King Mohammed VI Current Events 1: September 2003 - December 2007

[Amira]

1-King Mohammed VI performed the ram sacrifice rite in line with the tradition of Prophet Sidna Mohamed (Id Al Adha, celebrating the Muslim feast of the ram sacrifice)
2-3-HM King launches social projects southern Morocco

[Amira]

King Mohamed VI during the last days :)

[Amira]

HM King Mohammed VI chairs signing of conventions for southern region development

Zagora, Feb.04 – HM King Mohammed VI chaired this Friday in the southern Moroccan town of Zagora the signing of several conventions, worth around 2.1 billion DH (210 million Euros) meant to enforce the development strategy of the southern Souss-Massa-Draa region.

The conventions are a result of partnership between several partners, mainly the government, elected authorities, professional organizations, the Hassan II Fund for economic and social development and the Mohammed V solidarity foundation.

The conventions provide for the creation of two rural women cooperatives for the improvement and protection of the local race of goats and the restructuring of a dates conditioning plant in the region. The plant will be re-launched thanks to 3 million DH (300,000 Euro) injected by the Mohammed V solidarity foundation.

Under a third convention, a public health clinic, to cost 29 million DH (2.9 million Euro), will be build in the city of Zagora with the aim of bringing the province hosting capacity from 92 to 137 beds, improve the quality of health services and modernize equipment.

The three other conventions deal with the building of an airport platform in the city of Zagora to boost tourism capacities of the region, the creation of an investment fund was to promote agriculture products processing and marketing and the building of road infrastructures.

Other projects to be carried out in the region include the development of two tourism compounds in Ouarzazate and Zagora, the development of an irrigated area, upgrading of the regional road network and the creation of a regional investment fund, in addition to the opening of a credit line to finance an investment program and the improvement of the air-link between Agadir and Ouarzazate.

The two remaining conventions deal with the creation of a fund to support tourism-related micro-industry and the conduct of a study for the development of the cinema industry in Ouarzazate.

The projects are carried out in accordance with instructions by HM King Mohammed VI last January 15 to promote tourism in the southern region of Ouarzazate-Zagora and to support the region’s development.

The sovereign had chaired a meeting with prime minister Driss Jettou, royal advisor, Abdelaziz Meziane Belfkih, and other government members and local officials, and stressed that the Ouarzazate and Zagora regions should become autonomous tourism destinations, building on their own product specificity and quality. This specific product is likely to develop thanks to an environment-friendly approach that preserves its oases, valleys, ksours (local villages), Kasbahs (forts) and nature.

The monarch also gave his instructions to support the region’s development by endeavoring to develop and preserve water resources, speed up the carrying out of social projects, improve road and air transport infrastructures, upgrade town planning and set forth various mechanisms to encourage private investments.

He had also called for stimulating initiatives and partnerships between private and public stakeholders in order to consolidate the region’s development dynamic as part of an integrated vision and pertinent programs with a direct impact on the population.

[Monalisa]

HM King Mohammed VI launches construction of handicapped children center in Agadir

Agadir, Feb.7 - HM King Mohammed VI launched this Monday construction works of a center for handicapped children in the southern Atlantic city of Agadir.

The project, financed by the general mutual insurance of public administrations personnel, will be made of a pavilion for mentally handicapped children and another for children suffering from physical disabilities.

In addition to medical rehabilitation wards (speech therapy, motor disabilities), the center also includes study, health consultation and administrative facilities.

A budget of 11.6 million DH, including 7.5 million DH for construction and 2.05 million DH for the purchase of equipment, was earmarked for the center to extend over 4,456 square meters.

HM King Mohammed VI kick-starts building of housing compound in Agadir

Agadir, Feb.07 – HM King Mohammed VI launched this Monday in the southern Atlantic city of Agadir construction works of a low-cost housing compound extending over 150 hectares.

Private enterprises will be in charge of 80 ha out of the 150 hectares of the project to cost 380 million DH (around 38 million Euro). A total of 70,000 inhabitants will benefit from the lodgings. The compound will be completed by end of 2007.

The sovereign also inquired about progress in the building of the "Hay Mohammadi" new urban zone that extends over 466 HA for a cost of 1.3 billion DH (130 million Euro), the “Tadart” urban pole, extending over 160 ha for a cost of 426 million DH (about 42.6 million Euro), and the new program meant to eradicate shantytowns in the city and its regions by 2007. The program will cost 758 million DH (about 15.8 million Euro).

MAP2005.

HM King Mohammed VI praises AfDB president performance

Marrakech, Feb.09- HM King Mohammed VI paid tribute to President of the African Development Bank, Omar Kabbaj (Morocco) for his performance that helped redress the financial situation of the first African financial institution.

The sovereign, who received visiting Kabbaj at the Royal palace of Marrakech, stressed that his action as head of the AfDB lent to the bank international credibility.

Since his election in 1995 as head of the AfDB, with headquarters in Tunisia, Kabbaj, has led the group’s restructuring, which earned him a second election unanimously in 2000 for a second term.

Set up in 1964, the bank extends loans to both governments and the private sector.

During his stay in Morocco, the AfDB president signed with the Moroccan government loans agreements totalling 430 million euros to finance projects of reforms and drinking water.

Under these accords, 240 million euros are to help the state to liberalize, restructure and boost the competitiveness of the air, road and rail transport. A second loan, worth 121 million euros, will help the government's drive to reform its public administration.

The last loan, of 66.5 million euros, will bring drinking water to inhabitants of rural areas.

Mexican President expected Friday in Morocco

RABAT, Feb. 9- Mexican President, Vicente Fox will pay on Friday a two-day official visit to Morocco, the first to an Arab country.

A press release from the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery said the visit comes at “the invitation of HM King Mohammed VI” of Morocco.

Fox will be accompanied by his spouse and a large delegation of officials and businessmen. He is expected to have talks with the Moroccan monarch who will be hosting a diner in his honour.

Fox’s visit comes after the state visit paid by HM King Mohammed VI to Mexico (November 23-25) as part of a tour to five South American countries including Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru.

HM King Mohammed VI to take part in Arab summit of Algiers

Rabat, Feb.15 – HM King Mohammed VI will take part next March 22-23 in the Arab summit of Algiers.

The sovereign received this Tuesday in Rabat, an envoy of the Algerian president, speaker of the nation’s council, Abdelkader Bensaleh, who extended him an invitation to the Arab summit.

HM King Mohammed VI strongly condemns Hariri’s killing in Beirut blast

Rabat, Feb. 14- HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco has strongly condemned the killing of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri, in blast Monday morning in Beirut.

In condolences messages to Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and to the family of the victim, the monarch described Hariri’s assassination as an “odious crime” and a “great loss” for the Lebanese people.

Hariri, a billionaire who helped rebuild Lebanon after decades of war but resigned as prime minister last fall after a sharp dispute with Syria, was killed Monday in a massive bomb explosion that tore through his motorcade. At least nine other people were killed and 100 wounded in the blast.

Hariri, the royal message said, was a “skilled statesman, a figure strongly committed to his country’s interest and had largely contributed to its reconstruction, its development and its progress.”

The monarch also said that morocco has lost in the person of Mr. Hariri a “great friend who endeavoured for the consolidation of brotherly, exemplary and fruitful relations between the two brotherly countries.”

The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation also condemned this killing whose authors, it said, were aiming “the unity, the security and the stability of Lebanon.”

[Amira]

:) King Mohamed VI

[Monalisa]

Gbagbo seeks Moroccan King’s mediation to resolve crisis in Côte d’Ivoire

CASABLANCA, Feb. 16 - Côte d’Ivoire president, Laurent Gbagbo, has asked HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco to make efforts for mediation in order to resolve the crisis in the west African country, the Moroccan foreign ministry said in a release.

An envoy from Gbagbo handed the Moroccan sovereign on Wednesday a message, informing him on the latest developments of the situation in the country that has been split by an on-off war since September 2002.

The envoy, Sangare Abou Drahamane, first vice president of the popular front party, was received by HM king Mohammed VI in the royal palace of Casablanca.

HM the king reiterated at the meeting the particular attention Morocco grants to stability and peace in Côte d’Ivoire, the unity of its people and reconciliation between different parties.

Last November, the Moroccan monarch deplored the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, calling the “Ivorian people and their representatives to make dialogue prevail, and to restore unity and social harmony.”

Morocco dispatched last May a contingent to contribute to efforts by the international community to put an end to the bloodshed in the west African country.

Despite a French-brokered peace deal agreed in 2003, fighting has broken out sporadically in Côte d’Ivoire.

HM King Mohammed VI receives Spain’s interior minister

Casablanca, Feb.17 – HM King Mohammed VI received this Thursday at the royal palace of Casablanca, visiting Spanish interior minister, José Antonio Alonso.

In addition to Spain’s ambassador in Morocco, Luis Planas, Moroccan minister of the interior, Al Mostafa Sahel, and chargé de mission at the Royal office, Fadel Benyaich, attended the audience.

Upon arrival on Thursday morning, the Spanish official hailed Morocco-Spain relations as “excellent”, especially in the field of security.

The Spanish minister said his meetings with Moroccan officials will focus on “the issues of security, combating terrorism, organized crime, drug smuggling and illegal migration”, insisting on the need to fight illegal migration and dismantle the mafias that control this phenomenon.

He also highlighted the “significant evolution” of Morocco’s cooperation in this field.

In an official document released in Madrid on Tuesday, Alonso stressed that closer cooperation between Morocco and Spain against illegal migration, mainly through the joint sea patrols, has helped considerably curb the flow of illegal immigrants to Spain in 2004 as the flow of small makeshift boats trying to land on the Spanish Canary Islands has decreased by 21.44pc in 2004, while the number of arrested illegal immigrants, intercepted onboard 740 boats, dropped to 15.671 persons, that is 18.28pc cut compared to 2003.

Since July 2004, Morocco and Spain have conducted 13 joint sea patrols along the Atlantic shores, between the Moroccan southern city of Laayoune and the Canary Islands. The experience was also extended to air and land patrols and starting December 28, a liaison officer was posted in Algeciras.

HM the King receives Gabonese Prime Minister

Casablanca, Feb. 18 – HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco received, Friday at the royal palace of Casablanca, Gabonese Prime Minister, Jean-François Ntoutoume Emane, who is paying an official visit to the north African country.

The Gabonese premier, who arrived Wednesday in Morocco, held several meetings with Moroccan officials, focusing mainly on the consolidation of bilateral relations and economy cooperation.

After a working session Thursday with his Moroccan peer, the two sides expressed determination to reinforce bilateral cooperation in industry, infrastructure, agriculture, housing, transports and telecommunications.

Moroccan and Gabonese officials also discussed know-how sharing in forest management, the holding of businessmen meetings to prospect agriculture partnership, equipment, infrastructure and transport cooperation and the possible creation of a free zone in Port Gentil.

HM King Mohammed VI visited Gabon last June part of an African tour.

HM the King receives Gabonese Prime Minister

[Monalisa]

HM the King chairs meeting on road safety awareness campaign

CASABLANCA, Feb. 18 – HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco chaired, here Friday, a meeting on road safety awareness campaign that will be launched on the same day by Prime Minister, Driss Jettou.

HM the king issued instructions to the concerned ministers and officials to exert the utmost efforts to make this campaign a success, in order to reduce road accidents that kill thousands of people every year.

According to recent figures, the number of traffic accidents in Morocco dropped by 7.8% in Jan-Sept.2004. Human casualties also regressed by 5.6% while the number of seriously injured persons decreased by 15.9%.

Over 3,800 die and 15,000 are injured every year in road accidents in Morocco, costing the government 11 billion MAD (US$ 1.2 billion), that is 2.5% of the GDP.

[Amira]

HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco will start Monday a three-nation African tour, including Gabon, Senegal and Burkina Faso.

According to a release of the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery, the Moroccan sovereign will pay a “working and friendship visit” to Senegal and Gabon, and will extend humanitarian assistance to the two countries in order to back their social development. He will also pay an official visit to Burkina Faso.

Last June, HM the king paid an official visit to five African countries, namely Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Niger and Senegal.

Morocco, which advocates South-South economic and technological co-operation, has forged links with several countries in the region, notably in infrastructure and housing.

[Monalisa]

HM the King Mohammed VI arrives in Gabon

LIBREVILLE, Feb. 21 - HM King Mohammed VI arrived, here Monday, on a working and friendship visit to Gabon.

The sovereign, who was greeted at the airport by Gabonese president, Haj Omar Bongo Ondimba, is accompanied by a large delegation in his visit, including notably Foreign Minister, Mohammed Benaissa, Agriculture, Rural development, and Fisheries Minister, Mohand Laensar, and Industry, Trade and Economy upgrading Minister, Salaheddine Mezouar.

The royal visit to Gabon is part of a three-nation African tour that also includes Senegal and Burkina Faso.

Gabonese newspapers commented over the weekend that the royal visit is an opportunity to set “a strategic partnership for economic development.”

Gabonese Prime minister Jean-François, Ntoutoume Emane, paid last week a visit to the north African country, and examined with Moroccan officials means to energise the various agreements signed by the two countries.

Moroccan Press: King’s African tour to consolidate South-South relations

Rabat, Feb.22 - The Moroccan press underscored Tuesday that King Mohammed VI’s tour in three African countries, namely Gabon, Senegal and Burkina Faso, that started Monday, will consolidate South-South relations.

Moroccan papers agreed that the visit reflects the king’s resolve to consolidate South-South relations, at a time when African countries feel an urgent need to build their relations on solid bases to face common challenges.

“Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb” commented that South-South cooperation, which is among the sovereign’s top priorities, will be translated by the implementation of important regional projects in various realms.

The visit, the paper pointed out, highlights the Moroccan monarch’s interest in the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) which needs a strong support for a progressive integration in world economy.

On its part, “l'Opinion” noted that although Rabat withdrew, two decades ago, from the Organization of the African Union in protest of the admission of the Polisario front, that claims the separation of Morocco’s southern provinces, it remains resolved to establish friendship ties with African countries.

The royal visit, it went on, confirms Morocco’s African vocation and desire to open new perspectives for African peoples that aspire to unify their efforts in order to face problems resulting from under-development and globalisation.

Highlighting the king’s initiatives to reinforce economic relations with the least developed African countries, “Al-Alam” recalled that Morocco cancelled their debts and waived taxes on their exports to the kingdom.

Morocco grants emergency aid to Iran following earthquake

RABAT, Feb. 22 - HM King Mohammed VI gave instructions Tuesday to grant an emergency humanitarian aid to Iran following the earthquake that rocked Tuesday morning the province of Kerman, south-eastern Iran, killing at least 270 people and injuring 700 others.

The aid consists of medicines and first aid, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a release, noting that the aid is an expression of the Moroccan people’s solidarity with Iran in this tragedy.

HM King Mohammed VI, currently on a visit to Gabon, addressed a message to the Iranian president, Mohamed Khatami, extending condolences to the Iranian people and families of the victims.

[Lyonnaise]

LIBREVILLE, GABON: Moroccan King Mohammed VI (L) and Gabonese President Omar Bongo Ondimba (R) listen to the national anthems 21 February 2005 at the Leon Mba airport upon the King's arrival for a visit of several days.

[Lyonnaise]

MOANDA, GABON: Moroccan King Mohammed VI meets (3rd R) 22 February 2005, in Moanda, southern Gabon at the closure of medical and military joint exercises.

[Monalisa]

Mohamed VI de Marruecos recuerda el 11-M:

Mohamed VI de Marruecos asistirá en Madrid, junto a la Familia Real española, al homenaje que se hará en el madrileño parque del Retiro a las víctimas del 11-M, en el primer aniversario del trágico atentado que costó la vida a 191 personas. El Rey de Marruecos viajará con su hermano, el príncipe Mulay Rachid, que asistirá a una Cumbre sobre Democracia y Terrorismo.

translation to english:

KING MOHAMED VI OF MOROCCO RECALLS THE 11th MARCH:


Mohamed VI of Morocco will attend Madrid, with the Spanish Real Family, with the homage which will be made in the park inhabitant of Madrid of the Retirement to the victims of the 11-M, in the first anniversary of the tragic attempt which cost the life to 191 people. The King of Morocco will travel with his brother, prince Mulay Rachid, which will attend a Summit on the Democracy and Terrorism.

[Lyonnaise]

OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO: King Mohammed VI of Morocco (C) and Burkina Faso President Blaise Campaore (R) listen to Burkinabe colonel Abraham Traore during their visit to Ouagadougou airport where an "artificial rain" joint operation between Burkina Faso and Morocco called "Saaga" is being set up 01 March 2005. King Mohammed VI is on a three-day visit to Burkina Faso.

[Lyonnaise]

DAKAR, SENEGAL: King Mohammed VI of Morocco (R) is greeted by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade (L) upon his arrival at Dakar airport, 02 March 2005 at the start of a private visit to Senegal. AFP PHOTO SEYLLOU DIALLO (Photo credit should read SEYLLOU DIALLO/AFP/Getty Images)

[Lyonnaise]

DAKAR, SENEGAL: King Mohammed VI of Morocco (L) views pesticidal supply including pumps donated by the kingdom to fight crickets during a ceremony attended by Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade(C) in Dakar 03 March 2005 held on the sidelines of his private visit to Senegal. Official at far (R) is unidentified. AFP PHOTO SEYLLOU DIALLO

[Monalisa]

HM King Mohammed VI meets religious figures in Senegal:

Dakar, Mar.04 - HM King Mohammed VI, presently on a visit to Senegal, received this Friday afternoon at the presidential palace in Dakar representatives of religious confraternities and families in Senegal.

The sovereign received Abdoul Aziz Sy Junior representative of the Tijania confraternity, Thierno Abibou Tall, representative of Al Oumaria religious family, Mamoune Mbacke, representative of the Mourides confraternity, Sheikh Assane Cisse, representative of the Niassene religious family, Kalife Moustapha Cisse, representative of the Cisse religious family, Madani Tall, representative of Al Oumaria religious family.

Other religious figures who met the sovereign include representatives of the Kadiria and Layene confraternities, the Great Serigne of Dakar, higher chief of the Leboue collectivity (traditional chief of Dakar) and a representative for the league of Islamic scholars in Senegal.

The audience, took place after the Friday prayers in the presence of Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade, and Moroccan minister of Islamic affairs Ahmed Toufiq.

The visit to Senegal is the last leg of a three-nation African tour that already took the sovereign to Gabon and Burkina Faso.

Morocco, Burkina Faso urge for the release of Moroccan POWs in Southern Algeria


OUAGADOUGOU, Mar. 2 - Visiting HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco and President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso, have urged the international community to step up efforts for the release of some 400 Moroccan prisoners of war still detained by the separatist movement "Polisario" in the Tindouf camps, south-western Algeria.

This came in a joint communiqué released at the end of the two-day official visit of Hm King Mohammed VI to Burkina Faso, part of a three-nation African tour. 408 Moroccan POWs are still being held prisoners in the worst conditions as was denounced by various human rights organizations, including Amnesty International. Some of these POWs have been detained for more than two decades, despite appeals by the UN ...

HM King Mohammed VI visits Mauritania next Monday:

Rabat, Mar 5 - HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco will pay next Monday a working and friendship visit to the Islamic republic of Mauritania, a communiqué of the royal household, protocol and chancellery ministry said.

The Moroccan sovereign will leave Senegal for Mauritania on Monday, March 7th. The Monarch arrived in Senegal last Wednesday, third leg of an African three-nation tour that took him to Gabon and Burkina Faso.

HM King Mohammed VI performs Friday's prayer at Great Mosque of Dakar:

Dakar, Mar.04 - HM King Mohammed VI, commander of the faithful, performed, together with Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade, the Friday prayers at the Great mosque of Dakar, a Muslim site built in the 60's thanks to assistance extended by the late HM king Hassan II.

The imam, Maodo Sy, son of a former religious chief of the Tijanes confraternity, recalled in the sermon that Islam came to organize the life of humans in a way that enables humankind to enjoy material and moral rights and contribute fruitfully and efficiently in religious, political, economic and social life. He also stressed that one of the objectives of Islam is to establish brotherhood bonds between believers, of all races and languages.

The imam extolled HM the king’s action for the consolidation of the Shoura (consultation) principle, and for the rule of law and the consolidation of institutions guaranteeing the rights and dignity of citizens, bringing about a scientific and cultural renewal benefiting all the Moroccan regions.

"Those who follow your action, since your enthronement to the throne of your glorious ancestors, can only be happy at the humanitarian projects that you dedicate in all the regions of your dear country”, the Imam said.

After the prayer, the sovereign who is paying a working and friendship visit to Senegal, last leg of a tour that included Gabon and Burkina Faso, donated to the Mosque several copies of the Koran. He also presented the Senegalese president with a copy of the “Mosshaf Al Hassani ».

[Monalisa]

more pictures from senegal and gabon's visits:

[Monalisa]

HM King Mohammed VI ends visit to Mauritania:

NOUAKCHOTT, Mar.08- HM King Mohammed VI ended on Tuesday a working and friendship visit to Mauritania.

The sovereign had arrived on Monday in Nouakchott, part of an African tour that included Gabon, Burkina Faso and Senegal.

During his stay in the north African country, the sovereign held tete-a-tete talks with Mauritanian president Mouaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya. The two heads of state also chaired the signing of three cooperation agreements on the fight against illiteracy, sea transport, locusts control, agriculture and health.

Prior to leaving Mauritania, the Moroccan monarch and the Mauritanian president chaired an official ceremony during a Moroccan donation consisting of 250,000 litres of pesticides and a batch of equipment was handed to Mauritanian authorities.

The grant includes several 4X4 vehicles fitted with transmission devices, spraying motor pumps and protection wear kits.

This is the monarch’s third visit to the north African country since his enthronement in summer 1999.

The two countries are members, together with Algeria, Libya and Tunisia, of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) which is scheduled to hold a summit-meeting on the sidelines of the Arab Summit slated for March 22-23 in Algiers.

[Amira]

HM The King to attend ceremonies making first anniversary of Madrid blasts

RABAT, Mar. 9 - HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco will leave tomorrow Thursday for Spain where he will attend the ceremonies marking the first anniversary of the Madrid blasts that claimed the lives of 191 people and injured over 1,900, announced, here Wednesday, a communiqué of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery.


The ceremonies will be held Friday with a minute's silence and the ringing of the city's church bells at the moment a year ago that four bombs exploded on four crowded commuter trains.
Prior to these ceremonies, Madrid is hosting, since Tuesday, a four-day international symposium on the fight against terrorism attended by several heads of State and Governments and more than 200 experts.

[Layla27]

Originally Posted by Amira

HM The King to attend ceremonies making first anniversary of Madrid blasts

RABAT, Mar. 9 - HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco will leave tomorrow Thursday for Spain where he will attend the ceremonies marking the first anniversary of the Madrid blasts that claimed the lives of 191 people and injured over 1,900, announced, here Wednesday, a communiqué of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery.


The ceremonies will be held Friday with a minute's silence and the ringing of the city's church bells at the moment a year ago that four bombs exploded on four crowded commuter trains.
Prior to these ceremonies, Madrid is hosting, since Tuesday, a four-day international symposium on the fight against terrorism attended by several heads of State and Governments and more than 200 experts.

Will Lalla Salma accompany her husband to Madrid ?