CAIRO, Jan.13 (MAP)- HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco arrived this Tuesday in Cairo where he is due to co-chair with Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak, the 5th session of the two countries high joint commission.
The sovereign was welcomed at the Cairo international airport by the Egyptian head of state.
The two Arab heads of state are scheduled to sign a package of cooperation agreements and discuss Arab, regional and international issues of common interest.
Moroccan-Egyptian trade exchanges have considerably progressed reaching, in the first half of 2003, 80 million Dollars, a figure that equals the value of trade for the whole year 2002.
Egypt and Morocco are members of the so-called "Agadir Declaration" initialed in May 2001 by four Arab Mediterranean countries, including Tunisia and Jordan, with the aim to create a free trade zone.
The declaration will be officially sealed off next February under the chairmanship of the Moroccan monarch, in the presence of foreign affairs ministers from the four countries.
The sovereign is accompanied by an official delegation comprising royal advisors Meziane Belfkih and Abbas Jirari, minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, justice minister, Mohamed Bouzoubaa, minister of Habous (Islamic endowments) and Islamic affairs, Ahmed Taoufiq, finance and privatization minister, Fathallah Oualalou, communication minister and government spokesman, Nabil Benabdellah and other civil and military officials.
HM King of Morocco and Egyptian President Resolved to Step Up Cooperation
CAIRO, Jan.14 – HM King Mohammed VI and Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak stressed the need to carry on endeavors to consolidate Morocco-Egypt cooperation and open new and promising perspectives.
This came in the minutes of the 5th high joint commission held in Cairo this January 14-15 under the co-chairmanship of the two heads of state.
Talks held this Wednesday between HM King Mohammed VI and the Egyptian president reflected converging viewpoints on various Arab, Islamic, regional and international issues of common interest, says the document. The two heads of state expressed satisfaction at the level of bilateral cooperation in various fields and said they are resolved to carry on endeavors to step up ties.
The commission welcomed the projected free trade area between Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan and Egypt, an initiative taken by HM King Mohammed VI in May 2001. It also praised the invitation extended by the Moroccan sovereign to member-countries to seal the deal next February in Morocco.
The two heads of state chaired this Wednesday the signing of a package of bilateral agreements providing for cooperation in such a wide array of fields as judiciary, Islamic affairs, culture, science, information, environment, tourism and housing and urban planning.
Trade between the two countries has considerably increased to reach in the first half of 2003, 80 million Dollars, a figure that equals the value of trade for the whole year 2002.
Egypt and Morocco are members of the so-called "Agadir Declaration" initialed in May 2001 by four Arab Mediterranean countries, including Tunisia and Jordan, with the aim to create a free trade zone.
The declaration will be officially sealed off next February under the chairmanship of the Moroccan monarch, in the presence of foreign affairs ministers from the four countries.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, right, welcomes King Mohammed VI of Morocco at the Presidential palace in Cairo Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004. Officials said the talks would focus on the latest developments in Iraq and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Morocco and Egypt, in particular, have long played a mediatory role in the Arab-Israeli dispute. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Morocco's new family code puts wives on almost equal footing with husbands, awaits parliament's approval.
RABAT - A parliamentary commission in Morocco has unanimously recommended a new family code putting wives on a more equal footing with their husbands, officials said Thursday.
Under the new law, which has to be go to the house of representatives and to the senate for approval, the legal age at which girls can marry will be raised from 15 to 18 and wives will be given "joint responsibility" with their husbands in family matters.
Polygamy will be permitted only under highly restrictive conditions and the new code also makes it more difficult for men to divorce their wives.
The parliamentary commission debated the new code for one month, studying 110 amendments to it, commission leader Abdallah Baha said in a statement to Map news agency.
Many of the amendments brought by the Islamic Justice and Development Party (PJD) concerned the wording of the text, while parties from the governing coalition had proposed "constructive amendments," according to the head of the socialist grouping on the commission.
King Mohammed VI had urged a revision of the old code, under which Moroccan women were seen as perpetual minors, under the authority of men, according to women's groups.
"The King's speech (of October 10) served as a reference for discussions during the commission's work," said Baha, without going into detail.
In his speech in October, Mohammed outlined the main principles of the proposed revised code, saying the suggested amendments were in line with the tenets of Islam.
HM King Mohammed VI Offers Function in Honor of Egyptian Figures, Moroccan Community
CAIRO, Jan.16 – HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco offered a function here Thursday night in honor of Egyptian political, economic and cultural figures and members of the Moroccan community in Egypt.
Egyptian premier, Atef Ebid, secretary general of the Arab league, Amr Moussa, and the Egyptian president’s political advisor, Oussama El Baz were present at the function.
The sovereign started an official visit to Egypt where he co-chaired with Egyptian president, Hosni Mobarak, the 5th session of the high joint commission.
The two countries signed this week a package of agreements expected to promote bilateral relations.
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (L) and Morocco's King Mohammed VI review an honor guard at the presidential palace in Cairo 14 January 2004. The two heads of state are expected to chair a high-level committee on economic cooperation and a means to end Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The committee has not met since Mohammed succeeded his father, Hassan II, in 1999.
Mubarak, Mohammed VI hold talks. Their talks focused on energising trade between the two nations Egypt and Morocco
S.M. le Roi Mohammed VI, actuellement en visite en Egypte, a visité hier Al Azhar Al charif au Caire. A son arrivée au siège de l'institution d'Al Azhar dans la région d'Addarassa au quartier Al Azhar, le Souverain a été accueilli par le Grand Imam, Cheikh Al Azhar Mohamed Sayed Tantaoui.
S.M. le Roi Mohammed VI est arrivé lundi à Abou Dhabi en provenance du Caire, pour une visite de fraternité aux Emirats Arabes Unis.
A Sa descente d'avion à l'aéroport international d'Abou Dhabi, S.M. le Roi a été accueilli par S.A. Cheikh Khalifa Ben Zayed Al Nahyane, Prince héritier d'Abou Dhabi, chef d'état-major adjoint des Forces armées émiraties, S.A. Cheikh Soltane Ben Zayed Al Nahyane, vice-président du Conseil des ministres et S.A. Cheikh Saïd Ben Zayed, chef de la direction des ports, ainsi que par les ambassadeurs des deux pays.
Caption:
CAIRO, EGYPT: Moroccan King Mohammed VI ® is received at Cairo's Al-Azhar mosque by Sheikh Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, the imam of Al-Azhar, the highest authority in Sunni Islam, 18 January 2004 in Cairo. King Mohammed VI arrived in Egypt for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the means to remove trade barriers and to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (FILM) AFP PHOTO/Amro MARAGHI (Photo credit should read AMRO MARAGHI/AFP/Getty Images)
Caption:
CAIRO, EGYPT: Moroccan King Mohammed VI (L) meets with Sheikh Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, the imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar, the highest authority in Sunni Islam, 18 January 2004 in Cairo. King Mohammed VI arrived in Egypt for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the means to remove trade barriers and to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. AFP PHOTO/Amro MARAGHI (Photo credit should read AMRO MARAGHI/AFP/Getty Images)
Caption:
CAIRO, EGYPT: Moroccan King Mohammed VI ® kisses a copy of the Koran, Muslim's holy book, he received from Sheikh Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi (2nd R), the imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar, the highest authority in Sunni Islam, 18 January 2004 in Cairo. King Mohammed VI arrived in Egypt for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the means to remove trade barriers and to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (FILM) AFP PHOTO/Amro MARAGHI (Photo credit should read AMRO MARAGHI/AFP/Getty Images)
Arrivée de SM le Roi Mohammed VI à Dubai
SM le Roi s'entretient avec SA Cheikh Zayed Ben Soltane Al-Nahyane
Le Prince héritier d'Abou Dhabi offre un déjeuner en l'honneur de SM le Roi
Dubai, Jan. 21 - H.M. King Mohammed VI of Morocco arrived, here Wednesday, as part of his “friendship” visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The Monarch flew to Dubai from Abu Dhabi where he held talks with UAE Sheikh Zayed ben Soltane Al Nayhyane.
He had earlier visited Egypt where he co-chaired with President Hosni Mubarak the 5th meeting of the two countries High-Commission of Cooperation that was highlighted by the signing of a package of bilateral agreements in various fields.
Dubai, 23/01/04 - SM le Roi Mohammed VI a effectué vendredi une visite au port et à la zone franche de Jabal Ali à Dubai.
A son arrivée à l'administration de l'Etablissement des Ports, des Douanes et de la Zone franche, SM le Roi, qui effectue une visite d'amitié et de travail aux Emirats Arabes Unis, a été accueilli par M. Soltane Ahmad Ben Sulayem, président exécutif de cet établissement, et par M. Jamal Majed Ben Thunaya, directeur exécutif de l'Autorité des ports de Dubai et par des cadres de cette Autorité.
Après une allocution de bienvenue prononcée par M. Ben Sulayem, SM le Roi a suivi, en présence de SA Cheikh Mohamed Ben Rached Al Maktoum, Prince héritier de Dubai, ministre émirati de la Défense, un exposé filmé contenant des explications et des données sur les différentes étapes de la construction et du développement de ce port, ainsi que sur sa gestion et son fonctionnement.
Le port de Jabal Ali qui assure 68 pc du volume total des échanges du pays et accueille environ 5,2 millions de containers par an, emploie actuellement environ 4.000 personnes.Construit en 1979 sur une superficie de 100 km2 pour alléger la pression sur le port Rached de Dubai, le port de Jabal Ali est considéré comme le plus grand au niveau de l'Etat des Emirats Arabes Unis et de l'ensemble de la région du Golfe.
En 1985, ce port a été renforcé par la création d'une zone franche dans le but de drainer les investissements et les capitaux étrangers. Le nombre de sociétés émiraties et internationales qui ont choisi de s'implanter dans la zone franche de Jabal Ali s'élève à 2.800 sociétés exonérées d'impôts pour une période de quinze ans.Après avoir suivi ces explications, en présence MM. Mohamed Benaissa, ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération, Abdelaziz Meziane Belfkih et Abbès Jirari, conseillers de SM le Roi, Mohamed Rochdi Chraibi, membre du Cabinet royal, et Aziz El Hussein, ambassadeur du Maroc à Abou Dhabi, le Souverain a effectué une tournée à travers les différents services de ce complexe portuaire et de sa zone franche.
Jeddah, 26/01/04 - SM le Roi Mohammed VI, en visite en Arabie Saoudite, a accompli, dans la nuit de dimanche à lundi, le rituel de la Omra à la mosquée Al-Haram à la Mecque.
SM le Roi Mohammed VI était arrivé, dimanche soir, à Jeddah en provenance de l'Etat des Emirats Arabes Unis.
HM King Mohammed VI Voices Resolve to Ensure Optimal Implementation of Family Code
RABAT, Feb.03 – HM King Mohammed VI reiterated this Tuesday his resolve to ensure optimal implementation and to gather all the needed conditions for the implementation of the new family code, after its adoption by the two parliamentary chambers.
The sovereign made the statement as he was receiving speakers of the House of Representatives (lower chamber) and Chamber of Advisors (upper chamber), respectively Abdelouahed Radi and Mustapha Okacha, following the adoption by the two houses of the new family law (Mudawanna), the outline of which was spelled out last October 10 by HM the King at the opening of the parliament’s fall session.
The sovereign who stressed that the new law “is not only a major achievement for women, but also an ingredient which enhances the Moroccan family as a balanced and modern institution” voiced determination “to ensure that the material and human resources, along with the legal mechanisms which are necessary for the enforcement of the Family Law are provided.”
“I shall spare no effort to ensure its optimal implementation by a judiciary which is qualified, independent, efficient and fair”, the king vowed before calling for a broad information campaign by “all forums, institutions and organizations”…
“We need to move forward in our endeavour to achieve integrated development. We must see that concrete efforts and fieldwork are encouraged in order to foster effective development of the family. We should release energies and initiate concerted actions to strengthen the foundations of the modern democratic nation we are looking forward to”, HM the king went on before reiterating resolve “to carry on with the reforms undertaken and aimed at ensuring that men and women become partners, sharing the same rights and obligations and contributing to building effective, responsible citizenship.”
After reaffirming “constant commitment to the values which served as a foundation for this legislation”, the sovereign further explained that the crucial importance of the law lies not only in its primary role in building a modern society but also in the evidence it produces to the ability of Islam to be compatible with the principles of freedom, equality, equity and solidarity.
“This law is a real milestone in the history of Morocco, not only because it is the bedrock for the construction of our modern democratic society, but also because, through this legislation, we are demonstrating in a concrete and compelling manner that Islamic and universal referentials make up a single entity based on freedom, equality, equity and solidarity”, HM the king underlined.
“Through this pioneering work, I am, as Amir Al Muminin (Commander of the Faithful), helping in the efforts that should be made by the Islamic Ummah as a whole, to restore the true image of Islam which is wrongly and unjustly depicted as an outdated and extremist religion. The aim is to give further evidence that the Islamic mentality and school of thought are inherently capable of accommodating modernity and progress, while displaying a great deal of tolerance and open-mindedness.”
After recalling that since his accession to the throne (in July 1999), one of the top objectives of the policy he has been pursuing “has been to develop, in the midst of varying and heterogeneous trends, a modern Family Law, which boasts such features and references as those we have today”, he paid tribute to all the nation's representatives and productive elements “for the unanimous stance they adopted, and for the conscientiousness and sense of democracy they showed during the debate on this issue, as well as for their strong commitment to the bonds which unite the Throne and the people.”
RABAT, MOROCCO: Moroccan ministers present their respects to Moroccan King Mohammed VI ® 01 February 2004 at the royal palace in Rabat as part of the Eid al-Adha feast of the Sacrifice.
Caption:
RABAT, MOROCCO: Moroccan politicians present their respects to Moroccan King Mohammed VI 01 February 2004 at the royal palace in Rabat as part of the Eid al-Adha feast of the Sacrifice. AFP PHOTO ABDELHAK SENNA
Why a young king is taking Morocco into a feminist future
After a long battle with traditional Muslims, equality has become reality in Morocco. But, as Nicola Fell in Rabat reports, the past fights on
THE hammam, or traditional bath-house, in Casablanca is not just a place where women spend up to four hours washing themselves. In a country where 70% of women are illiterate, it’s also a place for gossip and a prime source of news.
These days, the word “moudawana” echoes around its stone walls. It means “family law” and Morocco’s young, Western- educated king, Mohammed VI, has just succeeded in changing it, spelling an end to centuries of subjugation for Moroccan women. He opened a recent session of parliament with a dramatic question: “How can society achieve progress, while women, who represent half the nation, see their rights violated and suffer as a result of injustice, violence and marginalisation?”
The king proposed radical changes to the ancient laws that govern the family. For the first time, in the eyes of the law, men and women will be equally responsible for the family.
In essence, this will have three profound effects on women’s lives. Firstly, polygamy will become practically impossible. A husband will have to prove in front of a judge his need for another wife and secure the consent of any existing wives – quite a challenge.
P reviously, a man could divorce his wife simply by uttering the words; now the decision will be down to a judge. Women can now initiate a divorce, without having to provide a witness to back up any claims of unreasonable behaviour.
While custom traditionally dictated that a woman required a tutor – usually a father or brother – to “help” her choose her husband wisely, the new moudawana lets the decision rest solely in her hands.
When these changes were first proposed in 2000, they looked set to split society . There were two mass demonstrations. In Rabat, people marched in support of the changes, with women chanting: “My rights, my rights”. In Casablanca, on the other hand, they marched against the changes. M ore than 50% of the demonstrators there were women, protesting against the extension of their own rights.
Nezha Skalli, socialist party MP, explains this as fundamentalist tactics: “If you knock on people’s doors and say Islam is in danger, come and protect Islam, people believe you and they come”.
Ramid El Mostafa, member of parliament for the Justice And Development Party (PJD), the main Islamic party, organised the Casablanca demonstration, arguing that the changes to the moudawana are against the principles of Islam. Explaining his “reservations” in a disconcertingly rational manner, he argues that polygamy is a way “to regulate the problem of extra- marital affairs” or cope with an ill or infertile wife.
With respect to the tutor, he says: “In Morocco, if a woman gets divorced, she has to return to her parents for support, and if the family did not take part in her act of marriage, why should they take responsibility for its failure?”
This powerful opposition did succeed in delaying the proposals, but now, three years later, the new moudawana has finally gone through parliament.
For some, though, the change has come too late. Only a month ago, a woman who came to an advice centre to find out about her rights explained: “My husband is pushing for a quick divorce, so that I will be divorced under the old moudawana. This means that my future, and that of my little girl, is not all that I would have wanted.
“He laughs at me! He knows that under the old moudawana he will not be obliged to provide any accommodation for us. It is important that women really understand the change, as in my case, I didn’t really know my rights until now.”
But getting the information through to women is proving difficult, despite the king’s demand for a wide-scale media campaign. Not only is there a high illiteracy rate among women, but many live in remote areas barely reached by the media.
At a women’s co-operative in the village of Ait Ourir, a social worker explains: “Women don’t know about the old moudawana, let alone the new one. Their priority is the family, with the man considered superior. Women will not go after their rights if it means destroying the family.”
For these women in the countryside, the key to equality lies first in alleviating poverty and then education. But in the cities, the king’s new laws have made their mark. Zara, a worker in the Casablanca hammam says: “The King has done well, giving women a new situation. The old moudawana was not good because there was a lot of injustice, especially for our rights to our children.”
Even a boy selling djellabahs (traditional robes) in the Marrakech market knows about the law, as he quips: “If you have sisters or a mother, say ‘Congratulations’.”
H.M. King Mohammed VI Inaugurates Members of Higher Council for Audio-visual Communication
Agadir (southern Morocco), Feb.09 –H.M. King Mohammed VI inaugurated, here Monday, the Higher Council for Audio-visual Communication’s nine members who took the oath before the sovereign.
The council chairman Ahmed Ghazali pledged that the members of this council which aims at consolidating democracy and guaranteeing freedom of speech, would “spare no effort to carry out the royal high directives aiming at ensuring the promotion and the liberalization of the audio-visual sector.”
He voiced the members’ resolve to “contribute in an efficient, impartial and autonomous way to the materialization of the royal willingness” to consolidate democracy and guarantee freedom of speech.
The creation on August 31, 2002 of the Council, is part of the audio-visual sector liberalization process that will be regulated by a law to enter into force this year.
Under the new law, foreign capital will be allowed in the Moroccan audio-visual sector in a bid to consolidate ongoing democratic process in Morocco, political pluralism and civil liberties.
Full text of the Royal Message to the 3rd National Tourism Convention
CASABLANCA, Feb.12 – HM King Mohammed VI addressed a message to participants in the 4th national tourism convention held here this Feb.12-13.
Here follows the full text of the royal message that was read out this Thursday by royal advisor, Mohamed Kabbaj:
“Praise be to God
Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I address your assembly today, I am pleased to see how keen you have been to make the National Tourism Conference an annual event, ever since its first session, which I inaugurated in Marrakesh in January 2001. The good tradition you have set shows that, as major actors in this field, you have gained an acute awareness of the main stakes involved in tourism as a key sector in Morocco's overall strategy for sustainable development.
To assess the progress achieved, plan for future action and set targets for the next period, there is no better course of action than to foster co-ordination and consultation between all the parties concerned, whether representatives of the public sector, or economic operators from the private sector. In fact, it is for this reason that it has been possible, over the last three years, to take stock, at the end of each year, of the performance of the tourism industry, and to identify its strengths and weaknesses.
In this connection, notwithstanding unfavourable conditions worldwide, Morocco has kept up the momentum by increasing its hotel capacity year after year. Thus, the number of new beds rose from 3,800 in 2001 to 8,500 in 2003. Yet, in my opinion, this figure still fell short of expectations.
“It is true that a strategy spreading over a decade can only be gauged properly through a mid-term assessment. However, given the success achieved in implementing the "Azure" scheme concerning the Saïdia, Mogador, Lixus and Haouzia seaside resorts, one is inclined to anticipate a sharp increase in hotel capacity in the years to come. Other efforts have been initiated to upgrade traditional tourism areas, create new products, develop new tour packages and set up new accommodation facilities tailored to meet specific tourism needs. Thus, one may reasonably expect the size of investments and the increase in hotel capacity to pick up momentum in a foreseeable future until they recover the average growth rates of the past. The aim is to achieve, by 2010, the target of 230,000 beds set in the 10-year strategy.
However, the existing facilities cannot fulfil their objectives with optimal efficiency without strong and appropriate back-up measures, mainly to secure the loyalty and expansion of traditional emitting markets. This policy should seek to disseminate an attractive image of Morocco worldwide. It should be bolstered by a vigorous promotion campaign to be initiated by the Moroccan National Tourism Office, which should be upgraded and made more professional for this purpose. Promotion efforts should be further boosted by professionals from the private sector whose associations should get more involved than in the past. In this connection, it would be most advisable to make use of the new opportunities for the dissemination of the Moroccan tourism product, namely those provided by the new information and communication technology.
I would like to take this opportunity to stress again that the tourism industry, just like other productive sectors, must be upgraded before 2010, because by then it must be fully equipped to meet the challenges of competition. Hence the need for it to take immediate action to make up for lost time, upgrade its management methods, improve its image, train the 70,000 professionals it needs and fulfil its part of the commitment made under the framework-agreement it concluded with the Government, under the King's auspices.
The state, for its part, has been actively involved, both through the relevant government agencies and through the Hassan II Fund, in the development of a new wave of tourist resorts. Thus, it has provided developers with plots of land to be used for tourism purposes. Furthermore, it has eased the terms and conditions for loan guarantee in an effort to promote and facilitate the financing of tourism-related activities. In addition, thanks to an efficient market prospection policy, it has managed to attract top-ranking international developers, who have expressed a keen desire to take part in the development of the promising projects planned under the "Azure" scheme.
In addition to promoting foreign investment, we must back up our ten-year strategy through relevant use of the nation's savings which should be directed towards tourist-related activities. We must also simplify and upgrade the tax system as well as ensure sustainability of resources, especially through levy of the relevant tax.
As I strongly recommended in my message to your Third National Conference, held in Agadir early last year, the proposed reform of the sky map has now been completed. Not only will this translate into the sector's liberalisation, but it will result in lower transport costs, enhanced traffic flow and adequate, direct flights between emitting markets and tourist destinations. Thus, air transport will no longer be a hindrance, but rather an attractive asset to boost our tourism policy. Given the new international environment, the national carrier must make the necessary adjustment so that, in addition to the traditional services offered, it can run low-cost and charter flights on a competitive basis.
Needless to say, safety and security must, at all times and in all circumstances, remain the top priority for carriers operating in Morocco as well as for the relevant authorities in this country.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I pointed out at your First National Conference in Marrakesh, I am keen to see tourism become a real driving force for development. It would be quite odd for Morocco not to make the most of the extensive tourist assets it has. In addition to the diversity of nature with which the Almighty has graced this land, with its mountains, seas and desert, our country boasts a rich cultural heritage, and is located very close to Europe - a major source of tourist flows- and right opposite the American continent. We must make the most of our incomparable location, not only to tap these markets, but also to illustrate our rich, distinctive and vibrant culture, our natural openness to others and our legendary hospitality. I am determined to move forward in this direction and to ensure that security and stability continue to prevail as they have, at all times, making Morocco a haven of peace and a popular destination.
Commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the exile of my revered Grandfather, His Majesty King Mohammed V, God bless his soul, I asked my loyal subjects, in my address to the Nation of 20 August last year, ‘to get actively involved in this new Revolution of the Throne and the People’, to make sure that the ‘jubilee of our independence is a special historical event’ and, when the appropriate time comes, ‘to pause and assess the steps taken and the stages reached by our country’.
By August of next year, that is to say in barely 18 months' time, we will be almost half-way through the 10-year tourism strategy, and celebrating our Independence Jubilee. By then, I would expect the parties to the framework agreement to make a pause too, and devote the next National Conference on Tourism to taking stock of what has been achieved. More specifically, they should undertake a critical analysis of the successes achieved and the difficulties encountered, where they came from and how best to overcome them. In the meantime, I urge each and every one of you to step up efforts and brace yourselves for the challenge of 2010.
May the Almighty assist you and grant you every success.
HM King Mohammed VI Receives Moroccan Football Team
AGADIR, Feb.15 – HM King Mohammed VI received this Sunday at the Royal Palace here the Moroccan national football team, African vice-champions, following their brilliant and impressive performance at the Tunis 2004 African Nations cup.
The sovereign extended to the national team and staff high royal distinctions.
Chairman of the Moroccan football federation (FRMF), Gen. Hosni Benslimane, was extended the Al-Arch Wissam of the grand officer rank, national coach Baddou Zaki received the Al-Arch Wissam of the officer rank while president of the national football grouping (GNF) Mohamed Azouzal and FRMF secretary general Mohamed Moufid, were granted the Moukafaa watanayia distinction of the officer rank.
The players were each extended the Moukafaa watanayia distinction of the officer rank.
The other team members were granted the Al Arch Wissam of the knight order.
The sovereign, who was accompanied by crown prince HRH Moulay El Hassan then posed for a picture with the entire team and hosted a function in their honor.
On Saturday, the sovereign phoned Gen. Hosni Benslimane, chairman of the Moroccan Olympic committee and president of the Moroccan football federation, and national coach Badou Zaki to extend congratulations to the national team and the staff for the feat.
The sovereign said qualification to the CAN 2004 finals is in itself a source of pride for the Moroccan people and a gain for Moroccan football and for Morocco.
The sovereign also called Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Benali to congratulate him after Tunisia won the African Nations Cup. The sovereign also praised the excellent organization skills displayed by Tunisia during the African sports event.
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