Collection of Articles from the site of Persisma.Org
PERSISMA – In order to celebrate the National Day of Morocco, PERSISMA (Persaudaraan Indonesia-Maroko or Indonesian-Moroccan Brotherhood) resume almost hundred of articles related to the dynamic movement and development of the Kingdom of Morocco which was published on the site of www.persisma.org since its establishment over a year ago, as follows;
Collection of Articles from the site of Persisma.Org managed by PERSISMA (Persaudaraan Indonesia-Maroko – Indonesian-Moroccan Brotherhood)
Solar-powered plane completes Moroccan desert flight
Tuesday, 26 June 2012 18:03 administrator
PERSISMA – A solar-powered plane early Friday completed a flight over the Moroccan desert to showcase renewable energy, as a key summit in Rio discussed “greening” the world economy.
Swiss-made solar-powered aircraft the Solar Impulse piloted by Andre Borschberg of Switzerland prepares for take-off from Rabat.
The Swiss-made Solar Impulse landed in Ouarzazate at 26 minutes after midnight (2326 GMT) after having taken off from Rabat at dawn on Thursday.
“Once again, the flight was magnificent,” Borschberg said shortly before landing.
Earlier, during the flight, pilot Andre Borschberg told AFP by satellite telephone from his cockpit said he was optimistic about the chances of success.
“The sky is magnificently beautiful and I am pretty confident of arriving at the destination,” pilot Andre Borschberg said.
“I can see far away the Moroccan coast in a superb blue … Today everything seems possible. In Ouarzazate, the weather forecast is good,” he added.
Image : Swiss-made solar-powered aircraft the Solar Impulse piloted by Andre Borschberg of Switzerland prepares for take-off from Rabat, Photo: EPA Source: telegraph.co.uk/
National Brigade of the Judicial Police seized firearms brought by Mujahideen Movement
Sunday, 13 May 2012 14:46 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat (May 11, 2012) – The National Brigade of the Judicial Police (NBJP) seized several firearms brought into the country by members of the terrorist network known as “the Mujahideen movement in Morocco,” directed by a leading member of this organization in several bustling cities of the Kingdom, said a statement Friday the interior ministry. Seizure of firearms following the dismantling of a terrorist network which is activated in several cities.
The dismantling of this network was announced May 5 by the department.
The weapons were hidden in farms near Tiflet and the region of Sebaâ Ayoun, the source said, adding that the investigations in the context of this case allowed the BNPJ identify weapons caches and follow the circuit traffic. The seizure of these weapons took place as part of a search operation conducted in accordance with law.
In the periphery of Tiflet, four pistols, three automatic pistols, 74 bullets of 9 ml and 30 ml of 7.65, a holster for a gun and three magazines were seized.
As for the survey area Sebaâ Aioun, it resulted in the seizure of a firearm and a magazine containing nine bullets.
Investigations are still ongoing in this case by the security services in close coordination with the prosecution office of terrorism, to determine the connections of this terrorist network and its possible ramifications and stop in question, knowing that the weapons and ammunition seized will undergo technical expertise to the national Laboratory of forensic Science.
Message of condolence and sympathy from HM the King of Morocco to the family of the late Abdeljabbar Shimi
Wednesday, 25 April 2012 14:39 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat (April 24, 2012) – The writer and journalist of Moroccan Abdeljabbar Shimi died on Tuesday at dawn, following a long illness.
Fire Shimi (74 years) was known for his many literary works, especially in the field of new, and his great contribution to the field of press, as editor for several years, the newspaper “Al Alam”.
Considered a pioneer in the field of the literary press, the deceased released in 1964 with Mohamed Larbi Messari the magazine “and the new theater.”
HM King Mohammed VI sent a message of condolence and sympathy to the family of the writer and journalist Moroccan Abdeljabbar Shimi.
In this message, His Majesty King says he learned with deep shock and sadness the death of the great journalist and distinguished man of letters Abdeljabbar Shimi, may he rest in His holy mercy.
This strong human dimension reflects the action of His Majesty The King, always very close, and in all circumstances, the various components of Moroccan society, and the attention that the Sovereign never fails to give the media field in the United .
Solar powered plane flies over Mediterranean
Wednesday, 27 June 2012 00:18 Co-Admin
PERSISMA – Solar Impulse, a solar powered plane dreamed up by Bertrand Piccard, takes off for its “last rehearsal” before a round-the-world attempt in 2014.
The Solar Impulse took off on the world’s first cross-Mediterranean flight from an airfield in western Switzerland and is scheduled to make a stop-over in Spain after a 20-hour flight, before finally flying to the Moroccan capital Rabat on Monday.
Lessons learned on this fight will help prepare the pilots for an attempt at a round-the-world journey.
“Today it’s the last rehearsal for the flight around the world in 2014. For Andre and myself as pilots and for the entire team, the mission control team and technical team”, Solar Impulse founder, Bertrand Piccard, told Reuters.
Pilot Andre Borschberg, who was flying the aircraft to Madrid, found it “rewarding” that the plane flies only using solar power.
“Well the most fun is to be able to go up to 9,000 metres with solar energy, and the more I will fly during the day, the more energy I will collect even in the batteries, so that’s very impressing, very different.
“That’s extremely rewarding that we’re able to go to Madrid and generate energy at the same time, so that’s a big big gift”, Mr Borschberg told reporters before take off.
The Solar Impulse project began in 2003 with a 10-year budget of 90 million euros (£72m) and has involved engineers from Swiss lift maker Schindler and research aid from Belgian chemicals group Solvay.
The plane, which requires 12,000 solar cells, embarked on its first flight in April 2010 and completed a 26-hour flight three months later, setting a record flying time for a solar powered aircraft.
In 2011, the plane and its crew completed the world’s first international flights with a solar-powered airplane as they landed at Brussels and Paris airports.
With an average flying speed of 70 kmph (44 mph), Solar Impulse is not an immediate threat to commercial jets, which can easily cruise at more than 10 times that speed.
Project leaders also acknowledged it had been a major challenge to fit a slow-flying plane into the commercial air traffic system.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
HM the King inaugurates storage and processing terminal for cars transiting Casablanca port
Saturday, 28 April 2012 13:58 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Casablanca – HM King Mohammed VI inaugurated, on Thursday, a storage and processing terminal for cars transiting the Casablanca port, worth 168 million dirhams.
The facility will enhance the capacities of the car industry to back up the importation and exportation of new cars through the port of Casablanca , and relieve the pressure on the said port.
The terminal, meant to reinforce the sector’s competitiveness and boost the region’s economic development, has a storing capacity of 5,000 vehicles. It offers value-added services (touch-ups, paints, washing…), in addition to a car traffic processing in conformity with international standards of security, deadline and losses.
The terminal has a high-performance car information, management and locating system that will benefit mostly car dealers. The project will play a pivotal role in carrying out the motor industry’s development plan, an integral part of the National Pact for Industrial Emergence that was launched in December 2005.
Over 6.5 million students enrolled in Morocco’s schools
Monday, 19 September 2011 11:17 administrator
PERSISMA, Rabat – Some 6,593,194 students, 39% of whom live in rural areas, have started the school year 2011-2012 in different schools across the Kingdom.
The number of new entrants to primary schools reached 684,438 pupils, while the newly built schools amounted to 290 bringing the school’s overall number to 9,995, including 153 in rural areas.
The educational human resources were reinforced with 8346 new teachers. This increases the number of teachers to 233,180, of whom 56% teach in primary schools, 25% in junior high schools, and 19% in high schools.
To help achieve educational goals, several social support programmes were developed, notably the “one million school bag” initiative. This Royal initiative, to be implemented for a total cost of 313 million dirhams, will benefit 4,102,317 schoolchildren from different regions.
Source: MAP
HM the King chairs in Casablanca ceremony to launch operation of medical care generalization
Wednesday, 14 March 2012 12:39 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Casablanca – HM King Mohammed VI chaired, on Tuesday at the Royal Palace in Casablanca, the ceremony to launch the operation of medical care system generalization (RAMED), which is expected to benefit 8.5 million underprivileged people. Around 8.5 million underprivileged people will benefit from this operation. The medical care system give concrete substance to the provisions of the new constitution aimed at improving access to health care.
In the beginning of the ceremony, Health Minister El Hossein El Ouardi gave before the sovereign a presentation in which he underlined the importance of the new medical care system which mobilizes three billion dirhams for the year 2012.
One of the large-scale projects aimed at improving access to health care, in accordance with the provisions of the new constitution, the RAMED is based on the principles of social aid and nationwide solidarity for the benefit of disadvantaged people who are not eligible for mandatory health insurance, the minister said, noting that this public system enables the beneficiaries to have access to health care in public hospitals and state-owned health services institutions.
The medical care system, launched in November 2008 as part of an experiment in the Tadla-Azilal, will benefit 8.5 million underprivileged people (28% of the Moroccan population), including 4 million poor inhabitants and 4.5 vulnerable ones, in addition to 160,000 prisoners, homeless persons and orphans.
The minister pointed out that the beneficiaries will have at their disposal 2,581 institutions for basic health care, including 2,030 health centers, 111 provincial and prefectural hospitals, 12 regional hospitals and 19 university hospital centers, highlighting the reinforcement of the emergency health care system with the creation of 80 equipped medical units, the organization of specialized medical caravans and the setting up of a unit for weekly medical consultation for diabetes and high blood pressure patients, in addition to increasing the number of mobile medical units (602 medical care units and 19 dental care units).
Measures comprise also strengthening medical care units for pregnant women and newborns in the rural area and increasing the budget for purchasing drugs and medical material. The RAMED’s beneficiaries are covered with no discrimination on the basis of age, sex, pathological antecedents or zones of residence.
Poor people will have a free of charge medical care, while vulnerable members of society will have to pay 120 dirhams per person without exceeding 600 dirhams for every household.
The ceremony was attended by the head of government, the advisors of HM the King, members of the government and high-ranking personalities.
HM the King presided, later on, over a reception in honor of the guests
Congo-Morocco-Medical Assistance Deploying the military field hospital Moroccan in Brazzaville
Tuesday, 13 March 2012 14:53 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Brazzaville, 06 March 2012 (MAP) – The Moroccan military field hospital in Brazzaville (Congo), deployed on instructions of the High King Mohammed VI, will be operational from tomorrow Wednesday, officials said Tuesday the Moroccan diplomatic sources.
Morocco has made this hospital as part of a dispatched emergency aid after the explosions last Sunday in an ammunition depot in Brazzaville.
A medical team of 21 doctors of various specialties, 32 nurses and a support staff will oversee the operations and care for victims of this incident, says the same source.
Five Moroccan aircraft were mobilized to deliver emergency aid which includes medicines, health kits and medical equipment.
The Congolese Minister of Health Tuesday reported a balance of 180 dead and 3401 injured, following the blasts.
Morocco to host symposium on cancer in January- HRH Princess Lalla Salma announces
Thursday, 22 September 2011 12:31 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, New York – HRH Princess Lalla Salma announced, on Tuesday in New York, that Morocco will host in January a symposium to examine the means to fight cancer.
This event will be an opportunity to ponder on issues relating to cancer, HRH Princess Lalla Salma, Chairwoman of the Lalla Salma association for the fight against cancer (ALSC), said during a dinner reception offered by HM King Mohammed VI, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s high-level meeting on NCDs (September 19-20).
“The association that I have the honor to chair will be pleased to share its experience with renowned institutions from friendly and brotherly countries”, said HRH the Princess, who leads the Moroccan delegation to the UN summit on NCDs.
The Symposium “will lay the foundation for a fruitful cooperation between our countries”, she underscored.
On the same occasion, HRH the princess showcased the actions taken by the ALSC to prevent cancer and help patients, noting that, thanks to a national fund, access to treatment was improved with 20,000 patients annually receiving radiotherapy and another 22.000 benefiting from free medicine.
She added that 320,000 women annually benefit from an early detection programme ensured by the ALSC, which also launches awareness raising campaigns in the media.
The reception was attended by Princesses Ghida Talal and Dina Mired of Jordan, Chairwoman and Director General of the King Hussein cancer foundation respectively.
Chairman of the UN General Assembly Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, the Maldives Vice President Mohamed Waheed, Togolese Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo, as well as several Foreign and Health Ministers, Ambassadors, senior officials from the UN and the World Health Organisation were also in attendance.
Source: MAP
Morocco To Reform Healthcare
Monday, 19 September 2011 12:14 administrator
by Carole Morris on February 6, 2008
PERSISMA, Moroccan Health Minister, Yasmina Baddou announced a new strategy to bring reforms to the health care sector in Morocco. The plan set to run from 2008 to 2012 will have two basic priorities. First, it is making treatment accessible to the lesser privileged of Morocco’s citizens and, secondly, bringing down the costs of health care and medicine.
The Health Ministry wants to augment the patchy distribution of health services and professionals to all geographical areas of Morocco. Now, Morocco has forty-six doctors for every 100,000 residents with almost half of those being in Rabat and Casablanca. Morocco has 130 hospitals and 2000 basic health care centers. Many in the outlying areas are forced to travel to the major cities for treatment. Plans are to restructure the national healthcare system to have regional centers and decentralize management of the facilities. According to Minister Baddou, all members of the public should have accessible, high-quality care, no matter where in Morocco they reside.
Improved contact with the public health service is one of the goals of the plan. Another is providing competitive, high performance health service. Hopes are that patients will see an improvement in the advice given and timeliness in treatment.
Getting the medicines and drugs to the people is another major challenge. Health Minister Baddou estimates that drugs account for a large part of the state budget. The management system fails to make drugs available everywhere. She says the ministry needs to think about decentralization and set up an accountability system.
Treatment of cancer, diabetes, mental health problems as well as other conditions requiring long time care is another target in the reforms. Minister Baddou hopes that the level of care in hospitals will be improved and co-ordination between hospitals and clinics will provide a picture of the nation’s health. This kind of information will help the Moroccan government to implement and broaden the medical assistance regime. Morocco wants to bring the level of deaths in childbirth down from 227 per 100,000 to 50 per100,000. Infant mortality rates are to be reduced from 40 per 1,000 births to 15 per 1,000 by 2012.
Ridding the public hospitals of corruption is a major component of the new plan. A system for victims to file formal complaints will be set up and a partnership with Tranparency Maroc. Preventive measures will be put into place as well as sanctions levied. Raising moral standards in the health care system is another part of the plan. NGOs and the public sector partnerships will help in reaching the goals of the plan. The government is aware of the value of working with the private sector to bring about the improvements in health care future in Morocco.
Source: http://www.journeybeyondtravel.com/news/morocco-travel/morocco-reform-healthcare.html
Morocco’s Mhammed Abbad Andaloussi receives Global Citizenship Award of ‘Clinton Global Initiative’
Monday, 26 September 2011 12:52 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, New York – Morocco’s Mhammed Abbad Andaloussi received, on Thursday in New York, the Global Citizenship Award of the “Clinton Global Initiative” Foundation for his action to improve the Moroccan education system.
The former banker succeeded in establishing collaboration between the business sphere and education community through two projets, “Al Jisr” (bridge) and “Injaz Al Maghrib” (Morocco’s achievement).
The two projects were described by former US President Bill Clinton, founder of the Clinton Global Initiative, as “a model for the Arab world and even for the United States.”
“Today we are honoring six exceptional leaders,” Bill Clinton told the recipients of the award, including famous singer Sting and former French Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy.
The mission of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) is to inspire, connect, and empower a community of global leaders to forge solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
By fostering partnerships, providing strategic advice, and driving resources toward effective ideas, CGI helps its members – organizations from the private sector, public sector, and civil society – maximize their efforts to alleviate poverty, create a cleaner environment, and increase access to health care and education.
Source: MAP
Morocco’s Eastern region receives environmental award in New York
Monday, 26 September 2011 12:51 administrator
PERSISMA, New York – Morocco’s Eastern region received, on Monday in New York, an environmental award from the R20 Regions of Climate Action, a non-profit organization founded in 2011 by former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other global leaders in cooperation with the United Nations.
The award recognizes the pioneering role of the Eastern region in launching environment friendly policies, said Schwarzenegger, the President of the R20, who handed the prize to the President of the Eastern region Ali Belhaj.
The Eastern region may stand as an example for other regions in the Kingdom and in the world, added Schwarzenegger.
The R20 is a coalition of partners led by regional governments that work to promote and implement projects that are designed to produce local economic and environmental benefits in the form of reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; strong local economies; improved public health; and new green jobs.
Morocco’s National Earth Charter a First for the Arab World
Monday, 19 September 2011 12:32 administrator
PERSISMA, RABAT – In celebration of Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, the Kingdom of Morocco today announced an unprecedented National Charter for Environment and Sustainable Development, the first commitment of its kind in Africa and the first in the Arab World.
The charter will guide policy in the country and future laws on natural resources, the environment and sustainability.
The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, spearheaded the National Charter for Environment and Sustainable Development, which has undergone a nationwide, public consultative process and will form the framework for national environmental laws.
Prince Moulay Rachid and Princess Lalla Hasna, chairwoman of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, presided over the Earth Day celebration.
The ceremonies featured the signing of five international conventions in the field of environment protection.
Moroccan cabinet ministers presented a range of environmental projects for the future – to repair the desertification caused by forest over-exploitation, place artificial reefs to protect marine ecosystems, use the methane gas from a landfil to generate clean energy, eradicate plastic bags and foster an eco-school.
Then Princess Hasna hosted a celebratory dinner. Among the guests were Jean-Louis Borloo, French minister of ecology, energy, and sustainable development, mayors of foreign cities, Moroccan government ministers and other officials.
In March, Princess Hasna visited Washington, DC for a ceremony presenting Rabat as a premier city for the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
She said that Morocco’s recent $9 billion investment in solar energy, demonstrates the country’s ongoing dedication to harnessing renewable energy to build a green economy.
By 2020, Morocco expects to have renewable energies account for 42 percent of the country’s total power installed; this major solar project will reduce, by 3.7 million tons, the emissions of carbon dioxide per year, the princess said.
King Mohammed VI has also launched a project to plant one million palm trees by 2015.
In Washington, DC, Kathleen Rogers, president of the environmental nonprofit Earth Day Network, said, “Morocco, which sits at the crossroads between Africa and the Middle East, is leading these regions in groundbreaking environmental practices, inspiring millions of people to make a personal commitment to the environment for Earth Day and beyond.”
Princess Hasna is sister to King Mohammed VI and also to Prince Rachid. Since her childhood, Princess Hasna has been interested in social and cultural activities, with special emphasis on environmental issues in Morocco.
In 1999 she launched the national campaign for the protection of the environment and gave the prize for the most beautiful and cleanest beach in Morocco.
To support her work, the Mohammed VI Foundation for the protection of the environment was created in 2001.
In 2002, Princess Hasna established a prize for young environmental reporters and in 2003 she created a prize for photography that is annually awarded on the UN’s international environment day, June 5.
On Saturday, April 17, the princess presided over the official inauguration ceremony of an ecological space in the esplanade of the Oudayas in Rabat, on the occasion of the Earth Day celebrations. She visited exhibition spaces along the path beside Bouregreg River, which hosts a solar panel, a windmill and a truck of Morocco’s National Meteorological office used to measure air quality.
Source: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2010/2010-04-22-01.html
PERSISMA callS the Western media to exercise caution and vigilance
Thursday, 12 July 2012 11:57 Co-Admin
PERSISMA – The association OF PERSISMA expresses its great satisfaction with the content of the judgment of the Belgian courts, in cases of international jurisdiction regarding the misuse and shameful fact by the Spanish television channel Antena 3 and of passing a purely domestic drama with Belgian families particularly affected ten months earlier in Casablanca in acts of repression by Moroccan authorities in respect of items activists at events Gdim Yziq occurred in the city of Laayoune, Morocco in November 2010.
The Collective takes this opportunity to express its support and its total solidarity with the family Rachidi who bore the brunt of this manipulation shameful way that honors the media in a democratic country like Spain.
The Collective also call the Western media to exercise caution and vigilance to ensure that such manipulations can not happen again in the future.
Full text of Royal speech on occasion of setting up high authority in charge of national dialogue on reform of the judiciary
Thursday, 10 May 2012 17:40 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Casablanca – Here follows the full text of the speech delivered by HM King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the official setting up of the high authority in charge of the national dialogue on a comprehensive, in-depth reform of the judiciary.
Praise be to God May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to preside over the official setting up of the high authority in charge of the national dialogue on a comprehensive, in-depthreform of the judiciary.
I was keen to grant my patronage to this dialogue because of my specialinterest in the reform of the judicial system, which is one of our country’s key reform projects. I firmly believe justice lies at the heart of governance systems that are based on institutions and the ruleof law, and it is my role to make sure the rule of law is upheld and to promote investment and development.
In the 2008 State of the Nation Address, I called for a broad-based dialogue in order to develop a specific plan for a thoroughreform of the judiciary.
The broad lines of that reform were set out in my message to the nation on 20 August 2009.
I was keen to ensure the Kingdom’s new Constitution stipulated that the King guarantees the independence of the judicial branch – which is separate from the legislative and the executive branches – that a Higher Council of the Judicial Power is set up as a constitutional institution, chaired by the King, and that litigants’ rights and the process of administering justice are clearly spelled out, together with therole of the judiciary in protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals and groups.
This is the main frame of reference for the proposed national dialogue, through which Moroccans will once again confirm their commitment to the country’s distinctive democratic, development-oriented model.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In keeping with the inclusive, participatory approach we have used so far in all major reforms, we have seen to itthat this high authority includes representatives of all constitutional bodies and government and judicial sectors. We have also made sure that civil society organizations are properly represented, along with all the stakeholders concerned by the judicial reform.
I should like, in this respect, to express my appreciation to the members of this esteemed institution, who come from different spheres, and to commend their patriotism, competence and integrity. I hope they will join efforts and work together in this national endeavor.
This broad-based, representative advisory authority, which will enable the judiciary to be open to its internal and external environment, will be tasked with supervisingthe national dialogue and submitting to me draft recommendations for our judicial reform.
Considering your keen sense of responsibility and commitment to national duty, I know I can rely on you to be open-minded, to listen and to create the right conditions for the optimal reform of our judiciary.
I want to invite all the stakeholders concerned to play an active part in the forthcoming national dialogue which I will be following with keen interest. Our common goal is to draw up a national charter with precise objectives, specific priorities and programs, and clear financing, implementation and assessment mechanisms.
You will find in me, as the Guarantor of the Constitution, of the independence of the judiciary and of individual and collective rights, a leader who is eager to support you as you embark on such alofty and crucial national mission. May Almighty God grant you every success.
Source: MAP
HM the King lays foundation stone to build training, socio-cultural activities complex in Khouribga
Thursday, 22 March 2012 15:20 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Khouribga – HM King Mohammed VI laid, on Wednesday in Khouribga, the foundation stone to build a training and socio-cultural activities centre for the inhabitants of the city, whose first phase requires investments of 230 million dirhams.
Details were provided to the Sovereign on this project that will provide the region’s youth with opportunities to launch different economic activities (start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises, small and medium-sized industries).
The complex will be built in five levels: a ground floor accommodating commercial and service shops (6,090 square metres), three upper levels including modular offices (15,750 square metres), and a basement with a 193-place parking space.
Along with this project, the Phosphate Company OCP Group carries out outreach activities for the population of the city. They include in particular redevelopment of the square, small squares, alleyways, doors and the mosque of the “Labyout Lakdim” neighbourhood, providing a space for street vendors, and the setting up of a well-being and leisure club for the elderly.
HM the King received details on the OCP Skills programme which provides, in addition to setting up the complex, for building an educational farm, a business incubator, a multimedia library, a cinema center, an OCP Skills national centre, a sports complex and buildings dedicated to theoretical ecucation (soft skills) and workshops (hard skills).
The various projects, which require 665 million dirhams over four years, are expected to create 1,653 jobs at the exploitation phase.
The OCP Skills programme, which was launched in 2011, is part of the OCP’s strategy in sustainable development and its social responsibility.
It is also meant to be an instrument in combating illiteracy resulting from non-schooling of children in rural areas.
HM the King inaugurates in Rabat ‘Al Amal’ social complex, worth 45 million dirhams
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:08 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat – HM King Mohammed VI inaugurated, on Monday at Yacoub Al Mansour neighborhood in Rabat, “Al Amal” social complex, carried out as part of the National Initiative for Human Development (NIHD), for 45 million dirhams.
– The new complex is meant to support destitute old people and children in difficult situation;
– About 2000 people will benefit from the social services of the new facility;
The construction of this complex is part of an ambitious strategy aimed at upgrading existing shelters in the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer region, creating new centers and supporting associations involved in the fight against poverty.
The new facility will provide destitute old people and children in difficult situation with accommodation as well as support programmes in training, formal and informal education, for a successful social and professional integration.
Built on an area of 3.7 hectares, “Al Amal” complex has a center for destitute old people with a capacity of 100 people and a center for children in difficult situation that can host up to 90 children.
The complex will strengthen and improve the infrastructure for hosting people in precarious situations. It promotes efforts aiming at tackling the phenomenon of begging and vagrancy.
Source: MAP
HM the King endeavors to preserve legal status of the Al-Quds Al-Sherif, FM says
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 15:05 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, New York (United Nations) – HM King Mohammed VI is endeavoring to preserve the legal status of the Al-Quds Al-Sherif, its civilizational identity as well as its religious and cultural symbols, by facing the Israeli attempts aimed at altering the civilizational and cultural characteristics of the holy city, Moroccan Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri said, on Friday in New York.
The Minister, who was speaking at the OIC Meeting for Foreign Ministers, on the sidelines of the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly, said that Morocco, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, is making every effort, through contacts with international actors, to put an end to the illegal Israeli actions in the Al-Quds and the Palestinian territories.
Fassi Fihri said that HM the King’s action is based on a pragmatic approach through the construction of housing projects as well as social and education facilities, carried out by Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people.
The Islamic states, he went on, are urged to assume their full responsibility to defend this crucial cause, in accordance with a common vision in order to find a global and just solution to the Palestinian question.
Fassi Fihri added that this solution should guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinians for the creation of an independent state based on the borders of 1967 with East Al-Quds as its capital.
Referring to the challenges faced by the Islamic world, the Minister stressed the importance of accelerating the pace of political and economic reforms to meet the aspirations of the region’s peoples.
Morocco is convinced that the true solidarity, which is based on the principle of respect of states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity is the only means to promote the unity of the Islamic Umma to tackle the challenges it confronts.
Source: MAP
Morocco’s Mhammed Abbad Andaloussi receives in New York Global Citizenship Award of ‘Clinton Global Initiative’
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:43 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, New York – Morocco’s Mhammed Abbad Andaloussi received, on Thursday in New York, the Global Citizenship Award of the “Clinton Global Initiative” Foundation for his action to improve the Moroccan education system.
The former banker succeeded in establishing collaboration between the business sphere and education community through two projets, “Al Jisr” (bridge) and “Injaz Al Maghrib” (Morocco’s achievement).
The two projects were described by former US President Bill Clinton, founder of the Clinton Global Initiative, as “a model for the Arab world and even for the United States.”
“Today we are honoring six exceptional leaders,” Bill Clinton told the recipients of the award, including famous singer Sting and former French Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy.
The mission of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) is to inspire, connect, and empower a community of global leaders to forge solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
By fostering partnerships, providing strategic advice, and driving resources toward effective ideas, CGI helps its members – organizations from the private sector, public sector, and civil society – maximize their efforts to alleviate poverty, create a cleaner environment, and increase access to health care and education.
Source: MAP
Morocco sets up social solidarity fund to support needy people
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:40 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat – Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance, Salaheddine Mezouar, on Tuesday announced the creation of a national solidarity fund aimed at supporting people with special needs and vulnerable people.
Communications Minister, spokesman for the government, Khalid Naciri, said, after the weekly cabinet meeting, that Mezouar pointed out during the meeting that this project comes in implementation of HM King Mohammed VI’s instructions to enhance social solidarity, spur human development, promote employment and social housing and provide direct support for vulnerable people.
This initiative is the first step towards reviewing the state’s subsidies system, Naciri said, adding that the rural development fund will cover mountainous areas, and that it will reach one billion dirhams ($122 million).
He said that one billion dirhams will be earmarked to finance employment, with 24,714 jobs to be created.
Mezouar told the meeting the 2012 appropriation bill forecasts a growth rate of 4.8%, and an inflation rate of 2% and was prepared on the basis of an oil barrel price of 100 dollars.
He also said that the deficit will be contained at 4% of gross domestic product.
Source: MAP
Achievements of national programme for Moroccans abroad presented in Rabat
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:39 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat – The Minister in charge of the Moroccan community living abroad, Mohamed Ameur presented, on Tuesday in Rabat, the results of the national programme for Moroccan expatriates for 2008-2011.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Minister provided an overview of the actions undertaken by his department within the framework of the national programme covering the cultural, educational, social, judicial, administrative, economic, institutional and communicational fields.
This programme, explained Ameur, includes actions carried out in Morocco and in the host countries and lays down the means and mechanism of their implementation.
At the educational and cultural levels, Ameur said that special attention was given to the younger generations through the creation of Moroccan cultural centers, notably in Europe and Arab countries for a total cost of 486 million dirhams.
In the same vein, numerous cultural and educational activities were organized in Morocco and abroad, added Ameur, noting that the programme has supported Moroccan festivals in host countries and promoted the teaching of the Moroccan language and culture.
To bring further social support to the Moroccan expatriates, Ameur said that the social services in Moroccan consulates were reinforced with social workers.
In this respect, the Moroccan official shed light on the repatriation operations of around 18,800 Moroccans from countries hit by natural disasters or violence.
Concerning the judicial and administrative fields, an annual budget of 12 million dirhams has been dedicated to support the Moroccans abroad and 16,000 requests and complaints were treated by the social and judicial services of the Ministery, he said.
The programme has also supported social and cultural projetcs by the associations of the Moroccans abroad carried out in host countries for a total cost of 15 million dirhams.
On the same occasin, Ameur recalled the establishment of a fund to promote the investments of the Moroccan expatriates.
Source: MAP
Morocco is starting to emerge as an important health tourism destination for European patients -OBG
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:36 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, London – Morocco, which boasts several key advantages over its competitors such as its proximity to Western Europe, is starting to emerge as an important health tourism destination for European patients, the London-based think-tank Oxford Business Group has said.
It stressed that the Kingdom boasts an extensive tourism infrastructure, another key factor in its attractiveness, as is the climate, which is a significant draw for those wishing to combine minor procedures with holiday-style recuperation.
OBG said that the main growth segments in Morocco are procedures such as cosmetic and laser eye surgery and dental implants that are deemed non-essential and would therefore not be reimbursed to a significant degree in Europe.
For example, it noted that cosmetic surgery in Morocco can cost between 30% and 50% less than in Europe.
The country hosts around 80 specialists in the field and 10 specialised clinics, with around 15% of the 14,500 instances of cosmetic surgery that take place annually in Morocco involving foreign patients, it said.
The think-tank pointed out that the dental tourism segment is also fast emerging and is attracting older patients from Francophone European countries such as France, Belgium and Switzerland, in particular, as well as Moroccan immigrants living in Europe.
The “Morocco: Healthy growth” analysis indicated that health care in Morocco is expanding rapidly, thanks in part to the rollout of a new government scheme to extend free coverage to low-income citizens, along with an increase in private investment in elective care facilities to attract medical tourists.
Moreover, it noted that Moroccan per capita health spending has been rising significantly in recent years, growing from $99 in 2004 to $156 in 2009, according to World Bank data.
Source: MAP
Morocco showed willingness to fight torture – official
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:35 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat – Morocco has showed its willingness to fight torture and other human rights violations by adhering to the main international treaties and instruments in this field, Inter-ministerial Delegate for Human Rights, Mahjoub El Hiba, said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the opening, in Rabat, of the high level Conference on “the role of human rights national institutions in preventing torture in Africa,” El Hiba recalled, in this regard, that Morocco had signed the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment on January 18, 1986 and ratified the same Convention on June 21, 1993.
Morocco considers torture as a specific crime in the penal code and has made several efforts to comply its legislation with the UN Convention against Torture in 2006, mainly through the incrimination of torture by promulgation law 43-04, he said.
Holding this conference, El Hiba went on, coincides with a process of reforms undertaken, ten years ago by Morocco, highlighting in this sense the adoption of the new Constitution whose philosophy, spirit and main outlines were made clear by HM the King in his historic speech of June 17, 2011.
In order to stamp out the phenomenon of torture, he said, the government is committed to submit regular reports on the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Source: MAP
New UNHCR-led family visit exchange benefits six families
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:32 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Laayoune – Six Sahrawi families benefited Friday from a new family visit flights led by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), soaring the number of such trips to 25 in 2011.
Under this programme, members of Sahrawi family living in the Moroccan southern provinces visit their relatives in the Tindouf camps in south-western Algeria, and vice-versa.
The new visit exchange benefited 27 people. Thus, 12 people from three families flew from Laayoune to the camps, while 15 members of three families left the camps towards the southern provinces, the Moroccan Coordination Office with the UN mission in the Sahara (MINURSO) said in a statement.
This exchange took place in good conditions and necessary steps have been taken to guarantee a warm welcome to the participants in this operation, added the statement.
The new exchange brings the number of people benefiting from the UNHCR-led family visit exchange programme, since its launch in March 2004, to 11,569, including 5,577 people from the southern provinces and 5,992 people from the Tindouf camps.
Source: MAP
Generalization of medical assistance for the poor makes significant progress, Minister
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:31 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat – Significant progress was made in implementing and generalizing the medical assistance system benefiting the poor (RAMED), Health Minister Yasmina Baddou said on Monday.
Speaking to the press ahead of the monthly meeting of RAMED’s management and follow-up committee, Baddou explained that progress has been achieved in terms of training and preparing hospitals.
Chaired by Prime Minister, Abbas El Fassi, RAMED executive committee is tasked notably with ensuring the implementation of the medical assistance implementation and extension across the kingdom.
The generalization of RAMED will benefit 8.5 million people.
Source: MAP
Donations to Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency soared to 79 mln dirhams in 2010
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:27 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat – Managing Director of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency M’daghri Abdelkebir Alaoui said the donations to the Agency amounted to 79,735,659 dirhams last year.
In an address, read on his behalf by the Agency’s diplomatic advisor Mehdi Alaoui, at a press conference, held on Thursday in Rabat, to present the 2010 report and the Agency’s achievements and prospects, M’Daghri stressed that Morocco’s contribution represents 80% of all donations, which made the Kingdom the main purveyor of the Agency.
Regarding the catering for the Al-Quds’ orphan bank account (Kafala), M’Daghri said the agency has managed to cover the 2010-2011 programme, thanks to the 4.6 million-donation of HM king Mohammed VI.
“HM the King, chairman of Al-Quds Committee, has promoted heavily Bayt Mal Al-Quds, through his ongoing support to its activities, allowing the Agency to ensure donors’ confidence and respect of Al Quds’ partners, who carry out their projects in priority sectors,” said the the Agency’s Managing Director.
As a result, said M’daghri, significant efforts by the Agency to achieve excellent results have a direct effect on the daily lives of the Al-Quds’ inhabitants.
“Despite the complexity of the procedures for obtaining building and restoration permits, the Agency has funded in 2010 projects estimated at 12 million dollars,” he said.
Source: MAP
GB supports Morocco’s reform process, Burt says
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:15 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, New York (United Nations) – Great Britain expressed, on Saturday in New York, its great support for the process of reforms that is taking place in Morocco.
“Great Britain affirms its great support for the process of reforms underway in Morocco,” Foreign Office Minister in charge of Middle East affairs, Alistair Burt, told the press.
He also praised the vision of HM King Mohammed VI in the context of developments witnessed by the region, and recalled the adoption by the majority of Moroccans of the new constitution in last July.
“All the ingredients are in place for the success of the process,” he told MAP at the end of a meeting, in the United Nations headquarters, between Morocco’s Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri and his British counterpart William Hague.
Source: MAP
HM the King presides over opening of first entry into school of HRH Princess Lalla Khadija
22 Sep, 2011 Author: administrator
PERSISMA, Rabat – HM King Mohammed VI, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and HRH Princess Lalla Salma, presided,on Saturday, over the first entry into school of HRH Princess Lalla Khadija at the Princely school of the Royal Palace in Rabat.
On this occasion, HM the King toured the facilities of the school which houses a Koranic school and classrooms.
The Sovereign also attended a lesson of the holy Koran as well as the first Arabic and French classes of HRH Princess Lalla Khadija and her classmates.
Source: MAP
Moroccan stand at KC Ethnic Enrichment Festival presents richness, authenticity, tradition
Monday, 19 September 2011 15:33 administrator
PERSISMA, Washington – Morocco took the 35th Kansas City’s Ethnic Enrichment Festival by storm with an amazing stand, bringing a vibrant array of cuisines, folkloric song and dance to the middle of America.
The Moroccan stand showcased a wide range of rich and impressive cuisine and authentic, traditional shows of music and dance, reflecting the characteristic nuances of the Kingdom regions.
Many Moroccans residing in Kansas City also took part at the Festival, which attracts some 35,000 visitors every year.
Over 60 cultures are represented–making the Ethnic Enrichment Festival one of the largest and most diverse ethnic festivals in the US.
Source: MAP
Morocco to take part in international Euro Arab Film Festival in Spain
Monday, 19 September 2011 07:40 administrator
PERSISMA, Madrid – Morocco will take part in the 9th international Euro Arab Film Festival, to be held on October 23-30 in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (northwestern Spain), said organizers.
Over thirty films from Morocco, Palestine, Algeria, Tunisia, the Unites Arab Emirates, Egypt, France, Spain and the USA, will vie for awards in various categories, including best fiction feature and short films, best documentary, best director, best actor and actress.
Organized by the Araguaney Foundation, the Festival is meant to bring Arab social context and culture closer to the general public, thanks to the international language of cinema.
A short film competition “Amal Express” for Arab youth directors will be also organized as part of the festival with the aim to encourage creativity and innovation, as well as promoting digital media culture.
Achievements of national programme for Moroccans abroad presented in Rabat
Monday, 19 September 2011 07:36 administrator
PERSISMA, Rabat – The Minister in charge of the Moroccan community living abroad, Mohamed Ameur presented, on Tuesday in Rabat, the results of the national programme for Moroccan expatriates for 2008-2011.
Speaking at a press briefing, the Minister provided an overview of the actions undertaken by his department within the framework of the national programme covering the cultural, educational, social, judicial, administrative, economic, institutional and communicational fields.
This programme, explained Ameur, includes actions carried out in Morocco and in the host countries and lays down the means and mechanism of their implementation.
At the educational and cultural levels, Ameur said that special attention was given to the younger generations through the creation of Moroccan cultural centers, notably in Europe and Arab countries for a total cost of 486 million dirhams.
In the same vein, numerous cultural and educational activities were organized in Morocco and abroad, added Ameur, noting that the programme has supported Moroccan festivals in host countries and promoted the teaching of the Moroccan language and culture.
To bring further social support to the Moroccan expatriates, Ameur said that the social services in Moroccan consulates were reinforced with social workers.
In this respect, the Moroccan official shed light on the repatriation operations of around 18,800 Moroccans from countries hit by natural disasters or violence.
Concerning the judicial and administrative fields, an annual budget of 12 million dirhams has been dedicated to support the Moroccans abroad and 16,000 requests and complaints were treated by the social and judicial services of the Ministery, he said.
The programme has also supported social and cultural projetcs by the associations of the Moroccans abroad carried out in host countries for a total cost of 15 million dirhams.
On the same occasin, Ameur recalled the establishment of a fund to promote the investments of the Moroccan expatriates.
Source: MAP
HM The King Orders Dispatching Two Planes Carrying Moroccan Humanitarian Aid To Niger
10 Apr, 2012 Author: Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat – Upon the orders of HM King Mohammed VI, two Moroccan planes will fly this afternoon to Niger to dispatch the humanitarian aid granted by the Sovereign to the country, diplomatic sources said on Sunday.
This aid, made up of foodstuffs, is meant to assist Niger in dealing with the flow of Malian refugees.
This initiative is in line with Morocco’s solidarity-based policy towards African peoples and countries.
Artur Mas Business Visitors
Wednesday, 29 February 2012 13:33 Co-Admin
The visit of Arthur Mas, and 170 businessmen accompanying him, will be purely economic and commercial rather than political.
PERSISMA – The Spanish businessmen have continued to flow throughout this period of crisis in the Moroccan market. This time, it was the turn of the Catalan regional government chairman, Artur Mas, starting a business visit to Rabat, just after the ratification of the agricultural agreement between Morocco and the European Union.
During his first official visit to Morocco, which begins today and will take him to Rabat, Casablanca and Tangier, Artur Mas will be accompanied by a delegation of 170 businessmen, is the largest delegation ever with having a president Catalonia. The information website Spanish (www.larazon.es), which records the information, remember that this mission of exploration is organized jointly with the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona.
What stir up envy, especially since the agenda of Arthur Mas is very busy. There is planned talks with the sovereign and the government Benkirane. It goes without saying that the economic interests of our traditional neighbor, especially those in line with the agricultural, will be impacted by the green light given by the European parliament.
Nevertheless, other levers exist to offset the current state of affairs, to name only the fisheries agreement which, as we know, was rejected. However, the slopes of concluding a bilateral partnership is on the horizon. The same source, the choice of Morocco after two flights respectively in Brussels and London, is certainly not fortuitous.
This is actually an approach rooted in the political traditions of the neighboring country. Only difference is that this visit will be purely economic and commercial rather than political. Entrepreneurs Catalans consider it possible to develop new partnerships and establish new synergies with Moroccan counterparts, particularly in the tourism, agriculture, industry and urban management. This landing force reflects the consistency of commercial ties between the two neighbors, especially since 40% of Iberian firms located in Morocco are of Catalan origin and they represent 30% in the share of foreign trade of Spain with its southern neighbor.
Catalonia in force in Morocco
Wednesday, 29 February 2012 13:31 Co-Admin
PERSISMA – The President of the Government of Catalonia Arthur Mas went to Morocco on Tuesday for an official visit with the objective of strengthening economic ties between the region and the Spanish kingdom. Arthur Mas, who travels for the first time in Morocco, will be accompanied by a delegation of 170 entrepreneurs Catalan. It is the largest delegation in comparison with that which is moved to Morocco time of his predecessor. The President of the Catalan government supports local businesses in his country to develop and establish their presence in our latitudes.
To this end, Mas should go to Rabat, Casablanca and Tangier. It is expected in Casablanca on Thursday, March 1, for the inauguration of the economic forum, “A new cooperation between Morocco and Catalonia”, organized under the auspices of the CGEM and the Government Agency Support Catalan companies . It is expected that the head of the Moroccan government receives the President of the region where there is a large part of the Moroccan community in Spain (233,968 people).
In addition, the Moroccans are the first group of immigrants in this autonomous region.
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Tunisia’s President hopes combined efforts will lead to holding 7th Maghreban Summit
Thursday, 23 February 2012 10:48 administrator
PERSISMA – Tunisia’s President Moncef Marzouki voiced hope to see the current combined efforts of Maghreban countries lead to the holding of the 7th Arab Maghreb Summit.
In a message to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), President Marzouki said that the summit will be an important step in the Maghreb integration process which will help meet the current and future challenges.
On this occasion, President Marzouki reiterated full commitment to deepen consultation and coordination with the Sovereign with a view to “reinvigorating the structures of AMU, opening large prospects to our peoples and achieving their aspirations to further prosperity, stability and solidarity.”
In relation with the summit, the 18th meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the five Maghreban countries’ opened on Saturday in Rabat.
The meeting will focus on the assessment of the Maghreban action during the last two years and will determine the exact date for the summit of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU ) that will take place in Tunisia in 2012, Foreign Minister Saad Eddine El Otmani told the press prior to the opening of the meeting.
AMU’s follow-up committee met on Friday in Rabat to outline the order of the day of the ministerial meeting.
Mali Expels eight Polisario’s elements for shady propaganda
Wednesday, 28 December 2011 14:58 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Bamako, December 25, 2011 – Malian authorities on Saturday turned back eight Polisario’s elements while they were trying to enter Mali, as they intended to carry out “dubious propaganda,” security sources said on Sunday.
“We turned back at the northern border with Niger eight young people” (of the Polisario). “There are laws to respect especially when it comes to carrying out a dubious propaganda,” said the same source, as quoted by AFP.
In mid-December, Bamako had accused elements of the Polisario of illegally penetrating its territory in order to kill a man and abduct several others suspected of participating in the abduction of three Europeans last October.
The three westerners (two Spaniards and an Italian) were kidnapped form the Rabouni camp near Tindouf ( Algeria ’s south-west).
A Malian Minister had recently said, however, the “reasons for this intrusion do not hold water. The person who was killed and those who were taken hostage have nothing to do with the kidnappers of European hostages taken in Tindouf.”
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that Bamako will “no longer accept the violation of its territorial integrity by the Polisario Front.”
Mauritanian security forces have lately arrested two individuals, members of Polisario, for their alleged links to this kidnapping.
Aqmi & Polisario, Collusion pointed of the finger
Wednesday, 21 December 2011 12:56 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Proofs attest the implication of members of the polisario in different terrorist activities of Al-Qaëda in the Islamic ” Maghreb.
Collusion and the more and more obvious interest conjunction between terrorists of Al-Qaida to the Maghreb Islamique (Aqmi) and separatists of the polisario have been pointed of the finger, in 2011, by several medias and American experts, who express their ” preoccupation ” facing aims of this terrorist group that wants to weave his/her/its canvas in the region of the Maghreb and the Sahel.
The kidnapping in last October of three European humanitarian workers in camps of Tindouf by terrorists, with the complicity proven to be of members of the polisario, comes to show the degree of collusion indeed between elements of this separatist group and the from the Maghreb branch of Al-Qaëda, that specialized in hostage’s hold with demand of ransoms and claimed the abduction of ten of foreign nationals during the last three years.
Of the American medias, as the ” Washington Post ” and the ” Huffington Post ” put lately in guard against the activism of Aqmi militants to the same breast of camps of Tindouf, affirming that these camps, where wallow a population without the least perspective of future, became a fishpond for recruiters of Al-Qaëda.
Several experts US also pointed of the finger these convergences of interests, at the very least troubling, bring in this terrorist group that rages in the desert extents going from Algeria while passing by Mali, Niger and Mauritania, and of militants of the polisario attracted by the decoy of the gain, in counterpart of their contribution to the success of Aqmi grace operations notably to their knowledge of the land and the region.
Richard Miniter, author of two bestsellerses on the list of the New York Time titled ” Losing Binladen ” (to Lose Ben Laden) and ” ShadowWar “, (War of shade), underline in this respect that ” Aqmi, whose cash-boxes have been re-floated thanks to operations of hostage taking especially targeting the European nationals and to collusion with the transnational networks of narcotrafiquants, makes youth disabused of camps of Tindouf a future sparkle makes easy ” gains.
This journalist of investigating, that had visited camps of Tindouf, affirm indeed there to have noted the ” frustration of a youth without the hope of one better following day, tired to live in an environment where the unique thought is erected in system of gouvernance “.
This frustration, pushes ” them exactly in arms of recruiters of the terrorist group of Aqmi “, he/it had says at the time of a conference organized in Washington lately.
” During these last two years, Aqmi recruited several mercenaries of the polisario, who are the hardened fighters, capable to assure the success of operations led by this terrorist ” group, underline, of his/her/its side, Peter Pham, director of the Center Michael Ansari for Africa raising of the Think Tank American Atlantic Council.
This recruitment, he/it has held to specify in a declaration to the Voice radio America of, makes ” himself on the pragmatic consideration basis and no ideological, because it is about executing operations of hostage taking or again to protect the passage to the profit of drug dealers “.
Efforts of Aqmi aiming to strengthen ties with the polisario, don’t constitute a surprise for person ” in the measure where they write down themselves in right line of tactics and the operative fashion of the exemption of Al-Qaëda in north Africa, that always had recourse to the ” subcontract ” to put in œuvre his/her/its operations of kidnapping and traffic of drug, relief, for his/her/its part, Roger Pena, expert US in questions of defense and relations international, and main counselor of the Senator democratic Kay Hagan.
This collusion of interests between the terrorist groups, the criminal organizations and the worried international narcotrafiquantses also, to the more level, the American persons responsible, that see a source of danger and destabilization there to the world ladder.
This is how the old chief of headquarters American interarmées, the admiral Mike Mullen, had announced his/her/its ” extreme preoccupation ” of ties and the convergence of interests lately between of the transnational criminal organizations and the terrorist networks in north Africa, notably Aqmi.
” It is about a question that gets worried since several years, and this is not only the traffic of drugs, but as immigration (illegal) and the gunrunning and of human ” beings, had declared the highest officer of the US army, at the time of a conference to the Center of the foreign press (FPC) in Washington.
The Mullen admiral raised that these traffics of all kind that bloom in zones of no right of Africa of the North and the Sahel, generate incomes adding up to by billions of dollars, notably for what is the hard drug traffic operated by the Latino-american narcotrafiquantses through the Atlantic, underlining that these incomes also benefit to the local terrorist networks and their operations in the region.
The under American secretary of state for the political Business, William Burns, had also underlined, in last July, that ” the terrorist groups and insurgents turn today toward the criminal networks for partnerships of interest ” while benefitting globalization and the world interconnected in which we live.
This is how the ” world markets of the drug finance the arming of talibanses in Afghanistan and the FARCS in Colombia, and that cargos of drugs illegal arrivals of America Latine find their path the long of Africa of the west ” toward the European market, had explained Burns.
HM King Mohammed VI congratulates Palestinian President on his speech in the UN
27 Sep, 2011 Author: Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat – HM King Mohammed VI had a phone conversation, on Saturday, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, during which the Sovereign congratulated him on his historic speech in the United Nations.
The Palestinian President called, in his speech on Friday before the UN General Assembly, for putting an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.
Before his speech, the Palestinian President submitted to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Palestine statehood bid at the United Nations.
Sahara issue: Moroccan FM deplores other parties’ rigid position
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 14:50 administrator
PERSISMA, New York (United Nations) – Moroccan Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri deplored, at a meeting in New York with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the “rigid position of other parties” regarding the Sahara issue.
“We have tackled the Sahara issue and I deplored again the rigid position of other parties,” the Minister told the press at the end of the meeting in the UN headquarters.
He said that during the upcoming weeks a number of sectoral meetings will be held, which will enable authentic Moroccan Sahrawi citizens to contribute to the advancement of negotiations underway.
During the meeting, the two parties also discussed Moroccan-Algerian relations, which “has not yet reached the phase of normalization between the two brotherly and friendly countries,” the Minister lamented.
He also stressed the “importance of the process underway,” notably the exchange of ministerial visits at sectoral level for an effective normalization to pave the way for the opening of borders.
The Minister highlighted the significant role of the Maghreb region within the Arab and African nations, as well as in the Euro-Mediterranean process.
Source: MAP
Morocco calls on creating an African bank for food solidarity
Friday, 23 September 2011 14:03 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat – Morocco’s Secretary of State to the Foreign Minister Mohamed Ouzzine called, Thursday in Rome, on setting up an African bank for food solidarity.
Speaking on behalf of the Group 77 and China at the high-level operational meeting of FAO member states on Horn of Africa, Ouzzine stressed the importance of joining efforts in order to meet the needs of disaster-stricken populations, said a statement of the Foreign Ministry.
The international community, he added, has to react to end the crisis, which can get worse in the coming months.
Climate change cannot be the only cause of this humanitarian tragedy, Ouzzine said, noting that foodstuffs prices as well as the volatility in basic commodities have become, in recent years, permanent phenomena that hinder the achievement of sustainable food security, he said.
“The Kingdom of Morocco considers that all actions taken at the international level cannot achieve the desired results without a significant improvement of information and transparency in the markets,” Ouzzine went on.
The Bank, he said, could rely on national networks and experiences that exist in other continents, particularly in Europe. It should also bring together the synergies for optimal use of food to make the fight for food security in Africa more efficient.
Source: MAP
Morocco to play a role in Libya’s democratictransition and reconstruction- Head of Government
Monday, 19 September 2011 15:29 administrator
PERSISMA, Paris – Morocco will have a role to play in international efforts to support Libya’s democratic transition and rebuilding, said Thursday in Paris the Head of the Moroccan Government Abbas El Fassi.
“We have a role to play in Libya, because we have a common history and over 100,000 Moroccan nationals in Libya,” El Fassi told the press following the “friends of Libya” international conference, co-chaired by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister David Cameron.
The Head of the Government, who was accompanied by Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri, highlighted “ Morocco’s very important institutional experience, which was boosted following the adoption of a new constitution,” expressing the Kingdom’s willingness to bring support in this respect, notably as “ Libya is preparing to launch an institutional process to start with the adoption of a provisional constitution.”
“Our jurists and experts can help in establishing a framework for promoting liberties and human rights,” the Moroccan official added.
Speaking to the high-level conference on Libya, which brought together delegations from 62 nations, El Fassi recalled that Morocco “ is among the first countries” to have recognized the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) as the “ sole and legitimate representative of the Libyan people.”
Morocco, “which has supported the fight of the Libyan people for establishing the rule of law and democracy and defending Human Rights”, “positively” welcomes the victory of the NTC over Gaddafi’s forces.
Concerning the Maghreb Union, El Fassi voiced hope that the democratization of Libya will contribute to reinvigorate the regional grouping after years of stagnation.
El Fassi also stressed the need to unlock Libyan assets to address the enormous shortages and help rebuild war-torn Libya.
The 62 nations taking part in Paris conference on Libya are called upon to bring institutional, economic and social support to ensure Libya’s reconstruction, he said.
Source: MAP
Constitutional reforms, a step towards achieving objectives set by HM the king- Tunisian daily
Monday, 19 September 2011 15:28 administrator
PERSISMA, Tunisia – The recently approved constitutional reforms represent a step towards achieving the objectives set by HM king Mohammed VI to meet the aspirations of the Moroccan people, the Tunisian daily paper, Al Moharrir, wrote.
HM the King is laying the basis for a constitutional and parliamentary monarch, the daily’s Editor-in-Chief, Abdellatif Firati, highlighted in an article published on Thursday.
In the wake of the Arab spring, Morocco has opted for a prospective approach by taking the initiative to modernize the Kingdom’s political arena, he maintained.
He recalled the experience of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER), which was established to investigate past human rights violations.
Firati also pointed to the massive support of the Moroccan people for the new supreme law which was evidenced by a landslide approval during a referendum held on July 1.
Source: MAP
Tunisian interim President congratulates HM the King on Throne Day
Monday, 19 September 2011 15:26 administrator
PERSISMA, Rabat – On the occasion of the twelfth anniversary of the Throne Day, HM King Mohammed VI received a congratulatory message from Tunisia’s interim president, Fouad Mebazaa.
In the message, Mebazaa expressed on behalf of the Tunisian government and people heartfelt congratulations and wishes of health and wellbeing for HM the King and further prosperity for the brotherly Moroccan people.
Tunisia’s interim President also voiced satisfaction regarding the excellent relations between the two brotherly peoples.
In this connection, he expressed strong will to endeavour with Morocco to promote bilateral cooperation and strengthen ties of fraternity to meet the two brotherly peoples’ aspirations to integration and partnership with a view to building the Maghreban Union.
Source: MAP
Algerian government is trying to block democratic process in Maghreb: FFS official
Monday, 19 September 2011 15:24 administrator
PERSISMA, Algiers – “The Algerian government is trying to block the ongoing democratic process in the Maghreb region,” First Secretary of the opposition Socialist Forces Front party (FSS), Karim Tabbou, said.
In order to achieve its schemes, the Algerian regime “funded the war in Libya, maintains the closure of land borders with Morocco and blackmails Tunisia,” Tabbou was quoted, on Monday, as saying by the Algerian Daily “Le Soir d’Algérie”.
Tabbou, who was speaking during a meeting in the province of Tizi Ouzou (103 km East of Algiers), noted that since the ousting of Tunisian Ex President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the issue of opening land borders with Morocco was used by several Algerian officials to “threaten Tunisia with isolation at the regional level, in retaliation against the Tunisian people who aspires for democracy.”
On the political situation in Algeria, Tabbou said that in the face of “a regime waging a war against reforms”, Algerians will not be able to have their revolution until trust is established with politicians.
“If we cannot rebuild trust between the citizen and the politician, the crisis will further persist in our country”, Tabbo affirmed.
Source: MAP
Tunisian Foreign Minister commends Morocco’s deep democratic reforms
Monday, 19 September 2011 15:23 administrator
PERSISMA, Tunis – Tunisia’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Mouldi Kéfi commended the deep democratic reforms undertaken in Morocco following the approval by referendum of the Kingdom’s new supreme law.
Speaking at a meeting with Morocco’s Secretary of State to the Foreign Minister, Latifa Akharbach, the Tunisian official highlighted Morocco’s leading experience in the multiparty system and the freedom of the press.
Mouldi Kéfi added that strengthening cooperation between Morocco and Tunisia will have a positive impact on the two countries relations with the European Union, a statement of Morocco’s Embassy quoted him as saying.
During her two-day visit to Tunisia, Akharbach held talks with other senior officials including Tunisian counterpart Radouane Nouicer on the means to further boost bilateral relations.
The two parties reiterated positions in favour of building the Maghreban union as a strategic choice for the countries of the region.
The talks were also an opportunity to discuss the latest developments in Tunisia following the revolution. In this respect, Akharbach welcomed “the deep democratic change witnessed in Tunisia,” stressing the need for comprehensive development, good governance and ensuring equilibrium between the regions.
During the talks light was also shed on the momentum launched in Morocco following the announcement by HM King Mohammed VI of the constitutional revision.
Source: MAP
Normalization of Moroccan-Algerian relations likely to help settle Sahara issue: FM says
Monday, 19 September 2011 11:27 administrator
PERSISMA, Manhasset – Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri said, on Thursday night in Manhasset (New York suburbs), that the ongoing normalization process of the Moroccan-Algerian relations is likely to “contribute to the resolution” of the Sahara issue.
This process which covers “many areas as well as the exchange of ministerial visits is likely to help meeting the challenges facing the Arab Maghreb region at the economic and security levels, thus contributing to settling this regional dispute,” Fassi Fihri said at a press briefing following the end of the 8th round of the UN-backed informal talks on the Sahara, held on July 19-21.
In this regard, he called on Algeria to adhere to international law, notably the humanitarian law in the Tindouf camps.
“The 8th informal talks allowed the Moroccan to reiterate its call upon the international community and Algeria, as host country for refugees on its territory, to apply first and foremost the international humanitarian law, notably the organization and registration” of the population who have been living for decades in the Tindouf camps (south-western Algeria), said the Moroccan official.
Fassi Fihri pointed to “an ambiguity concerning the laws applied in the camps in the Algerian territory,” stressing the responsibilities and commitment which Algeria should uphold.
Other parties continue to stick to rigid stands, he deplored , denouncing that the polisario has reneged on its commitments relating notably to the inclusion of the human rights question,”which itself had raised.”
Fassi Fihri also pointed to “the strong reluctance of the polisario to the innovative approach initiated by the U.N. Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross, as well as the new themes included in this approach,” namely territorial governance, relating particularly to education, health and the environment.
Fassi Fihri noted with satisfaction that the United Nations, as stipulated in the Security Council’s latest resolution, insists that both parties be part of this parallel approach.
The Moroccan official stressed the “need to involve (in future meetings) legitimate and credible representatives of the southern provinces and abroad, so that they can contribute and reflect on a final settlement.”
Natural resoucres are among the issues included in this approach, added the Minister.
Morocco, meanwhile, expressed its “full willingness to continue its consideration of all these points,” said Fassi Fihri.
This round, he said, was also a new opportunity to present the Moroccan autonomy initiative as a comprehensive and legitimate proposal, as it was pointed out by the Security Council, and recall its full respect of international legality.
He made it clear that the domestic front remains unified regarding the legitimacy and justness of the national cause, adding that Morocco will spare no effort to press ahead with development projects at the socio-economic, cultural and political levels.
In this connection, Fassi Fihri recalled the the landslide approval by the Moroccan people of the Kingdom’s new constitution following a referendum on July 1.
The Moroccan delegation to the talks was composed of Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri, Director General of intelligence agency (DGED) Mohamed Yassine Mansouri, and Secretary General of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS) Maouelainin Khalihanna Maouelainin.
Source: MAP
Over one million Moroccans march in support of draft Constitution
28 Jun, 2011 Author: Wilson Lalengke
PERSISMA, Rabat – More than one million Moroccans staged nationwide, on Sunday, demonstrations and marches to voice their support for the draft Constitution, which will be put to a referendum next Friday.
Ahead of this date, a campaign is running from Tuesday 21 June to Thursday June 30 to mobilize the citizens to vote.
The new text is composed of 180 articles, up from 108 articles in the earlier version.
Source, @Map, Last modification 06/27/2011 02:12 PM.
Morocco ‘may be setting good example’ for Arab countries- US paper
Friday, 23 September 2011 14:00 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Washington – Morocco “may be setting a good example” for Arab countries experiencing violent social uprisings, the US paper Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote on Thursday.
Amid the popular uprising in several countries in the region, HM King Mohammed VI “acted pre-emptively” and “embraced institutional reform, which he submitted to the people in a referendum,” said the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Recalling the landslide majority approval of the new constitution during the referendum, the US paper highlighted that the new supreme law “enhances the powers of elected representatives.”
Morocco’s reform “seems in safe hands with” HM King Mohammed VI, the Richmond Times-Dispatch went on to say.
“The road from Morocco could lead to reform elsewhere in a region hungry for good government,” the same source noted.
Touching on the kingdom’s time-honored traditions of tolerance and coexistence, the paper considered that “Morocco enjoys a reputation for tolerance and has not confronted the religious radicalism seen elsewhere.”
Source: MAP
New constitution ‘will bring greater openness and democracy to Morocco’: Congresswoman
Friday, 22 July 2011 07:06 Popi Rahim
PERSISMA,Washington – The New Moroccan constitution, approved by a landslide majority following a referendum on July 1, “will bring greater openness and democracy to Morocco,” US Congresswoman Shelley Berkley said on Wednesday. “I am encouraged by the recent referendum held in Morocco that approved the constitutional changes proposed by King Mohamed VI,” Berkely, the Democratic Representative who represents the Nevada First Congressional District, said in a statement.
These reforms enable Morocco to be welcomed “into the community of world democracies”, added Berkely.
“The U.S. should help the Moroccan government in every way we can to ensure” the transition toward democratic governance “happens in a safe and constructive environment that strengthens this important alliance and brings greater stability to the region,” the US Congresswoman went on to say.
Source: @MAP Last modification 07/20/2011 06:33 PM.
Next informal talks on Sahara due after U.N. General Assembly’s fall session: Ross says
Friday, 22 July 2011 05:20 Popi Rahim
PERSISMA, Manhasset, New York – The next informal talks on the Sahara will take place after the fall session of the U.N. General Assembly, said Thursday the U.N. Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross, at the end of the eighth round of informal talks held in Manhasset.
“By the end of the meeting, each party continued to reject the proposal of the other as a sole basis for future negotiations while reiterating their will to work together in order to find a political solution in accordance with the relevant U.N. security council’s resolutions,” Ross told the press.
The parties discussed the new ideas put forward by the Secretary-General in his latest report on the Sahara issue, which was endorsed by the Security Council, he said.
On this occasion, he said, the parties “explored ways to include respected members of a wide cross-section” of the population of the Sahara to the ongoing process of negotiation.
“They also started a discussion which will be deepened in the coming months on issues of governance, such as education, environment and health,” added Ross.
The parties notably “started a preliminary discussion on the topic of natural resources within the framework of reflection proposed by the United Nations,” said Ross, stressing that “the parties decided to work with U.N. in the coming months on issues of natural resources and mining to deepen discussion within the framework of negotiations.”
Regarding the confidence-building measure, Ross said “the parties and the neighbouring States reiterated their support for the proper implementation plan of action of 2004 and the family visits by road.”
©MAP-All right reserved
Last modification 07/22/2011 04:37 AM.
UK welcomes HM the King’s commitment to reform
1 Jul, 2011 Author: Popi Rahim
London – The United Kingdom has welcomed HM King Mohammed VI’s stated commitment to reform, following the Monarch’s June 17 speech to announce the new draft constitution.
“We welcome the King’s stated commitment to reform,” a spokesman of the Foreign Office told MAP news agency.
Recalling the UK-Morocco friendship relations, the British official voiced his country’s hope to see Morocco continues down “the path of reform.”
Source: ©MAP, Last modification 06/21/2011 05:42 PM.
UNSG commends constitutional reforms announced by HM the King
1 Jul, 2011 Author: Popi Rahim
New York, (UN) – The United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) Ban Ki-moon commended, on Wednesday in New York, the constitutional reforms announced by HM King Mohammed VI and congratulated Morocco for the “peaceful manner” in which the national process of political reforms has been conducted.
“The Secretary General welcomes the constitutional reforms announced by HM King Mohammed VI on July 17, 2011, which will be put to a referendum on July 1st,” said a statement of the UNSG spokesperson.
“The constructive role of all national stake-holders, in particular the youth is important, as it is for them to continue to engage in the ongoing process through dialogue and without violence,” it added.
Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday that he fully appreciates refoms undertaken by HM King Mohammed VI.
Source: ©MAP, Last modification 06/23/2011 12:30 PM
Morocco’s El Jamri elected vice-chairman of UN Human Rights Treaty Body System
28 Jun, 2011 Author: Wilson Lalengke
PERSISMA, Geneva – At the 12th UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies and Inter-Committee Meeting, which kicks off on Monday in Geneva, Abdelhamid El Jamri, Moroccan UN expert and head of the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, was elected vice-chairman.
The Australian Ronald Clive McCallum was elected chairman.
El Jamri joined the UN human rights system on the occasion of his election in 2003 as a member of the Committee on the Rights of Migrant Workers.
He was elected by his peers as Vice-chairman in 2006 and as chairman since 2008.
Source: @MAP, Last modification 06/28/2011 07:31 PM.
Morocco-France-presidential: The King of Morocco welcomes Francois Hollande
Monday, 07 May 2012 15:27 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, RABAT (May 6, 2012) – Morocco’s King Mohammed VI commended Francois Hollande Sunday after his election as head of France wished him “every success” in its “noble mission to serve the French people friend” it was said official sources.
In a lengthy message of “warm congratulations” released in Rabat, the Moroccan monarch said he was “convinced” that the special relationship and that singular “bind our two countries as well as their strategic partnership of exception will firm up even more.”
France is the first economic partner of the kingdom, a leading emerging markets in Africa.
“I want to assure you of my firm determination to work together with you to improve this relationship that draws its strength from the force of constantly renewed old ties of friendship and mutual esteem between the peoples of Morocco and French,” wrote the King of Morocco.
The King of Morocco, who had received in March the first secretary of the French Socialist Party Martine Aubry, also expressed as “two countries will work (…) to strengthen their cooperation in the fight against terrorism, obscurantism, hatred and intolerance”.
The Moroccan community in France has over a million people.
According to testimony released Saturday by the Moroccan TV 2M (public), Moroccans living in France had expressed their desire to see Francois Hollande win the presidency.
HM the King endeavors to preserve legal status of the Al-Quds Al-Sherif, FM says
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:22 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, New York (United Nations) – HM King Mohammed VI is endeavoring to preserve the legal status of the Al-Quds Al-Sherif, its civilizational identity as well as its religious and cultural symbols, by facing the Israeli attempts aimed at altering the civilizational and cultural characteristics of the holy city, Moroccan Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri said, on Friday in New York.
The Minister, who was speaking at the OIC Meeting for Foreign Ministers, on the sidelines of the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly, said that Morocco, under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, is making every effort, through contacts with international actors, to put an end to the illegal Israeli actions in the Al-Quds and the Palestinian territories.
Fassi Fihri said that HM the King’s action is based on a pragmatic approach through the construction of housing projects as well as social and education facilities, carried out by Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency to ease the suffering of the Palestinian people.
The Islamic states, he went on, are urged to assume their full responsibility to defend this crucial cause, in accordance with a common vision in order to find a global and just solution to the Palestinian question.
Fassi Fihri added that this solution should guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinians for the creation of an independent state based on the borders of 1967 with East Al-Quds as its capital.
Referring to the challenges faced by the Islamic world, the Minister stressed the importance of accelerating the pace of political and economic reforms to meet the aspirations of the region’s peoples.
Morocco is convinced that the true solidarity, which is based on the principle of respect of states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity is the only means to promote the unity of the Islamic Umma to tackle the challenges it confronts.
Source: MAP
Morocco concerned about the suffering of Palestinian people, FM
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:13 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, New York (United Nations) – Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri expressed, on Friday in New York, before the Alliance of Civilizations Group of Friends Ministerial Meeting, Morocco’s “concern” about the painful daily life of the Palestinian people.
The Minister also stressed the commitment of HM King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, to preserving the identity of the Al Quds Al-Sharif city.
Morocco has encouraged an approach based on partnership between governments, international organizations, civil society and private sector, he added.
Fassi Fihri also commended the adoption of the Action Plan of the Alliance of Civilizations for the Mediterranean, and the action of the Anna Lindh Foundation for its efforts to promote rapprochement between the peoples of the Mediterranean.
Source: MAP
Moroccan FM congratulates Mahmoud Abbas, on behalf of HM the King, on his historic speech
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:10 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, New York (United Nations) – Moroccan Foreign Minister, Taib Fassi Fihri, congratulated, on behalf of HM King Mohammed VI, President of the Al Quds Committee, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, following his historic speech, on Friday, before the UN General Assembly.
The Minister had highlighted, in a statement to the press, HM King Mohammed VI’s “specific and precious role” in the Palestinian cause on behalf of the Moroccan people, who support the legitimate demands of the brotherly Palestinian people at the international level.
Source: MAP
Lower House Speaker holds talks with Head of Chilean Parliamentary Committee
Monday, 26 September 2011 11:06 Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Rabat – Lower House Speaker, Abdelwahed Radi, held on Friday in Rabat, talks with Head of the family commission at the Chilean Parliament, Monica Zalaket on the bilateral parliamentary relations between the two friendly countries.
During the meeting, Zalaket reiterated her country’s position in support of Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara, describing it as “ serious and credible” , a statement of the Lower House said.
The Chilean MP voiced hope to see Morocco’s autonomy initiative lead to a lasting settlement of the Sahara conflict.
She also commended the constitutional reforms, which was adopted by an overwhelming majority following a referendum.
Source: MAP
Morocco’s autonomy initiative, sole solution to Sahara dispute- Conference in Geneva
Friday, 23 September 2011 14:10 administrator
PERSISMA, Geneva- Participants at a conference, held on Thursday in Geneva, highlighted Morocco’s autonomy initiative for the Sahara as the sole solution to the regional dispute that will put an end to the humanitarian tragedy and the denial of human rights endured by the populations held against their will in the polisario-run camps of Tindouf (south-western Algeria).
The participants in the conference, themed “the human dimension in conflict resolution”, raised the grievances of the population held captive in the camps where they have been denied basic rights, including the freedom of expression, for over three decades.
The Speakers at this event denounced the separation imposed on the camp dwellers by the polisario administration, which continues to prevent them from their rights to visit their relatives in their homeland Morocco.
In this respect, light was shed on the case of Mostapha Salma Ould Sidi Mouloud, the former polisario police official who was tortured and separated from his relatives in Tindouf for having voiced intention to support Morocco’s autonomy initiative in the camps.
The participants held Algeria fully responsible for the human rights violations taking place in its territories, decrying as “illegal” the fact that Algeria left the populations in the camps to the mercy of the separatists.
On the polisario’s corruption, the panelist condemned the embezzlement of the humanitarian aid that is supposed to reach the camps’s population.
The conference, Held by the International Development Agency, was also an opportunity to showcase Morocco’s autonomy initiative which was presented with the aim of finding a lasting settlement of the Sahara conflect. In this respect, the speakers made it clear that, in the face of the polisario’s intransigence, the autonomy plan represents the only feasible solution to the regional conflict.
They added that Morocco’s initiative will put an end to the ordeal of the Tindouf camps population.
Among the participants in the event were Chairwoman of the International network for the support of the Autonomy Initiative, Mroue Rowaida, Dr Lahcen Haddad and President of Action for Peace and Development in the Great Lakes, Maurice T. Katala.
Source: MAP
HM the King receives several foreign ambassadors
Thursday, 22 September 2011 12:28 administrator
PERSISMA, Rabat – HM King Mohammed VI received, on Monday at the royal palace in Rabat, a number of foreign ambassadors who presented their credentials to the Sovereign as ambassadors of their countries to Morocco.
The ambassadors are:
– Kundalee Prachimdhit, ambassador of the Kingdom of Thaïland.
– Frederico Salomao Duque Estrada Meyer, ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
– Yaroslav Koval, ambassador of Ukraine.
– Nur Mohammad, ambassador the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
– Ly Bubacar, ambassador of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau.
– Jamal Bin Hassan, ambassador of Malaysia.
– Christina Harttila, ambassador of Finland.
– Anna Hammargren, ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden.
– Raafii Bin Achour, ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia.
– Michael Witter, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany.
– Janos Perenyi, ambassador of the Republic of Hungary.
Afterwards, HM the King received Luis José De Almeida, ambassador of the Republic of Angola, and Juan Ndong Nguema Mbengono, ambassador of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, who came to take leave of the Sovereign at the end of their diplomatic mission in the Kingdom.
The Monarch decorated the two diplomats with the Grand Cordon of the Alaouite Wissam. The audience was attended by Moroccan secretary of state to foreign affairs, Latifa Akharbach, and by HM the King’s chamberlain, Brahim Frej.
Source: MAP
Former polisario official exposes before UNHRC human rights abuses in Tindouf camps
Monday, 19 September 2011 11:13 administrator
PERSISMA, Geneva – Zighem Bayat, a former polisario official, laid bare, Thursday before the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), the human rights violations spreading in the polisario-run camps of Tindouf (Algeria’s south-west).
It is unfortunate, said Zighem, speaking at the 18th HRC session, that the polisario camps continue to be the scene of the most sordid human rights violations, in the absence of any international protection.
He urged, in this respect, the Council to discharge its obligations towards the population sequestered in these camps, calling for an end to these inhumane practice that only linger the suffering and oppression of the camps’ population.
Having himself lived in the camps and was a member of the polisario, Zighem claimed to have witnessed practices that include forcible confinement, denial of the right of detainees to return to their home areas, embezzlement of humanitarian aid and rejection of the population census.
All these practices, he denounced, take place in a climate of fear that the polisario militia have spread for over thirty years.
The speaker also said that the population held againg their will in the polisario camps expect the Council to give them a hope for an end to these atrocities and return with their families to Morocco southern region.
Source: MAP
Morocco’s reform process, a reference for the region- EU official
Monday, 19 September 2011 07:26 administrator
PERSISMA, Madrid – Morocco’s democratic process may be considered as a reference in the whole region, said EU’s Special Representative for the Southern Mediterranean Region Bernardino Léon.
“The EU admires, supports and trusts this process and we are convinced that Morocco’s willingness to press ahead with this path will stand as a reference in the region,” the EU official was quoted by the Spanish Europa Press news agency as saying.
Bernardino Léon, who was addressing an international forum on democratic transitions and constitutional processes in the Arab world, commended the impressive evolution marked by the adoption of a new constitution and the large-scale reforms launched under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI.
He described Morocco’s achievements during the last decade as “spectacular”.
The international forum on democratic transitions and constitutional processes in the Arab world was held in Rabat on September 16-17.
Source: MAP
Over 13 million voters to have a say on new draft constitution on Friday
1 Jul, 2011 Author: Popi Rahim
Rabat – Over 13 million citizens are expected to go to polls to vote on the new draft constitution, whose broad lines were announced by HM King Mohammed VI in a speech to the nation.
According to the Interior Ministry, 13,106,948 voters were registered in electoral lists, 54.8% of whom are men and 45.2 women.
The members of the Royal Armed Forces, and security forces, including the Royal Gendarmerie, the police and Auxiliary Forces will take part in the vote.
Polling stations were also opened in Morocco’s Embassies and Consulates to enable the Moroccans living abroad to participate in the referendum.
The referendum campaign started on June 21 and will end on Thursday June 30.
Source, @Map, Last modification 06/30/2011 11:25 AM
Sahara issue: Chile’s Senate, Congress renew support for UN negotiating process, hail Morocco’s efforts
Tuesday, 28 June 2011 15:20 Wilson Lalengke
PERSISMA, Santiago – The Chilean Senate and House of Representatives have reiterated their support for the UN negotiating process and for Morocco’s serious and credible efforts to reach a political solution to the Sahara issue.
That came during talks, on Wednesday in Santiago, between Moroccan secretary-general of the ministry of foreign affairs, Youssef Amrani, and the speakers of the Chilean Senate and the House of Representatives.
The talks, which are part of bilateral political consultations, examined bilateral issues as well as regional and international affairs of common interest.
The two sides explored the best means of further promoting bilateral trade and cultural and scientific cooperation, especially in the area of renewable energies.
Amrani highlighted the specificities of Morocco, which has embarked on a reform process over fifteen years.
On the Sahara issue, he presented his interlocutors with the latest developments, particularly the latest Security Council resolution which has emphasized Morocco’s autonomy Initiative as a credible, realistic solution to the conflict.
In this connection, Guido Girardi, speaker of the Chilean senate, said the latter endorses the position taken by the government, which supports the ongoing UN-mediated negotiation process towards a political solution to the dispute, based on realism and compromise.
For his part, Patricio Melero, speaker of the House of Representatives, reasserted the House’s support for the UN negotiation process as well as for Morocco’s serious and credible efforts.
Source : MAP, Last modification 05/11/2011 03:47 PM.
A Brief History of Morocco
19 Sep, 2011 Author: Co-Admin
PERSISMA, Morocco had been geographically important and historically rich way before the Arabs invaded in the seventh century. Fossil remains in parts of the country show Morocco was inhabited over 50,000 years ago. Rock carvings portray lush forests populated by elephants, ostriches, giraffes and lions. Myth has it that Hercules separated Europe from Africa, and in doing so created the Strait of Gibraltar, the Caves of Hercules (just outside of Tangier) and the Pillars of Hercules—the rocks of Gibraltar and Ceuta.
Punic tombs attest to Phoenician settlement from the 12th century B.C. until the 2nd century B.C. when the Romans took over—it was at this time that Jews started coming to Morocco after the Egyptian Exodus. There are still some Roman ruins in Volubilis (near Moulay Idriss, outside of Meknes), Lixus (near Larache) and Sala Colonia (inside the Chellah Necropolis in Rabat). After the Romans came the Vandals in the 5th century.
The Arabs and Islam arrived to Morocco in the 7th century. However, even before the arrival of the Phoenicians the land was already inhabited by a group of indigenous tribal people, who still inhabit much of the countryside and mountain regions, and whose origins are still being debated.
According to recent genetic testing, most northwest Africans have Berber origins. Science still has not definitively identified where the Berbers are originally from, but genetically, the predominant ancestors of the Berbers seem to have come from East Africa and/or the Middle East.
The Berber people succumbed to or resisted various outside invasions over Morocco’s long history. While Christianity swept through, they either converted or were forced to become nomadic, seeking solace in the harshest regions of the country—the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert.
When the Arabs arrived in 684, many Berbers accepted them, voluntarily converted to Islam, and formed a major part of the fighting power that helped the Arabs claim Morocco and spread into Western Europe. But, not all the Arabs were warmly received by the Berbers. Even well into the 20th century, the Berbers were fierce warriors who managed to ward off and expel some of the Arabs, avoid paying taxes to Middle Eastern caliphs, and fight off the Spanish and French from invading Berber regions.
Of the 7 dynasties that have ruled Morocco, the majority have been Berber. And, centuries of ruling Arab and Berber dynasties led to the flourishing of major cities such as Marrakesh, Fez, Meknes, Rabat, and even Granada, Spain.
The Idrissid Dynasty: 780s – 1060
Moulay Idriss, also known as Idriss I, was a direct descendant of the prophet Mohammed. He lived in Baghdad and fled to Morocco after disputing a caliph’s legitimacy of the ruling Abbasid dynasty. In Morocco, he was accepted by various Berber tribes and even married a Berber woman. He is credited with establishing the first Moroccan state and founding the city of Fez. His tomb can be seen (by Muslims only) at the holy town of Moulay Idriss near Volubilis. Kairouiyine University, one of the world’s oldest universities, was built in Fez during this dynasty in 859.
The Almoravid Dynasty: 1062 – 1147
From a Saharan Berber tribe, Youssef Ben Tashfin was the first ruler of the Almoravid dynasty. He founded Marrakesh, which became the capital, and expanded his empire into West Africa and Southern Spain. Tashfin made Marrakesh a metropolitan learning center where some remains can still be seen today—notably the red earthen walls that surround the old medina. As the city of Marrakesh was beginning to prosper, so were the empire’s sister cities of Granada, Seville and Cordoba, Spain.
The Almohad Dynasty: 1147 – 1248
This next Berber dynasty to take over ruling Morocco and Southern Spain spread their empire into Algeria, Tunisia and parts of Libya. The Almohads left behind monuments such as the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakesh, the Giralda in Seville, Spain and the Tour Hassan in Rabat.
The Merenid Dynasty: 1248 – 1465
The Merenids were also nomadic Berbers from the Sahara. The koranic schools, or medersas, in Fez, Meknes, Salé and Marrakesh were all built during this dynasty.
The Wattasid Dynasty: 1465 – 1549
The Wattasid empire was short, but a lot happened during their short-lived reign: the fall of Muslim Spain started; the Spanish and Portuguese began claiming outposts on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Morocco; Muslims and Jews fled into Morocco due to the Spanish Inquisition; and the Ottoman Turks arrived at Morocco’s doorstep.
The Saadian Dynasty: 1554 – 1669
The Saadians were the first Arab tribe to rule since the Idrissids. They were able to get back some of the coastal outposts claimed by Portugal, and the Battle of the Three Kings finally ended most of Portugal’s interest in Morocco. Basking in their new glory, the Saadians were invincible; they kept the Ottomans from invading and taking over as they had in the rest of North Africa. The Saadians also looted Timbuktu, Mali, bringing back abundant black slaves and gold. This era was the pinnacle of piracy, led by the expelled Spanish Muslims and Jews called the “Salée Rovers”, who lived in the Kasbah des Oudayas in the independent state of Rabat-Salé.
The Alaouite Dynasty: 1669 – present
The Alaouites, like the Saadians, are also of Arab lineage and claim to be descendants of the prophet. The second ruling sultan was the tyrannical Moulay Ismail. He established Meknes as his capital and unified all regions of the country at the expense of many Berber tribes, black slaves, and white slaves taken by piracy along the Western European coasts and boat raids. The dynasty began its downward slope during the second half of the 19th century when several tribes rebelled and European Imperialists began carving up the African continent.
In the early 20th century, Spain was allotted northern Morocco and the Western Sahara along with some other small, coastal outposts along the Atlantic coastline. France got everything in between. During the 50 years of French “protection” in Morocco, they built roads, railways, ville nouvelles, or new cities, next to the old medinas, developed the Casablanca port, and established Rabat as the new political capital. Spain had a much harder time controlling the Berber tribes in the Rif Mountains. Tangier, due to its strategic location, was an “International zone” where Spain, France and England shared the pie together.
1956 marked the year of Moroccan independence from France and Spain (Spain still controls two enclaves, Ceuta and Melilla, in northern Morocco). After Spain gave up its territory in the Western/Spanish Sahara in 1974, one year later King Hassan II sent over 300,000 Moroccans to march into the region to claim back its territory. However, the Algerian- and Libyan-backed Polisario guerillas waged war with Morocco to establish an independent Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. After the United Nations declared a cease-fire between the two, the area is still under dispute, and the situation and identity of the Western Sahara remains unresolved, but Morocco currently governs the area.
King Mohammed VI
King Mohammed VI took over the throne immediately after his father’s death in 1999. While many didn’t think the young king in his mid thirties would be able to rule the kingdom with the same iron fist as his father, M6 chooses to follow an agenda of his own. Dubbed “the king of the poor”, Mohammed VI has already accomplished a great deal: sacking corrupt ministers; tackling the country’s high rates of unemployment, illiteracy and poverty; and granting women more equal rights under Shari’a Law (Islamic Law based on the Koran) that the Moroccan judicial system follows to govern family, marriage and inheritance issues. M6 is the first Moroccan ruler to give his wife a royal title, Princess Lalla Salma, who is the first wife of a Moroccan ruler to appear publicly. Yet, despite his liberal attitudes and modern ideas, he still keeps the countries political climate under tight control.
Source: Journey Beyond Travel
