided to continue these efforts to develop the use of natural gas in light of the fact that industrial operators' requirements for natural gas are expected to reach 10 billion cubic metres by 2020. The energy ministry carried out a technical and economic study to determine the optimal infrastructure for the development of natural gas use in Morocco, and decided that a new gas terminal with an initial annual capacity of 5 billion cubic metres will be required by 2013, doubling to 10 billion by 2020.

With regard to refining, negotiations are underway with a number of oil companies from countries including Spain, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait to build a second refinery in Morocco. The aim is to safeguard the ongoing supply of petroleum products in the country by making available a new domestic supply source and also exporting products to countries with insufficient refining capacity.

Officials at the Ministry for Energy say hydrocarbon prospecting and exploration have been boosted in recent years by a number of reforms, particularly the adoption of a new Hydrocarbons Code and the establishment of a National Hydrocarbons and Mines Office which will oversee prospecting and exploration. At present the majority of promising sites are the subject of reconnaissance or prospecting permits held by a total of 23 major international oil companies.

The National Hydrocarbons Office is expected to spend $163 million on exploration during the 2007-2011 period.
In the area of electricity, nearly $6 billion will be invested in generation resources through 2012 as part of a power supply project. The Energy Minister said the rural electrification programme raised the rural electrification rate from 18% in 1995 to its current level of 98%. One current area of activity is a bill in the legislature to modernise the power sector. It will open the sector up to competition, change the way in which it is organised and create a free market alongside the existing one. The job of regulating the industry will be the task of a national power regulation agency.

Morocco is the world's leading exporter of phosphates and their derivatives and the energy minister said the National Phosphates Office will adopt a financially viable development strategy by developing partnerships with operators both in Morocco and abroad to strengthen the country's position in the international market. The ministry projects major investment during the 2008-2011 period in exploitation ($220 million) and efficiency ($195 million) projects.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2007/07/20/feature-01
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Edwardsville native returns from Morocco.
By ZHANDA MALONE, zmalone@edwpub.net  07/20/2007

Imagine living in a foreign country for two years with no running water and no electricity, with the goal of making a difference. This is exactly what Edwardsville native Lindsey Ludwig experienced during her 2 1/2 year stay in Morocco, Africa. Ludwig lived in Morocco while on duty as a Peace Corps volunteer. Ludwig, a 2000 graduate of Edwardsville High School, left for Morocco in March 2005 and returned in June of this year. She entered the Peace Corps during her senior year at the University of Illinois Champaign.

"I had a 27 months Peace Corps commitment," Ludwig said. "I have been really fortunate in my life and I wanted to give back. I wanted to travel and help people." While in Morocco Ludwig spoke Darija, which is a form of dialect arabic. "I lived in a 22 house community," Ludwig said. "Before I left I trained in language, culture and technical. I had to learn everything in three months. I was in a really remote area where no one spoke English."

Ludwig said the climate in Morocco is cool at times. "Morocco is the northern part of Africa," Ludwig said. "It can get really cold. There was no electricity or no running water where I lived."

Ludwig said she was allowed to leave the village where she stayed once a week. "I had to hike two kilometers and hitch a ride on a van," she said. She also said that she had to find very creative ways to entertain herself. "The Peace Corps community got together and laughed and talked," she said. "Since there was not T.V., we drew pictures and made up games."

Ludwig was part of the Peace Corps environment sector. "I worked with the water and forestry department," she said. "I was the liaison between a small community." Part of Ludwig's work centered around medicinal plants. "I taught the woman how to produce and sell the plants," Ludwig said. "I did a lot of projects." She also helped with literacy classes and a tree planting drive. Ludwig said the most memorable part of her stay in Morocco was the generosity of the people. "I had this one really horrible day where I lost my bucket in the well, got sick, got in a little argument with the head of the village and burned my hand," Ludwig said. "My neighbors came in and gave me a bath, made me bread and we sang and danced. My worst day ended up being one of my best days."

On her last day in Morocco the residents of the village thanked Ludwig by skinning a sheep and painting her with henna tattoos. Ludwig will head overseas again in September to work in Spain as an interpreter for a university.
©Edwardsville Intelligencer 2007
http://www.goedwardsville.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18610127&BRD=2291&PAG=461&dept_id=473648&rfi=6
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Morocco: A Glimpse Inside Morocco
Exotic land of contrasts
By Gay Grant . Maine Coast Now .    Bar Harbor, Maine   July 16, 2007
Gay Grant writes on her experiences visiting her son who is serving in the Peace Corps in Morocco
Pictures that for cultural reasons I could not capture with my camera remain indelibly etched in my mind after a recent visit to Morocco:

• An old beggar woman, with only her clouded eyes and bony arm showing from the folds of her black robes, sits on the ground against a mud wall in the ancient Fès Medina. Over her head a sign with an arrow pointing left and the word “Fax.”

Readmore here:
http://www.mainecoastnow.com/articles/2007/07/16/capital_weekly/local_news/doc469630fbdef42795440699.txt
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To ‘Oz’ and the Southern Oases: Meeting our son’s Berber family.
By Gay Grant

On our third full day in Morocco, we rolled into a village in the province of Zagora in the late afternoon, our rental car kicking up a cloud of dust. It was like the circus came to town, such an unusual site we made, four Americans, pale faces through dusty windows piled high with luggage. A few villagers recognized Aaron, whom they call “Ah-Dem,” the closest Berber approximation of his name. A few people waved as we drove the single dirt track off the paved road to his village through the palm oasis. We yielded to the donkey carts, and several women carrying huge bundles on their heads. Everyone stared at us. Read more here:
http://www.mainecoastnow.com/articles/2007/07/16/capital_weekly/local_news/doc469631d56d610425039246.txt
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Morocco Music Festival to be held in Jamaica, Barbados and TT.  Fri Jul 20, 2007

 Jamaica and two other CARICOM countries are set to receive a big boost in their fight against HIV/AIDS, when Morocco stages a music festival here later this year. Officials of the North African country say the “Morocco Music Festival” would be held in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The festival, which will include concerts featuring bands from Morocco, will run for 10 days in each of the three countries from the second week of September. There will be a three-day break between each festival.

CARICOM's Assistant Secretary General, Dr. Edward Greene, who led a Caribbean delegation to Morocco for this week's first-ever CARICOM/Morocco Symposium on South-South Cooperation, welcomed the initiative. In its 2006 epidemic update, the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS said that there were 250,000 people living with HIV in the Caribbean, with nearly three quarters of them in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/story.php?category=6&story=37972
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Moroccan king nominated for Righteous Among Nations title: Head of Jewish community in Morocco says King Muhammad V saved Jews during World War II by resisting demands of ruling French regime, making him eligible for title.
Itamar Eichner 07.20.07, 15:11 / Israel Jewish Scene

Heads of the Jewish community in Morocco have initiated a move calling for Muhammad V of Marocco, who was king during World War II, to be named Righteous Among the Nations for his efforts of saving the Jews of his country. This initiative is being promoted by head of the Jewish community in Morocco, Serge Bardugo, who was recently appointed roaming ambassador by king Muhammad VI of Marocco..

Arriving in Israel earlier this week to attend President Shimon Peres' inauguration ceremony, Bardugo claimed he had testimonies of Jews who survived due to the king's decision not to implement the anti-Jewish race laws, or send Morocco's Jews to France, despite demands by Morocco's sovereign at the time, the pro-Nazi French government of Vichy.

By refusing the demands of the Vichy government, claimed Bardugo, the king risked his life, making him eligible for the title of Righteous Among the Nations. The organization in charge of awarding such a title is the Public Committee for the Righteous Among the Nations, of Yad Vashem. The committee is headed by a retired High Court justice, and it includes Holocaust survivors, legal experts and historians.

One of the criteria for receiving the title is the saving of Jews while risking ones life. "Should we receive clear-cut evidence in the matter, it will be investigated and the proper decision will be made," Iris Rosenberg, Yad Vashem spokesperson, said Friday. Naming the king Righteous Among the Nations, could have a great affect on Israeli-Moroccan relations, and as such, was endorsed by President Peres.

Officials at Yad Vashem said that with all due respect to President Peres' endorsement, neither his nor any other government official's recommendation would have any affect on the matter. Since the establishment of Yad Vashem 21,700 people were awarded the title, 60 of whom were Muslims. Should Muhammad V be named Righteous Among the Nations, he would be the first Arab ever holding the title.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3427804,00.html
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