Spanish State Visit to Morocco: January 17-19, 2005

[Blueice]

Originally Posted by abir

The kings and queen sofia look nice in formal suits, to me salma's suit doesn't correspond well to the event.

Indeed, thanks for these lovely pics abir - I like P. Salma's outfit and find it quite appropriate for the occasion both in cut and shades - stylish, not too matronly, yet formal, classic, descent, unpretentious and regal - surely, Queen Sofia looked lovely as usual in her classic Chanel item - I'm sure we'll get to see P. Salma wearing similar styles in a years to come - there is, after all, a significant age difference between these two ladies.

The silk thread embroidery around the neck line and the sleeves is, to my personal taste, very chic and gives the outfit special touch without making it flashy, tacky or 'loud' in any way. Besides, under flash light some fabrics tend to appear much more shiny than they actually are. I found it as a good choice that she is not wearing much jewelry, especially necklace. I would of made some changes regarding hair do - perhaps a scoop/up do.

[GrandDuchess]

Spain's king cements Morocco ties

King Juan Carlos of Spain has called for a fair final settlement of the Western Sahara dispute, in a speech to the Moroccan parliament in Rabat.

He said Spain wanted to see a "consensual, just and final" settlement for the former Spanish colony.

The Polisario Front has been fighting for independence since the territory was annexed by Morocco in 1975.

Since the Casablanca and Madrid bombings Morocco and Spain have stepped up their anti-terror co-operation.

The king said the anti-terror fight must "not be conducted in a blind or indiscriminate manner," but must conform to existing legal norms, the Spanish news agency Efe reported.

Polisario plea

In a letter to King Juan Carlos, quoted by the French news agency AFP, the Polisario leader, Mohamed Abdelaziz, said Spain and Morocco shared responsibility for the "tragedy" afflicting the Sahrawi people.

He urged Spain to play a positive role in promoting peace and justice in Arab North Africa.

Successive United Nations attempts to negotiate a settlement between Morocco and Polisario have remained stalled.

Moroccan-Spanish relations have thawed since a Socialist government was elected in Spain last March, to replace the previous conservative administration.

A low point in Spanish-Moroccan relations was a dispute two and half years ago when Spanish troops expelled a group of Moroccan soldiers from the disputed Mediterranean island Perjil.

Anti-terror fight

But the king and Queen Sofia were welcomed to the old royal city of Marrakech by thousands of people waving flags when they arrived on Monday.

The two kings made it clear they wanted to draw a line under the crisis period.

"Our two countries, despite the vicissitudes of politics, have been able to maintain constructive dialogue and mutual trust," King Mohammed told his guest in Spanish.

"What unites us is much stronger than what has been able to divide us," King Juan Carlos replied.

Last year Spain and Morocco reinforced their co-operation by signing an agreement on combating terrorism, drugs and human trafficking.

Eleven of the 18 people charged with carrying out the 11 March Madrid train bombings are Moroccans.

Investigators reportedly linked one of the key suspects, Hasan al-Haski, to the bombings carried out in the Moroccan city of Casablanca in 2003.

[abir]

Originally Posted by Blueice

Indeed, thanks for these lovely pics abir - I like P. Salma's outfit and find it quite appropriate for the occasion both in cut and shades - stylish, not too matronly, yet formal, classic, descent, unpretentious and regal - surely, Queen Sofia looked lovely as usual in her classic Chanel item - I'm sure we'll get to see P. Salma wearing similar styles in a years to come - there is, after all, a significant age difference between these two ladies.

You are welcome Blueice. For formal suits, I beleive there are many modern/light/stylish yet classic suits which young ladies can wear them easly in such event. It shouldn't be always black.

[Blueice]

Originally Posted by abir

To me the dress is nice but it is a bit shinining for a cultural and formal event with a king and a queen. A suit trouser or skirt could be better ...
That's a matter of taste, and hopefuly each one can wear whatever he/she likes :)

...I belive it is a two pieces suit (jacket/skirt)...:)

[Moon]

Originally Posted by Blueice

...I belive it is a two pieces suit (jacket/skirt)...:)

I am sure it is a skirt and a jacket..look closely in this pic especially the side where she rised her hand..

[abir]

Originally Posted by Blueice

...I belive it is a two pieces suit (jacket/skirt)...:)

Yes, they are two pieces ... but it's not a jacket, it's a sweater ... a top with no buttons. A jacket has sleeves and fastens down the front

[Blueice]

Originally Posted by abir

Yes, they are two pieces ... but it's not a jacket, it's a sweater ... a top with no buttons. A jacket has sleeves and fastens down the front

...Sorry abir, but are we talking about the same outfit?...I can hardly call designed, solid fabric, tailored jacket - a sweater...Besides, there are buttons, if you check closely third photo ( a close up with Q. Sofia) you should be able to see one just below the silk-thread embroidery around the neck line...To me this item looks like an 'couture' and has all prerogatives you've mentioned - it is stylish, classic and light. And very chic, to my opinion...:)

[Humera]

Here's another pic of Lalla Salma at the exhibit

[Humera]

Pictures from today
At the Mohammad V Mausoleum

[Humera]

At the Parliament

[Humera]

Queen Sofia and Lalla Meryem arrive at the National Observatory for Rigths of Children on Tuesday 18 January 2005 in Rabat

[abir]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

The Queen with Lalla Meryem.

Waw, that's something different, Meryem looks very warm with queen sofia, smiling and alive!
Thanks Humera for the picture. Where they were together?

[Humera]

I was looking at all the pretty pictures abir posted from IBL and I tried enlarging these two. I know when some of us saw the pictures of Lalla Salma and Lalla Meryem standing together at the airport, it seemed like those two were'nt very happy.
But these two pictures show Lalla Salma laughing with her two sisters-in-law.
It just goes to show how misleading some pictures can be sometimes.

Originally Posted by abir

Waw, that's something different, Meryem looks very warm with queen sofia, smiling and alive!
Thanks Humera for the picture. Where they were together?

You're welcome abir.
I edited my post and added the caption with the picture.
And you're right about Queen Sofia, she has such a friendly and warm personality, no matter who she is with. I always like looking at pictures of her.

[Moon]

Originally Posted by ~*~Humera~*~

Here's another pic of Lalla Salma at the exhibit

She looks pretty in this outfit

Queen Sophia and princess Salma will attend some kind of event (can't remember) in Tangier, a city in Northern Morocco. And so, we can see that Meryem and Salma are splitting tasks as Meryem already attended the event mentioned above with Queen Sophia in Rabat. Queen Sophia and King Juan Carlos were supposed to attend the inauguration of the first Spanish University in Tetuan (a city close to Tangier), but this was canceled as it was said the schedule was quite heavy...

[Moon]

• Another pic of the dinner
• Holding talks

Look how beautiful is the palace and how magnificient is the artisanal work.

[rosa]

Originally Posted by abir

I see what you mean rosa ... orange coat maybe too much for welcoming royals. A close picture of salma shows similar makeup she opted for before.
For the dinner, I love Meryem dress and her hair, just simple and wonderful. I post small pictures which can't be enlarged, from ibl.se

yes it is what I want to say
concerning salma's make up, I think she never change it
I agree with you Meryem was lovely at the dinner

[abir]

Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia during a visit to the Moroccan parliament Tuesday, Jan. 18 2005, in Rabat, the capital of Morocco. Pictures from Yahoo.France

Why salma wasn't there?

[rosa]

what does do salma on this photo?

everybody watch in the same direction except her, the brunette woman seems to be very astonished by the attitude of salma

[Humera]

another picture of Queen Sofia and Lalla Meryem

[abir]

From http://www.casareal.es/casareal/marru13.html

Their Majesty the Queen Mrs Sofía, accompanied by the Princess Lalla Meryem, sister of the King Mohamed VI, they visited the National Observatory of Rights of the child, an Institution that takes charge of sensitizing, to protect and to promote the rights of the children, as well as, of analyzing continuously the situation of the child in matter of protection and promotion of their rights. During the visit, Mrs Sofía and the Princess Lalla Meryem inaugurated "Internet of the neighborhood", a space that puts at the disposal of the children numerous computers with access to the network. (Rabat, January 18, 2005 )