King Mohammed VI, accompanied by his son Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, visited on Friday in Rissani (Errachidia province) the Moulay Ali Cherif Mausoleum and spent some time in silent contemplation at the tomb of the founder of the Alawite dynasty.

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The Mausoleum of Moulay Ali Sharif is one of the most beautiful historic monuments of the region Tafilalet. The shrine includes besides the tombs of Moulay Ali Sharif and his sons Moulay Youssef and Moulay M’hamed, those of Sidi El Habib Ben Zine El Abidine Ben Moulay Ismail and Moulay Rachid Ben Sidi Mohamed Ben Abderrahman.

Moulay Ali Sharif, ancestor of King Mohammed VI, was a great man of faith and a distinguished scientist who has passed his knowledge to many of his followers in the Muslim world to Andalusia where he spent over 20 years. Originally from Yanbu in Saudi Arabia, Moulay Ali Sharif was born in 762 Hegira corresponding to 1360 AD and died in 847 Hegira at the age of 85 years. He was buried in a first step in Zaouiat Tighmart, 200 km from Rissani, before his body was transferred to the existing mausoleum built under the reign of Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah (Mohammed III) in 1206 of the Hegira.

King Mohammed VI has since the 7th of November visited the Province of Errachidia, once called and known in history books as Sijilmassa, which is the region where the Sovereign ancestors settled when the came from the Levant before years later they conquest Morocco founding the last dynasty in Morocco Monarchy “the the Alawite dynasty”.

Mademoiselle Lilo Moroccan Royals Ancient Tombs, Mohammed VI, Prince Moulay, Prince Moulay Rachid

Princess Lalla Hasnaa, sister of King Mohammed VI and Chairwoman of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, presided on Sunday over the ‘2009 Clean Beaches’ Trophy Awards Ceremony. During this ceremony,which marks the 10th anniversary of “Clean Beaches” programme, Princess Lalla Hasnaa read a message addressed by HM King Mohammed VI, in which the Sovereign praised the work carried out by the Foundation.

On the same occasion Princess Lalla Hasnaa handed the trophies to the winners in recognition of their efforts to preserve Morocco’s beaches and protect the environment. Princess Lalla Hasnaa also visited an exhibition organized by partners of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, then the Princess attended the screening of a film entitled “ten years of clean beaches,” before handing awards to the Foundation’s economic partners. On the same occasion which was marked by music and theatre shows, Princess Lalla Hasnaa followed the presentation of the Foundation’s institutional spot.

Mademoiselle Lilo Moroccan Royals Awards, Environment, Lalla Hasnaa, Patronage

Click on the photo to see the article from Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse

Last Wednesday, Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco served as the chairperson for the first event of the “Medicines for Low-Income Patients Program” in Casablanca. The Princess devotes a lot of time and energy to supporting cancer research. She also serves as the head of the Anti-Cancer Association of Morocco (ASLC).

According to an article from Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse, the program provides medical check-ups, chemotherapy, and other medicines to people with cancer. The group has created a database and record-keeping system in an effort to better serve those with cancer who wouldn’t otherwise be able to get treatment.

For more information about Lalla Salma, and the Moroccan Royal Family, please visit this thread.

sgl Moroccan Royals Cancer, Health, Hospital, Lalla Salma

King Mohammed VI, accompanied by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, received on Monday in the southern city of Ouarzazate, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

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During this audience the King hailed the traditional strategic partnership between the two friendly countries strengthened since the mid-nineties and marked in particular by a regular diversified political dialogue structured economic ties and reinforced cooperation to promote regional peace and security. The Monarch also voiced commitment to promoting these important achievements with US President Barack Obama and expressed his high appreciation for the committed constructive role played by the US administration throughout the world building on an approach based on dialogue consultation and mutual respect.

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Mrs Clinton also attended with the king and Moulay Rachid the the ceremony of presenting Morocco’s solar energy project worth about nine billion dollars,and which is a national and ambitious project seeks to achieve a 2,000 megawatt capacity by 2020. This production capacity accounts for 38% of the electric power at the end of 2008 and 14% by 2020,Five sites were identified for the project which is in line with Morocco’s energy strategy,namely Ouarzazate,Ain Bni Mathar,Foum AlOued,Boujdour and Sebkhat Tah.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived Sunday in Marrakech to take part in the 6th ministerial meeting of the Forum for the Future scheduled 2-3 November 2009.

Mademoiselle Lilo Moroccan Royals Hillary Clinton, Mohammed VI, United States of America

Princess Lalla Salma, chairwoman of the Lalla Salma Association to Fight Cancer(the ALSC), presided on Friday in Rabat over the signing of a protocol of agreement between the Association and “Roche Morocco” Laboratory.

The agreement will enable low-income patients with cancer to benefit from the most innovative medicines in oncology, under this agreement the ALSC offers through public cancer centres anti-cancer medicines to poor patients who have no access to medical coverage.

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Several distinguished guests attended the ceremony inculding Mr and Mrs Andrew Hoffmann, a member of the founding family and vice-chairman of the Hoffman-La Roche, Mr Tuygan Goeker director for Roche CEMAI region(Central Europe, Middle East, Africa and Indian subcontinent) and Sami Zerelli, Director General of Roche North Africa and Egypt.

Mr Goeker said that “The international reputation of HRH Princess Lalla Salma, Goodwill Ambassador for the WHO, to promote the prevention and treatment of cancer, which allowed Morocco to have a pioneering role in the fight against cancer,particularly among the poorest patients,and that motivated Roche to initiate a program of this magnitude”

To Mr Sami Zerelli the dynamism of the ALSC and the personal commitment of His Royal Highness for this cause “ensures the rigorous enforcement and the access to the program which gives a chance for patients with low incomes and which for Roche the best way to celebrate his 50 years in Morocco.”

Some 30,000 new cases of cancer are documented yearly in Morocco, and the Lalla Salma Association to Fight Cancer Mission is to focus on the assistance to patients and their families especially to improve the quality of life of cancer patients and of their relatives, enlarge the plans of the information and prevention, provide the support to the medical staff and for clinical and operational research, and provide the support and assistance for the setting up and equipping of oncology centers.

Mademoiselle Lilo Moroccan Royals Cancer, Health, Lalla Salma, Lalla Salma Association to Fight Cancer

Princess Lalla Hasna, the sister of HM King Mohammed VI, opened on Wednesday in Skhirat (south of Rabat) the first International Congress of Arab Women Investors (28-30 October).

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Addressing the Congress the princess stressed the importance of education and training for young girls in order to foster women entrepreneurial culture. She insisted on the need to enable girls, especially in rural areas, to go to school and to encourage them to enroll in high-tech vocational training, finance and management all the more so because women make valuable contributions to socio-economic development.

In this regard, Princess Lalla Hasna underlined the importance of the National Initiative for Human Development (NIHD), an ambitious program launched by King Mohammed VI in 2005 to fight poverty. The social and economic policy adopted by Morocco helped to protect the rights of women and children while ensuring human dignity the Princess said.

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On the sidelines of the Congress, Princess Lalla Hasna inaugurated an exhibition of handicraft products of Arab countries,and received a shield from the Union for the efforts made by the princess in the field of environmental protection in her capacity as “Ambassador of the Coast”. She also received on behalf of her brother the King another memorial shield tribute to the action of the Sovereign for the promotion of women’s rights.

Organized by the Union of Arab Women Investors on October 28-30,and held under the patronage of the King Mohammed VI, the congress discusses issues related to investment amid international environment and the new investment opportunities. The Union of Arab Women Investors was Created in December 2004 in Egypt, the Union works in the framework of the Arab Economic Union Council. It includes 16 Arab countries: Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria,Saudi Arabia, Soudan, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, Morocco and Egypt.

Mademoiselle Lilo Moroccan Royals Conference, Lalla Hasna, Women's Rights

King Mohammed VI of Morocco received on Monday the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas,to discuss a number of political issues in particular the situation in Palestinian territories.

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In a statement to the media, the Palestinian president stressed the importance the Sovereign attaches to the Holy city of Al Quds Al Sharif in his capacity as chairman of Al Quds Committee offshoot of the Organization of IslamicConference (OIC) which represents 1.2 billion Muslims around the world.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived Monday in Casablanca,Morocco’s business capital for the Al Quds International Forum,according to an official source,the forum is organized under the Patronage of King Mohammed VI and to gather several eminent Arab and foreign personalities will look into the general situation in the Holy city,cradle of the three revealed religions.

Mademoiselle Lilo Moroccan Royals Mohammed VI, Palestine, President Abbas

Lalla Salma photo courtesy of TRF Avatar Collection

 Last Friday, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, President of Argentina, met with Lalla Salma at the royal palace in Morocco. It was a quick and private meeting, lasting only an hour, according to Telam National News Agency of Argentina.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was on her way back to Buenos Aires when she made the stop in Morocco. She had been on an official visit to India. Lalla Salma requested the meeting. She was very interested in learning about de Kirchner’s experiences in India. The two women discussed the official trip, and then de Kirchner went on to Buenos Aires. Unfortunately, photos of the meeting have not been released.

For more information about Lalla Salma, and the Royal Family of Morocco, please visit this thread.

sgl Moroccan Royals Argentina, Lalla Salma, President Kirchner

 Prince Moulay Rachid, the brother of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, has been admitted to hospital in Paris after falling ill on an aeroplane flying from Casablanca to Paris.

In a statement from Morocco’s Ministry of Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery, it was reported on Saturday that the Prince was admitted to a Paris hospital for “the necessary medical examinations” and that his condition was “stable and not giving rise to any concern”, but the statement didn’t reveal the nature of the Prince’s illness.

Prince Moulay Rachid is the younger son of the late King Hassan II, he takes part alongside his brother King Mohammed VI in the various political economic and social activities of the Kingdom, and had been beside King Mohammed VI on Friday at the opening of Parliament.

Mademoiselle Lilo Moroccan Royals France, Health, Hospital, Prince Moulay Rachid

Click here to see the photo at Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse

 Last Friday, King Mohammed VI officially opened the Moroccan Parliament. He began by addressing both houses of Parliament. In his speech, the King called for the creation of an economic and social council that would serve in an advisory role to the legislature and also to the executive branch of the Moroccan government.

According to an article in Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse, the King stated that the council should be made up of “representatives of the nation’s forces, productive sectors, socioeconomic and professional institutions, as well as qualified members of civil society and a substantial number of women”. The King wants the council to be as inclusive as possible. He told the members of Parliament that the council should not only include Moroccans residing in Morocco, but also Moroccan nationals who are living abroad. The recruitment plan is, “in accordance to with my wish to involve in the council all skilled Moroccans, wherever they may be”, said the King.

The goal of the King’s plan for the council is to improve the credibility of the parliament, and to help the government run more efficiently. The King hopes that a more effective government will lead to more development within Morocco.

To read about, and to discuss King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan Royal Family, please visit this thread.

sgl Moroccan Royals Mohammed VI, Parliament