King launches, enquires on development projects center

King Mohammed VI on Thursday launched the construction works of several tourism development projects worth some USD 3.9Bn, and enquired on others in the central city of Marrakech.

The sovereign launched the "Chrifia" project for an amount of USD 610Mn. Spanning on an area of 268 ha, it includes a golf course, 10 hotels with a hosting capacity of 1,800 beds, some 1,780 housing units as well as entertainment facilities.
This project aims to highlight Marrakech attractiveness, and promote diverse and integrated tourism by taking advantage of cultural and geographical local assets.
On the same occasion, the monarch enquired on several tourism projects
which relate mainly to tourism and residential complexes of "Assoufid", "Samanah Country Club", "Palm Golf Resort", "Jnane Marrakech", "New Hivernage", "Douja Golf Resort", and "Zahrat Ennakhi".
Tourism represents 71% of the overall investments in the region of Marrakech. Between 2003 and 2007, some 913 tourism-related projects were launched for the sum of USD 14Bn.

Rabat too Strong for Sliema

Sliema having four of their top players missing including their evergreen goalkeeper Luke Mallia could not offer any serious opposition to the current leaders. They did however manage to keep the score blank up to the 12 minute when after a fine dribble by the inimitable Josef Antonelli he made it easy for Kenneth Debattista to slot the ball home. On the 24th Sliema won a short corner from which Steve Cachia saw his effort just going wide. From here on Rabat were all over their opponents and on the 29th it came as no surprise when Kenneth Debattista deflected a hit by Kevin Micallef to score his and Rabats goal number two.
Between the 30th and the 35th Rabat made the score 5 -0 with three quick goals (Antonelli and Jason Vella x 2) all scored off rebounds.
In the second half Rabat eased their pressure; this allowed Sliema to come more into the picture, however it was always Rabat who were creating scoring chances with the occasional surge forward by Sliema.
In the 45th minute Azzopardi in Rabats goal saved well off a Dylan Lentini effort and on the 49th Sliema were denied a penalty stroke when Keith Vella was shoved off the ball. Three minutes later it was Matthew Buhagiar, Rabats stopper who deflected the ball off the goal line with Azzopardi beaten.
Rabat had to wait till the 61st to score goal no 6 when from a well executed short corner move it was Jonathan Seychell who fired home.

The High Atlas Foundation Plants 33,000 Fruit Trees in Rural Morocco

During the month of February the High Atlas Foundation and its partners planted 33,000 fruit trees (cherry, apple, peach, and quince) with villages in the Imenane and Azzadene Valleys in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains in the Province of Marrakech. Approximately 3,000 people from twenty villages will benefit from this project. This project is a partnership among the High Atlas Foundation, the Global Diversity Foundation, the Association des Amis du CHU, the Province d' Al Haouz, the Marrakech Department of Waters and Forests, the Department of Agriculture for the High Atlas, the Marrakech21 Foundation, Dar Tassa, Kasbah Tamadot, and Kasbah Toubkal. Participants identified the types of trees they wished to receive and this partnership funded the purchase and distribution of them, as well as provided technical training in fruit tree agriculture.
As a recipient, from the village of Brahim Disaine Arg Imenane Valley, said: "This trees help our families, because we can eventually harvest fruits and sell them at the souk. We can use the money from the sale of fruit to feed our families, and buy warm clothes and books for our children to go to school. Our main source of income from the fruit trees - it is our way of life."
This ongoing partnership provides 17000 fruit trees in the past year and 3400 in 2006 to villages in the valleys, allowing the planting of 53400 fruit trees for the past three years. In addition, this partnership supports other socio-economic activities in the region, including projects in the areas of health, education and development of women.
High Atlas Foundation is a non-profit organization that works to establish development projects in rural communities in Morocco that local people design and management, and that, in partnership with government and non-government agencies. It was founded by former Peace Corps Volunteers, as a way to use their experience and expertise for the continued benefit of the Moroccan people. Since 2003, the organization has approximately 150000 planted fruit trees, and supports projects in the areas of drinking water, irrigation, women's cooperatives and the development of youth.

French trade union accuses Morocco of repression in Western Sahara

The French trade union confederation CGT accused Morocco of police repression and human rights abuses in Western Sahara in a letter made public by Moroccan media on Wednesday. The arrest of a delegation of European trade unionists visiting the Saharawi capital Laayoune on February 19 was "unacceptable," the CGT said in the letter, which was addressed to the Moroccan ambassador in France.
Police detained a total of four trade unionists from France, Italy and Spain as well as three Moroccan trade unionists and the wife of one of them, the CGT said.
The detainees were released after interventions by several European foreign ministries, the CGT said, accusing Morocco of violating human rights, international labour agreements and the right to organize meetings.
A Moroccan government source meanwhile said the fourth round of negotiations between Morocco and the Saharawi independence movement Polisario Front, which had been scheduled for March 11 near New York, had been postponed to March 16.
The reasons of the delay were not clear, but the parties probably needed more time to prepare the talks, which are sponsored by the United Nations, the source said.
Diplomats say there is no compromise in sight between Morocco, which is offering autonomy to the region it annexed after Spain withdrew from there in 1975, and Polisario, which insists on a 1991 plan on a referendum on independence.
About 100 Saharawis meanwhile left refugee camps housing tens of thousands of Saharawi refugees in Algerian Tindouf and crossed the border into Morocco.
Tired of the decades-long conflict, several members of the group had given their support to the Moroccan autonomy plan, participating in a pro-Moroccan congress in a buffer zone of the Sahara in December.
The Saharawis, who included 20 children, told journalists they needed to steer clear of Algerian and Polisario frontier surveillance in order to cross over in el-Karkrat.

Floods cause fatal damages in Morocco

Flash floods triggered by torrential rain have killed 15 people and left hundreds homeless in Morocco over the past week.
The rains hit last weekend and flood waters have yet to subside in parts of the Settat and Essaouria regions.
The first deaths occurred on Monday, when six people were drowned when their taxi was swept away in Settat by the overflowing Boumoussa river, 150km south of the capital Rabat.
Officials told the Associated Press news agency that an 11-year-old boy and two others were also killed in separate incidents in Settat.
According to AP, a further six people died around the Atlantic tourist destination of Essaouria.
The floods have caused damage estimated at $1.75m and hundreds of families are homeless.
Reuters news agency reported that the industrial city of Mohamedia, 70km south of Rabat, had been cut off when the Oued El Maleh river burst its banks.
Residents of shanty-towns there were inundated and tents were erected for those who had lost their homes.
But the Moroccan press has strongly criticized the authorities for not having done enough to prevent severe flooding.
But Morocco's official MAP news agency said railway services had resumed between Casablance and Khouribga.

Morocco, Iran ink various cooperation agreements

Morocco and Iran signed, here Monday, various cooperation agreements in the fields of economy, trade, transport and tourism.
Signed during the closing ceremony of the 5th session of the Moroccan-Iranian joint commission, these agreements include a non-double taxation agreement, another one on maritime navigation, and a cooperation program in the field of tourism for 2008-2010, in addition to a MoU on industrial cooperation.
In this respect, Iranian Trade minister, Masoud MirKazmi, commended the signing of the agreements, paying tribute to the Moroccan and Iranian experts who "have made commendable efforts to finalize these agreements."
For his part, visiting Morocco's Foreign Trade minister, Abdellatif Mazouz, voiced hope the results of this joint commission "will give new impetus to boost bilateral economic and commercial ties.”
In a bid to boost economic relations, the Moroccan and Iranian delegations decided to organize, by next April, trade and economic fair in Rabat and Teheran and set up a bilateral business council to define common opportunities and establish a climate of trust between the two countries' investors.
Trade exchange between Morocco and Iran reached USD 1Bn in 2006. Iranian imports to Morocco were estimated at USD 953Mn, while Moroccan exports reached some USD 52Mn only.
Co-chaired by Moroccan Foreign Trade Minister and his Iranian counterpart, the 5th session of the Moroccan-Iranian joint commission brought together representatives of various ministries and businessmen from the two countries, who discussed on February 23-25 the state of bilateral cooperation and the means to consolidate them.

FAR Rabat consolidate supremacy over Moroccan League

FAR Rabat has consolidated its supremacy over the Moroccan soccer league (GNF1) after its 2-2 tie in Oujda (East) and the fall of its immediate pursuer Ittihad Khemisset (IZK) in Tetouan (north).
In a thriller game, the penultimate Mouloudia Oujda fought teeth and nails to force the militaries to content with a tie that consolidates the supremacy of the leader, but does not serve the interests of the local team that suffers at the bottom.
In Tetouan, IZK fell to the local team Moghreb Tetouan, which has moved from a good result to another after the appointment of national coach, M'hamed Fakhir.
Thanks to this victory, Moghreb Tetouan bounced to the 6th position with 28 points, four points behind Raja Casablanca, which achieved a hard tie 1-1 before Olympic Safi in Casablanca.
Difaa Jadida (DHJ) on Sunday missed the chance to overthrow IZK after its 0-0 tie before KAC Kenitra, while OCK Khouribga won 1-2 before JSM Laayoune to join the third place.
In Rabat, FUS signed its second victory by besting Hassania Agadir 1-0. FUS Rabat are lagging in the last position with 15 points, tow points behind MCO Oujda.
Results:
FUS Rabat - Hassania Agadir 1 - 0
Moghreb Tétouan - Ittihad Khémisset 2 – 0
Difaa El Jadida - KAC Kénitra 0 - 0
Kawkab Marrakech - Wydad Casablanca 1 - 0
Mouloudia Oujda - FAR Rabat 2 - 2
Raja Casablanca - Olympic Safi 1 - 1
Jeunesse Massira - Olympique Khouribga 1 - 2
CODM Meknès - Moghreb Fès 0 - 1
Standing:
1. FAR 37
2. Ittihad Khémisset 35
3. Difaâ El Jadida 34 (-1)
. Olympique Khouribga 34 (-1)
5. Raja Casablanca 32
6. Moghreb Tétouan 28
7. Wydad Casablanca 26 (-1)
. Hassania Agadir 26 (-1)
9. Jeunesse Massira 25
10. Kawkab Marrakech 23
11. Moghreb Fès 22 (-1)
12. KAC Kenitra 22
13. Olympic Safi 18
14. CODM Meknès 17 (-1)
15. Mouloudia Oujda 17
16. FUS Rabat 15

Morocco's autonomy proposal offered new possibility, led to negotiations, Welsh

"We think that could be a very productive way to look at this," he told the press after a meeting with king Mohammed VI, voicing hope the parties to the negotiations "would engage constructively on this with good intention."
Noting that the talks are not easy due to the difficulty of the issue, the U.S. official said he expressed to the monarch "the support of the U.S. for the negotiations that have began in response to the proposal made by Morocco," adding: "we hope for a productive continuation of these negotiations."
The talks were held between Morocco and the Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario" (in the presence of representatives of neighboring Algeria and Mauritania) in a bid to reach a solution to the 32-year-old conflict on the control of the Sahara, Morocco's Southern Provinces to which the Polisario lays claims. The territory is a former Spanish colony that was ceded to Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accord signed between Rabat, Madrid and Nouakchott.
Mr. Welsh who is due to travel to Algeria and Tunisia, insured that he will give voice to the view of the U.S. to all the leaders of the Maghreb "about what we see is the best way forward." He called for stronger relationships between Morocco and Algeria, despite the Sahara issue.
The U.S. official said he also increased with the sovereign questions related to the region, adding that he informed the monarch on president Bush’s attitude to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and his will to see the talks between the two parties go forward productively.
Mr. Welsh said the monarch announced "the concern and support of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Palestinian people", and also "to see a better future for both sides, through negotiations leading to a solution of two-states."

Number of tourists on the rise

A total of 7.45 million tourists visited Morocco last year, i.e. a 13 per cent increase compared to 2006, which yielded some US$7.7 billion, Moroccan Tourism and Craft Industry Minister, Mohamed Boussaid, has declared recently. Graded hotels posted 16.9 million nights, say a 3% rise compared to the year before, the minister said, according to MAP.
The French continue to top the list with 2.85 million tourists, followed by the Spaniards (1.6 million), the Belgians (431 000), the British (419 000), the Italians (370 000), the Dutch (361 000) and the Germans (296 000).
Except for the southern cities of Ouarzazate that recorded a 3 per cent drop and Agadir whose figures have remained stable, all the other tourist destinations received more tourists. Casablanca topped the list with 9 per cent, followed by Fez (center) (+8 per cent), Rabat (+5 per cent), Marrakech (+5 per cent) and Tangier (+3 per cent).
The Minister said, the tourism the main source of income from investments and the creation of jobs in the Kingdom, but also as a driving force for sustainable development, a contribution to 8 percent of GDP. The Kingdom has set itself the target of attracting 10 million tourists in 2010. To this end it has adopted a strategy of "Vision 2010", which for the production of 160000 beds, bringing the national capacity to 230000 beds. It also aims at the creation of about 600,000 new jobs.

Customer deposits were up 17 2006 as a result of increased.

The ability of savings and expanding networks of bank branches. Figures of the banking sector at the end of 2007 showed a significant increase in the key indicators of activity of banks. According to the last reporting of the Professional Association of Moroccan Banks (GPBM), the bank stood at 521.8 billion DH, including nearly 500 billion of customer deposits (95.5%), an increase of 17,1% compared to the end of 2006. The credits to the economy stood on their part to 421.1 billion DH, including 378 billion loans and advances to customers (72%), development of 27.3 compared to 2006. The coefficient of jobs (ratio of credits to the economy and resources) appears to 80.7%, in appreciation of 7.7 points.

Rothschild, Booz Naciri & Hamilton and looking into the restructuring of the Office

The transformation into a joint-stock company is expected to be completed this year. The World Bank supports the growth of the company. A first comprehensive assessment of the financial situation and options for restructuring had already been done by the firm Masnaoui Mazars & Associates and endorsed by the board of directors on 3rd October. Now it is up to Rothschild, Booz Naciri & Hamilton to organize the work and submit one of the possible restructuring schemes. There is one more advantage: should firm move towards a simple privatization, or become limited to the opening of the capital, to be extended and with what partner strategy. One thing is certain: the transformation of the legal status of the NEB is expected this year.

Western Sahara: UN Envoy Continues Consultations in Region

The United Nations envoy for Western Sahara is keeping on his in-depth advices with the parties and neighboring countries in the region ahead of the next round of planned talks between Morocco and the Frente Polisario.

Peter van Walsum, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, met Secretary General Mohamed Abdelaziz and other members of the Frente Polisario leadership in Rabouni on Saturday, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters.

Those consultations followed meetings with senior Moroccan officials in the country's capital, Rabat, late last week.

Mr. van Walsum told reporters that he was in the region to listen to the views of both the parties and the neighboring States, Algeria and Mauritania, on how to move into more resistant talks on how to provide for the self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.

He is scheduled to hold discussions later this week in Algiers and Nouakchott, the Algerian and Mauritanian capitals.

Mr. van Walsum said that while the positions of the Moroccan Government and the Frente Polisario keep far apart, the two sides have repeated their plans to take part in UN-brokered talks next month. Those talks will take place in Manhasset, New York, on 11-13 March.

The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has been in the Territory since 1991 to monitor the ceasefire between Morocco and the Frente Polisario.

Morocco fires national coach

Frenchman Henri Michel has been fired as coach of Morocco after their failure to get past the African Nations Cup first round.

"Due to a lack of results and because of his behavior at a press conference held on January 31 when the national team returned from Ghana, Henri Michel's contract has been terminated," said the Moroccan football federation source.

Morocco was set out of the African Nations Cup in Ghana after losing to the hosts and Guinea, only managing to beat minnows Namibia.

On January 31 Michel vowed to stay in the job in a bid to take Morocco to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"I have a contract until 2010 to get Morocco to the World Cup finals," said the Frenchman who claimed he also had the backing of the country's football federation.

The same day Michel complained there were "structural problems" in Moroccan football.

"Moroccan clubs have to agree that the priority is training. We have to have players who can measure up to foreign players," said Michel.

Moroc Soir Groupe of Morocco Sign Comprehensive Contract With KnowledgeView for a Multi-Platform Publishing System Driven by RAPID Browser and Adobe P

Moroc Soir is one of the leading publishing groups in the Kingdom of Morocco, with several newspaper and on-line titles especially the leading French Daily Le Matin and the Arabic dailies Assabah and Assahra Al Maghribiya. KnowledgeView is the leading publishing software and newspaper integrator in the Arab World with over 20 newspaper installations used by over 3000 journalists.

The new deal is part of the active modernization activities of the group with the attempt to rise circulation and reach, and advertising revenues. The contract aims to expand the capabilities not only of paper publishing but that of on-line and mobile, taking advantage of RAPID Browser's support for multi-publishing in a converging Newsroom mode of work. RAPID Archive will also provide group-wide rich-media archiving and facilities for local search by the newspaper customers.

Mr. Mohamed Al-Jawahiri, Managing Director of Moroc Soir Groupe said "We are pleased to work with KnowledgeView on such an significant part of the group's modernization plan. We in the group take note of the changing landscape of the media market, of changing readers' habits and the effect of the Internet. We see these changes as a great opportunity for the group to insure additional products that satisfy the news needs for different elements of the widening Moroccan economy and society. We will use the group's vast experience in publishing and KnowledgeView's expertise in multi-publishing to achieve our aims."

Twenty-four missing after immigrant boat sinks off Morocco

Twenty-four African migrants were missing after their boat was distressed southern Morocco, but 11 others were rescued, police said Wednesday.

The event happened on Tuesday night near the town of Tarfaya, some 1,100 kilometers (700 miles) south of capital of Morocco, a police official told AFP.

It had set off from the Moroccan coast shortly after midnight heading for Spain's Canary Islands but ran into severities in rough seas and capsized.

Searches were going on for the missing, the official said, without identifying the nationality of the boat's occupants.

Hundreds of potential migrants set off from northwest Africa for the Canary Islands almost daily hoping for a better life in Europe, but their weak craft frequently come hit trouble.

RAK Properties unveils its plans to expand into Morocco, Egypt, and Sudan

The expansion of the company is supported by the strong and continuing interest of investors in the company from the projects of local and regional markets. RAK Properties presents its landmark Julfar Towers, Mina Al Arab and RAK Tower projects on the International Property Show, the largest transactional property exhibition in the region, held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC) from 17 to 19 February. Mohammed Sultan Al-Qadi, Managing Director & CEO of RAK Properties, said: "The overwhelming response of our projects are on the rise overseas and regional investors is a testament to the confidence we have from our investors, and reaffirms our commitment to increase the value for our stakeholders through high quality projects." "Based on the success of the projects that we have so far, we are building our business in other countries as Morocco, Egypt and the Sudan, where we focus on the development of residential, commercial and hospitality. We are also working with our partners to identify , the growth prospects minimal risk, "he added. "With a strong expansion in the plan, RAK Properties are also establishing a presence in other markets and increase its portfolio investments in the next ten years Dhs50bn '. Julfar Towers, launched in February 2006, is an office-cum-residential project of Dhs500m, with two 43 - storey towers. Mina Al Arab is a mixed-use, town Waterfront Resort shape, that the "Living Closer to Nature 'motto RAK Properties. Spread over 30 million square meters feet and estimated costs Dhs10bn, was the project in May 2006. The Dhs300m RAK Tower in Abu Dhabi is the first project outside Ras Al Khaimah. RAK Properties recently reported a net profit of Dhs496m ($ 135) for the second fiscal 31 December 2007. The company achieved a turnover worth Dhs1 also, 083m, which represents an increase of 288% compared to the value 2006 (Although the company considerable SAB during the year, revenue recognition was postponed until property Handover). For more information, please visit the RAK Properties at the International Property Show, held at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC), Hall 3, Booth B11.
Arabic to EnglishChinese to EnglishChinese (Simplified to Traditional)Chinese (Traditional to Simplified)Dutch to EnglishEnglish to ArabicEnglish to Chinese (Simplified)English to Chinese (Traditional)English to DutchEnglish to FrenchEnglish to GermanEnglish to GreekEnglish to ItalianEnglish to JapaneseEnglish to KoreanEnglish to PortugueseEnglish to RussianEnglish to SpanishFrench to EnglishFrench to GermanGerman to EnglishGerman to FrenchGreek to EnglishItalian to EnglishJapanese to EnglishKorean to EnglishPortuguese to EnglishRussian to EnglishSpanish to English

Marrakesh snake charmers' spell fails to work on activists

MARRAKESH, Morocco (AFP) - The men work in Marrakesh Djemma el Fna Square, the charm snakes and tourists, but their magic is not for the work with the animals rights activists insist that the practice banned as cruel.

Long one of the main attractions of the city, the charmers say they take care of their snakes "as their children".

But a French animal rights group urges tourists to boycott the snake charmers, they say, the mistreatment reptiles.

The Study and Observation Group to Protect Wild Animals (GEOS) encourages visitors to "avoid the spectacle indecent that mistreat animals or even better to express your outrage" to the authorities.

The boycott appeal received 200 signatures in the first few days after its launch, after its initiator Michel Aymerich.
ADVERTISEMENT

The 49-year-old Moroccan-born French political admits he is a fan of "Nature most unloved" snakes, scorpions and spiders.

"They need to know that the snakes are deaf and react only to gestures. Cobras rise to the flute is not because of the music, but because they feel threatened and instinctively a defensive position, and give up the spectacular display of the Hood," Aymerich.

"In addition, for the most part they remove their teeth or poisonous glands, which causes abscesses, and a slow and painful death."

Defanged or not, Aymerich says the snakes are under terrible stress and die after several weeks of performance. Their normal life span would have been 12 to 15 years.

"These people are totally ignorant of our profession," the doyen of the Marrakech snake charmers, 80-year-old Lhoussine Hajjaj told AFP.

"These reptiles are like our children. We care about their education, nutrition and health, because it is our money."

The snakes are fed eggs, birds and even sheep heart.

"As one of the snakes is tired, we ask a veterinarian, medication to prescribe," he said.

He denied as "false rumours" that the charmers remove the teeth and the snake venom glands.

"If that is true, why is it that victims among us?"

Hajjaj also alleged that the disputed cobras died after only a few months.

"This is wrong, because there is a cobra, was on the Djemma el Fna, the more than 10 years," he said.

Most of the snakes come from Morocco Guelmim of the southern region, according to Aymerich, caught by members of the Brotherhood Aissaoua religious community, which supplies many protected animals in the market at Marrakesh.

Aymerich want the region into a nature park, with the Aissaoua always guide for the tourists.

Morocco wants to reinforce ties with migrants

Moroccan Minister of Moroccan communities abroad Ameur Mohammed said that Moroccan immigrants in Europe must work harder to secure their language and culture. But his statement Dutch politician has rubbed the wrong way.

It is beginning to affect the appearance of a trend. While European immigration minister stressed the need for migrants to integrate - and possibly even assimilate - politicians from their home countries underscore the need for immigrants to preserve their cultural identity. Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan sparked an outcry when he said that assimilation was nothing less than a crime against humanity. The Moroccan minister seems to have a page in his book.
Classes
In the French language newspaper Aujourd'hui le Maroc, Morocco Ameur minister recently revealed that the new migrants. "The Moroccan community abroad," he argued, should be considered in our country 17th Province. "The spearhead of the new policy is to ensure that more children in the classes of Moroccan descent in Moroccan culture and Arabic.

The Minister said that the number of children in those categories should be included in the next few years to double between 60000 and 150000th The government will also funds to give young people the trip to Morocco so they can bond with their home country.

Irritation
Ameur ministerial statements have caused considerable confusion in the Dutch politician. The conservative deputies Henk Kamp, said the Moroccan policy is diametrically opposed to the Dutch government is trying to further the integration of Moroccans in the Dutch society.

Labour MP Khadija Arib, even of Moroccan descent, believes that: "Moroccans in the Netherlands should focus on their lives here, so they can before". It calls on the Moroccan Minister of Policy old-fashioned. Ms. Arib argued that the Moroccan government should understand that the new generations have less of a strong bond with Morocco.

Berber language
Apart from the widespread sparks irritation on the Moroccan government interference, the plans have raised serious concerns in many Moroccan immigrants. Said bin Azouz from the Democratic Voice of Moroccans in the Netherlands, says that "In principle, there is nothing wrong with preserving its own language and culture, but the issue is the culture?

Mr. Bin Azouz argued that an open democratic Moroccan culture is not in contradiction with the integration, but the traditional, static culture, the Moroccan government is promoting. Also, the Moroccan government seems to have forgotten that 80 percent of the Moroccans in the Netherlands speak for the Berber languages. For them, Arabic is a second language, as well as the Dutch.

Money
Attempts by the Moroccan government to retain their hold on the migrant communities are nothing new, and again led to confusion. The Moroccan Government refuses to ensure that the migrants to enter their Moroccan nationality and tried to force migrants to choose names for their children from an officially approved list. A recently created advisory council of the Moroccan community abroad will also be considered with suspicion.

There is a reason why the Moroccan government wants to retain strong ties with its migrant communities. There are more than three million Moroccans in Europe, more than 10 percent of the total turnover of the Moroccan population. In addition to the tourism and phosphate mining, the money sent home that these migrants is the country's main source of foreign exchange.

Luxury resort on Morocco's secret coast

Four years ago, very few people outside of Morocco had heard of Saidia.
Then, everything changed in 2002 when King Mohammed VI announced that Saidia would be the site of his flagship resort, Mediterrania-Saidia, the first of six luxury coastal developments in Morocco. The other five are being built along the country's Atlantic coast.
With a government investment of $4.4 billion in what is called the Plan Azur developments, the six resorts are planned to regenerate some of the poorest regions and to contribute to the kingdom's tourism numbers. The overall goal is to triple the number of vacationers coming to Morocco to 10 million by 2010.
"It was the involvement of the king that got me interested," said McDougall, an education program director in the Atlanta school system. "Even though I do not know much about Morocco, I figured if the king is behind this development then it has got to succeed."
Mediterrania - Saidia, now in the second of a three-step plan, will stretch six kilometers, or a little less than four miles, along the sandy coastline next to the Moulouya Estuary, home to more than 180 species of birds.
Scheduled to be completed in 2010, it will be the largest resort in North Africa, with three 18-hole golf courses, 10 four- to five-star hotels, a marina with 850 berths, a yacht club and 3,000 luxury apartments and villas located in both Andalusian and Moroccan style.
It is not just the development that is expected to draw a minimum of 250,000 visitors a year initially, increasing to 500,000 by 2012. The area has hot, dry summers, tempered by southwest trade-winds, and damp winters, which means that the region is rich in citrus trees, almonds, evergreens and vineyards.

Arab ministers urge more cooperation on terrorism

Arab governments will have more success fighting home-grown terrorist groups if security agencies in the region work together and share information, officials at a security conference said 31 January.
"The Maghreb region is targeted by terrorist organizations seeking to...terrify people and thwart economic projects," Omran Ahmida, a senior Libyan official, said of North Africa's Arabic-speaking region at the meeting in Tunis.
"We need to do a serious job and strengthen communication between security officers," he said. "It must be a real and concrete effort or decisions will remain only words."
Western analysts say mutual suspicion and frosty diplomatic relations between Arab governments have complicated efforts to share information and trace down religious militants trying to establish Islamic rule in north Africa.
Such cooperation has become crucial as radical groups turn to the Internet to coordinate attacks and exploit weak border controls to smuggle fighters and weapons, they say.

Guinea-Morocco 3:2

Guinea, who lost their opening match against hosts Ghana, are back in contention for a quarter-final place, but Feindouno's dismissal for stamping on 67 minutes could cost him at least a two-match suspension.
Morocco got a late consolation from defender Abdelsam Ouaddou who scored with a close-ranger header in stoppage time. "We lost the game at the crucial moments. Now we have to battle to beat Ghana to go through," said Morocco's French coach Henri Michel, whose side sit level on points with Guinea after two matches each.

Migrants missing after boat sinks off Morocco

Twenty-four illegal immigrants from Morocco lacked the southern Atlantic coast after their ship sank, Moroccan government officials said.

The Moroccan navy rescued 11 migrants from the boat was destroyed by the bad weather off Tarfaya, about 1000 km south of Rabat on Tuesday night, they said.

A total of 35 people were aboard the rickety vessel, led to the Spanish Canary Islands, the officials said, adding the migrants came from countries south of Sahara.

Thousands of sub-Saharan migrants hike to the north through the desert and pay for traffickers passage to Europe on overcrowded boats to escape poverty at home.

Hundreds make the sea journey from West Africa to the Canary Islands every year, but many others who have tried to officials from migrant families advocacy groups in Morocco say.

Twenty-four missing after immigrant boat sinks off Morocco

Twenty-four African migrants missing after their ship was destroyed in southern Morocco, but 11 others were rescued, police said Wednesday.

The incident happened on Tuesday evening near the city of Tarfaya, about 1100 kilometers (700 miles) south of Rabat, said a police official of the AFP.

He was from the Moroccan coast shortly after midnight, heading for the Canary Islands in Spain, but ran into trouble and capsized in rough seas.

Searches were going on for the missing, the official said, without specifying the nationality of the boat occupants.

Hundreds of would-be migrants on their way north west of Africa to the Canary Islands nearly every day of hope for a better life in Europe, but their frail craft are often difficulties.

Morocco's SNI buys stake in investment firm Somed

SNI SNI.CS, a holding company controlled by Morocco's royal family, bought a 32.9 percent stake in Somed, an investment company specialized in tourism, property, metals and food production, SNI said on Friday.
Societe Nationale d'Investissement (SNI) paid 1.24 billion dirhams ($161.9 million) to buy Moroccan institutional shareholders out of Somed and purchase some of the shares held by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, SNI said in a statement.
The Abu Dhabi fund's stake, formerly 50 percent according to Somed's Web site, falls to 33.9 percent under the deal while the Moroccan state's holding of 33.25 percent remains unchanged.
Somed was established by Morocco and the United Arab Emirates in 1982 to support large-scale projects in the north African country and draw foreign expertise and capital.
SNI's acquirement is "an opportunity to put its financial resources to work in a sector that is vital to the Moroccan economy - tourism", the company said.
The move also allows SNI to simplify its holdings and concentrate on four main investments - Somed, conglomerate ONA ONA.CS, cement firm Lafarge Maroc LAC.CS and steelmaker Sonasid SOND.CS.
SNI was advised by Attijari Finances Corp for the deal.
Its shares, which have gained 20 per cent since the start of the year, were suspended from trading in Casablanca on Friday.

Tamweel plans India, Morocco, Turkey expansion

Dubai-based Islamic mortgage lender Tamweel TAML.DU said it plans to enlarge into India, Morocco and Turkey, and expects to turn a profit from Egyptian and Saudi operations next year.
"In Egypt and Saudi Arabia, it is all approved and we are just setting up," CEO Adel al-Shirawi told journalists on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Davos resort. "We will begin to earn there in 2009."
To fund its fast expansion, Al Shirawi said the firm aimed to gain capital by all means possible, including debt, issuing sukuk or Islamic bonds, and through the listing of its local units.
"We will keep a majority stake," he said. "(We) will diversify risk through rationalizations but will remain focused on mortgages."
Tamweel recently sold $300 million in convertible Islamic bonds, or sukuk, which comply with Islam's ban on interest and offer investors a share of profits from underlying assets instead.
Larger rival Amlak Finance AMLK.DU delayed a sale of Islamic bonds planned for the fourth quarter because of the fallout from the credit crisis triggered by U.S. mortgage defaults
Al Shirawi, however, said the disorder in Western markets had benefited his business, as falling U.S. interest rates widened the gap between the price at which it borrows and lends to home owners, improving the earnings power of Tamweel's mortgage book.
Demand for mortgages is growing in the UAE, where Dubai triggered the Gulf Arab real estate boom in 2002 by allowing foreigners to invest in property.

Maroc Telecom

Moroccan branch of Maroc Telecom launched third-generation mobile phone services in the northwestern African country's main towns and cities in January, the company said.
Clients using phones with HSDPA (high-speed download packet access) will be able to use all modern facilities, the company said in a announcement.
Ex-monopoly Maroc Telecom and its competitors Meditel and Maroc Connect received licenses in 2006 to operate 3G services, paying 360 million dirhams ($46.89 million) each.
French media group Vivendi raised its stake in Morocco's biggest phone company to 53 percent from 51 percent in October.
Maroc Telecom has faced competition since the start of the decade but maintained a dominant market share through an extensive mobile network and cut-price airtime deals. It is now expanding across continent.
Morocco's telecoms and ITmarket rose to 35 billion dirhams ($4.56 billion) in 2006 compared to 10 billion dirhams in 1998, according to telecoms regulator ANRT.
Marocco Telecom shares rose 0.3 percent to 165 dirhams in Casablanca on Wednesday, mirroring a 0.29 percent gain by the benchmark MASI index .MASI.

Morocco's economy

Its overall score is 0.8 percentage point lower than last year, partially reflecting deteriorated monetary freedom. Morocco is ranked 12th out of 17 countries in the Middle East/North Africa region, and its overall score is slightly lower than the regional average.
Business Freedom - 75.8%
Fiscal Freedom - 65.4%
Freedom from Government - 73.2%
Monetary Freedom - 79.8%
Investment Freedom - 60%
Financial Freedom - 40%
Property Rights - 35%
Freedom from Corruption - 32%
Labor Freedom - 40.2%

Morocco 'exemplary country for dialog of civilizations and cultures,' French president

French President, Nicholas Sarkozy, said, 12 February, that Morocco is an exemplary country for dialog of cultures and civilizations, noting that Moroccan king, Mohammed VI, follows his ancestors, a tradition of openness to other confessions.
In a message addressed to the participants in the Moroccan Judaism Days, held in the period 3-17 February in Paris, Mr. Sarkozy said "it is a good symbol that the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, granted its patronage," adding that he had the opportunity to stress, during his visit to the north African country last October, that the presence of Jewish communities in the kingdom is "deep-rooted in history."
He noticed, in this regard, that Mohammed V (king Mohammed VI's grandfather) refused to apply anti-Semite laws of the Vichy regime, underlining that "through his commitment, Mohammed V placed himself as a guardian of the free world against barbarism," he said, insisting that "beyond history, respect toward the Moroccan Jewish community and the will for inter-religious dialog are deep-rooted in today's Morocco."

Morocco attracts 7.4m visitors in 2007

A report issued by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism showed that the number of foreign tourists visiting Morocco last year rose 13 percent to a record 7.4 million, outpacing growth in the global market.
The number of foreign tourists visiting Morocco last year rose 13 per cent to a record 7.4 million, outpacing growth in the global market, reported Bloomberg. Tourist visits overtop the global trend as the number of international travelers increased 6.2 per cent to a record 900 million in 2007, according to data released last month by the Madrid-based World Tourism Organization. French tourists visiting Morocco ranked first with 2.9 million, while Spain came second with 1.6 million. UK tourists increased the most, adding 29 per cent to 419,000.