Will Lalla Salma accompany her husband to Madrid ?
I don't think so,in the article which i sent few days ago from holamagazine,it's not said that PL.Salma will be there,only P.My Rachid will join KMVI to commemoration of 11-M!
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 11: (L-R) Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, Moroccan King Mohamed VI, Canadian former Prime Minister Kim Campbell, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio pay their respect to the victims of the March 11, 2004 terrorist attack at the opening of the "Bois de les Absences" in Retiro Park on March 11, 2005 in Madrid, Spain. 191 people were killed and more than 1500 others injured when the backpack bombs exploded in packed commuter trains one year ago
Morocco urges for close international cooperation to fight terrorism:
Madrid, Mar.10- HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco on Thursday urged for close international cooperation to fight terrorism which he described as "some kind of new world war".
Fighting terrorism must be "within the international community, through an approach based on global security and involving strategic, economic, developmental and human dimensions," the monarch said in a speech read on his behalf by his younger brother Prince Moulay Rachid at the closing session of the International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism and Security, held in Madrid March 8-10.
HM the King commended "the exemplary, effective and comprehensive cooperation and coordination" between Morocco and its northern neighbour, Spain, and also between the North African country and other partners. This cooperation, he said, stems from a "shared resolve to fight terrorism and make of the Mediterranean region remains an area of peace, security and prosperity, which is conducive to fruitful cultural interaction or, better still, an alliance of civilizations."
The Madrid conference is held one year after the terrorist attacks that killed 192 people and injured more than 1,900.
HM King Mohammed VI also condemned any attempt to blame religion for terrorism and rejected allegations that "distort the essence of Islam, impair its image and seeks to portray it as a force of evil." "Like all believers, we condemn any attempt to blame religion for such a despicable crime, and we reject allegations which misrepresent Islam by distorting its essence, impairing its image and seeking to portray it as a force of evil."
He recalled the terrorist attacks in Casablanca on 16 May 2003, which, he said, "were designed to undermine our cultural identity and to hamper our endeavours to build a modern, democratic society."
After paying tribute to the Spanish people for "the highly civilized way they sought to surmount the dire consequences of this (Madrid blasts) tragedy", HM the King stressed that the Casablanca attacks have made Morocco "all the more determined to forge ahead with the democratic transition under way, through a global, integrated and multi-dimensional strategy."
Surveying effective measures taken in this respect, he pointed out to a train of legal measures designed "to preserve and reinforce the country's democratic achievements, and to fight the scourge of terrorism, while scrupulously observing human rights and acting within the scope of what is permitted by democracy and the rule of law." Morocco, he went on, is also pursuing efforts to strengthen the democratic process, modernize and liberalize the economy, achieve sustainable development, expand the scope of liberties, foster the sense of initiative, promote cultural interaction, and enhance the role of civil society. These actions, combined to a reform in the religious domain, HM the King said, are meant to spare the risks of isolation and ostracism and prevent religion from being deviated and to protect it from harmful trends.
The monarch also cited consolidated "efforts in the fields of education and teaching in order to root out illiteracy and ignorance, and to stamp out obscurantism," and endeavors to fight poverty and exclusion.
In this regard, the sovereign voiced backing for the establishment of a body specialized in preventing and combating terrorism and for setting up a fund to pay compensation to the victims of this scourge.
"The kingdom of Morocco will remain firmly committed to honouring its bilateral, regional and multilateral obligations", HM the King pledged before launching an appeal to "all peace-loving forces to find peaceful equitable solutions to the hotbeds of tension in the world, especially in the Middle-East, given the role these conflicts play in sustaining and feeding terrorism."
Several heads of State and Governments and more than 200 experts, in addition to UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and Spain's king, Juan Carlos I took part in this conference that wound up Friday with the adoption of a document called "Madrid Agenda".
Madrid attacks: HM King Mohammed VI takes part in memorial ceremony:
MADRID, Mar. 11 - HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco, accompanied by his younger brother, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, took part, here Friday, in the official ceremony organized in the memory of the 192 victims of the attacks that hit Madrid last March 11.
The ceremony was held in the Retiro park near Atocha train station, where most victims died, in presence of several heads of state and governments and UN secretary general Kofi Annan.
Before observing five minutes of silence, the audience gathered before the Forest of the Absents, a grove of 192 olive and cypress trees, each tree honors a person who died in the attacks.
Afterwards, HM King Juan Carlos officially inaugurated the grove, christened Forest of the Absents.
HM King Mohammed VI attended the ceremony as a sign of compassion and solidarity with the Spanish people and families of the victims, and to reiterate Morocco’s strong commitment to fight terrorism with Spain and the international community.
Fighting terrorism must be "within the international community, through an approach based on global security and involving strategic, economic, developmental and human dimensions," said the monarch in a speech read on his behalf, Thursday, by HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, at the closing session of the International Summit on Democracy, Terrorism and Security, held in Madrid March 8-10.
HM the king urged for close international cooperation to fight terrorism which he described as "some kind of new world."
HM King Mohammed VI in Paris for meeting with French president:
Paris, Mar.11- HM King Mohammed VI arrived this Friday afternoon in Paris, coming from Madrid, where the sovereign took part in the official ceremony held in memory of the 192 victims of the attacks that hit Madrid in March 2004.
The sovereign is scheduled to meet on Saturday French president Jacques Chirac.
I wonder if the visit of KM6 has something to do with supporting "Paris 2012" to guest the olympic games of 2012,those days the olympic commission ,presided by the first arab olympic champion woman the moroccan athlete Nawal al-moutawakil!,is visiting Paris and have been presented the parisian report,other cities are concurencing for that :Newyork,Moscow,Madrid and London:)
BTW,both spain and france supported morocco for worldcup foot-ball for 2010!
Nice to see the friendly relations between Spain-Morocco being recipricated and King Mohammed paying a visit to Spain this time around. And to mark such an important commemoration in Spain, too, says a lot about the relationships between the Moroccan and Spanish royals.
The beginning of a beautiful friendship as they say!
Paris, March 12 (XINHUANET)--The French president Jacques Chirac received Saturday in the Elysée king Mohammed VI of Morocco for a discussion, indicated the presidency.
The meeting lasted one hour three quarter and the king didn't make any declaration at the end of the discussion.
Mohammed VI arrived from Madrid where he attended Friday the commemorations in homage to the victims of the terrorist attempts of March 11, 2004.
He will spend one week of vacations then, with his wife the princess Lalla Salma, to the castle of Betz, close to Crépy en Valois(Oise), according to the town hall and the prefecture of the department. End
HM King Mohammed VI holds private talks with President Chirac:
PARIS, Mar. 12 - HM King Mohammed VI, currently on a "friendship and working visit" in France, held, here Saturday, private talks with French president Jacques Chirac.
HM the king arrived to France heading from Spain where he took part in the memorial ceremony of the victims of the attacks that hit Madrid on 11 March 2004, killing 192 people.
MAP.
Paris, FRANCE: French President Jacques Chirac (L) welcomes King Mohammed VI of Morocco prior to a meeting, 12 March 2005 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. AFP PHOTO PATRICK KOVARIK (Photo credit should read PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP/Getty Images)
Spanish press: Moroccan King "most distinguished figure in Madrid ceremony":
MADRID, Mar. 12 - The Spanish press described Saturday the presence of HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco in the memorial ceremony of Madrid attacks victims as the "most distinguished" among foreign dignitaries.
The Moroccan king participated Friday in the memorial ceremony that took place in the Retiro Park, where 192 olive and cypress trees (christened Forest of the Absent) were planted in memory of the victims of the train bombings of 11 March 2004. The ceremony, presided by HM king Juan Carlos, was attended by several heads of state and government, UN chief Kofi Annan and world dignitaries.
“El Pais” newspaper dedicated a long article to the participation of HM King Mohammed VI in the memorial ceremony, citing passages of the statement he made to Europa press agency wherein he hails the “sense of discernment shown by the Spanish people who have been living for several years in serenity and friendship by the side of hundreds of thousands of Moroccans in Spain."
“King Mohammed VI has observed silence in the ceremony of the Forest of the Absents in Retiro Park (…) but he made via his embassy a written statement to express to the Spanish people “all my all my support and the total solidarity of the Moroccan people’” in the first anniversary of the attacks, wrote the paper.
“Mohammed VI is the foreign dignitary that caught most of the attention yesterday,” in the ceremony, noted El Mundo, which also highlighted the statement of HM the king wherein he says that the two countries have “common wounds.” The Moroccan sovereign was referring to Madrid blasts and to Casablanca attacks that claimed the lives of 45 people on 16 May 2003.
“Morocco’s king, who feels united with the Spanish royal family by friendship links, has talked a few minutes with prince Felipe at the end of the ceremony,” pointed out El Mundo.
Similarly, “La Razon,” noted that the presence of HM king Mohammed VI was the most distinguished, underlining that “king Juan Carlos warmly welcomed the king of Morocco.”
“In the eve of the ceremony, HRH Prince Moulay Rachid (younger brother of HM King Mohammed VI), read out, in the name of HM the king, a speech that highlighted counter-terrorism cooperation with Spain,” recalled the paper.
full speech gaven by KM6 about the new family law:
Text of the speech delivered by HM the King as he received the parliament speakers:
RABAT, Feb.03 – Here follows the full text of the speech delivered by the sovereign during he audience he granted to the speakers of the two parliamentary chambers:
“Praise be to God
Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin
Ladies and Gentlemen,
By granting the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament an audience during which they submitted the Family Law document to Me, I wanted to reaffirm my constant commitment to the values which served as a foundation for this legislation. 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.
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.
Since my accession to the Throne, one of my top policy objectives 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.
We must thank God for assisting us in preparing legislation which does justice to women and provides safeguards for the rights of children and the dignity of men. I reiterate that this Act is an asset gained by all Moroccans. In this connection, I wish to commend 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.
While stressing the importance of what has been achieved and which culminated today in the Royal Seal being put on the Dahir (Royal Decree) for the enactment of the Family Law, I am aware of the daunting task ahead to get this legislation enforced effectively. I shall spare no effort to ensure its optimal implementation by a judiciary which is qualified, independent, efficient and fair. All forums, institutions and organizations are to be used to raise public awareness of the multidimensional feature of this law, emphasizing that it is not only a major achievement for women, but also an ingredient which enhances the Moroccan family as a balanced and modern institution. The Moroccan family, which is based on equality and the shared responsibility of the two spouses, is strongly committed to the values which are advocated by this legislation and which must be a constant element in its culture and even a reflex in its daily behaviour.
I am also determined 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. To this end, 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. I wish to stress again how determined I am 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.
"Lord! Arouse me that I may give thanks for the favour wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents, and that I may do right acceptable unto Thee."
ALGIERS, Mar. 21 - King Mohammed VI arrived Monday in Algiers to take part in the 17th summit of the Arab League, scheduled on March 22-23.
The king was welcomed at the airport by Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
A large delegation is accompanying theM king to the summit. It comprises notably Foreign Minister, Mohamed Benaissa, and Agriculture, rural development and fisheries Minister, Mohand Laencer.
On Sunday, Arab foreign ministers wrapped up in Algiers a two-day meeting held prior to the summit by adopting the draft final declaration that inter alia calls for the energising of the Arab Peace Initiative approved by the Beirut 2002 Summit.
The draft declaration also includes the reform and the enlargement of the Security Council and the development of Arab common action by reforming the Arab league mechanisms, as well as resolutions on Iraq and Palestine.
ALGERIA-ARAB-SUMMIT Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika receives King Mohammed VI of Morocco 21 March 2005. Arab leaders begin gathering on the eve of a two-day summit during which they are expected to endorse a resolution to revive a three-year-old initiative for peace with Israel. AFP PHOTO
King takes in charge Moroccans injured in Bastia building collapse
Bastia, Mar.21 - King Mohammed VI will take in charge medical care and expenses of five Moroccan nationals injured following the collapse of their building here Saturday, official sources said.
Under royal instructions, Moroccan consulate employees visited the area of the incident.
Five Moroccans were injured, two seriously, following the collapse of a three story building Saturday morning in Bastia (northeast Corsica, France).
HM King Mohammed VI elected "Man of the Francophone Economic Year":
Rabat, Mar 21 -(MAP)-HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco was elected "Man of the Francophone Economic Year" by the "Forum Francophone des Affaires" (FFA) owing to the vast society project embodied in many reforms he incepted in the North African country.
The distinction was announced, here Saturday, at the opening of the francophone economic meeting held under the chairmanship of Moroccan Premier, Driss Jettou.
Speaking at the opening session, Jettou voiced Moroccan government and people’s “deep pride” for this distinction. “we regard this new international honour as evidence of the rightness of the choice of our country and as a recognition of the efforts made these past years to consolidate the rule of law and freedoms and to modernise our country”.
Echoing him, French Small and Medium Enterprises Minister, Christian Jacob said it is an acknowledgement for all the actions the King took in favour of Francophonie and of the development of member countries of this French-speaking organization.
The meeting wound up Sunday by the prize awarding ceremony of “Francophonie économique 2005” chaired by Prince Moulay Rachid (younger brother of the sovereign). The three wining enterprises are: Burkina Faso Sofitex, Czech Commercibank and Laos Exotissimo.
HM the King urges for comprehensive reform in Arab world, rejects outside interference:
Algiers -HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco on Tuesday urged for a 'comprehensive reform' in the Arab world, making it clear that as far as Morocco is concerned, he rejects any outside interference.
"It is necessary today, more than ever before, to show firm determination and to undertake a comprehensive reform in the Arab world, in order to rehabilitate its components from within, stamp out internal disputes and recover usurped territories," reads a speech of the Moroccan King to the opening of the two-day Arab Summit in Algiers.
"Let me confirm Morocco's invariable position in this regard: just as we refrain from giving lessons to others, we will not tolerate being told what to do. No one, from the Arab world or anywhere else, shall impose their views on us," he emphasized.
HM King Mohammed VI underlined the importance of this summit at the current international juncture "when the Arab world is under the international political spotlight."
"Our peoples and, indeed, the international community, are waiting to see what action we are going to take to rise to these challenges," said the monarch. "In addition to a number of serious disputes, some Arab countries are under occupation or haunted by the spectre of civil war, while the existence of other entities is in jeopardy."
According to HM King Mohammed VI, priority should be given to resolving inter-Arab disputes, which are the foremost obstacles hindering the desired reforms. He explained that the task of putting the Arab house in order will remain incomplete unless Arab lands are freed from foreign occupation. In this respect, as Chairman of the Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) Committee -an offshoot of the organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) representing more than one billion people around the world, the monarch reiterated his "active support" for the Palestinian people's peaceful struggle under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas, for "the establishment of an independent, viable Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel, in peace and harmony."
He also voiced support for international efforts aimed at enabling the Iraqi people to recover full sovereignty and preserve their national and territorial unity, within a democratic state, where security and stability prevail.
Part of the reforms objective, which he deems is "within our reach", due the abundance of human and material resources, the monarch called for fostering an enhanced form of cooperation, based on promoting economic initiatives and regional - even sectoral - groupings involving two or more states. The latter will serve as links in a larger, homogeneous chain, gradually leading up to the desired integration, he suggested.
HM King Mohammed VI who was the first Arab leader to confirm this participation in this summit, called for "Solidarity for development purposes" saying this "requires that all resources and energies be mustered for the all-important struggle our peoples are waging against ignorance, poverty, unemployment and exclusion." "Only this kind of concrete solidarity will make Arab citizens feel - in their daily lives - that their belonging to the Arab world is, in fact, synonymous with sharing a life of dignity, and not an empty slogan or a mere reference to historical bonds."
This is the first visit of the monarch to Algiers since his accession to the throne in 1999.
Full speech of King Mohammed VI to the 17th Arab summit in Algiers:
Algiers, Mar. 22 - Here follows the full speech of King Mohammed VI at the 17th Arab summit, held in Algiers.
Praise be to God Peace and Blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin
Mr. President,
Your Majesties,
Your Highnesses,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, I should like to pay tribute to my distinguished brother, His Excellency President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and to tell him how highly we think of him and of the Algerian people, to whom the Moroccan people are bound by solid, brotherly ties forged by history and neighbourliness. The fact that our peoples face the same challenges and share similar aspirations for a promising future makes me all the happier to be here in Algeria, my second home.
I should like to praise my esteemed brother, His Excellency President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, for the extensive efforts he exerted with great wisdom to see that the resolutions of the Tunis Summit are effectively implemented.
I am sure His Excellency President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, using his clear- sightedness, will spare no effort, during his chairmanship of the summit, to forge ahead with the task of revamping joint Arab action. He can, of course, count on the support of Arab Heads of State, as we are all keenly aware of the weight of our responsibilities, at this perilous juncture in Arab and international affairs.
In addition to a number of serious disputes, some Arab countries are under occupation or haunted by the spectre of civil war, while the existence of other entities is in jeopardy. Save for some exceptions, there are major imbalances in terms of development at national and Arab levels. To find effective solutions to this state of affairs, Arab leaders and the forces that count in our societies have been striving to fulfil the legitimate aspirations of their peoples, at a time when the Arab world is under the international political spotlight. Our peoples and, indeed, the international community, are waiting to see what action we are going to take to rise to these challenges.
As responsible leaders and decision-makers, we are not interested in criticizing or in justifying decisions. By recalling this well-known fact, what we want is to develop collective, realistic solutions to enable our nation to get out of its current state of impotence and recover its dignity, strength and self-assurance.
It is necessary today, more than ever before, to show firm determination and to undertake a comprehensive reform in the Arab world, in order to rehabilitate its components from within, stamp out internal disputes and recover usurped territories. Similarly, our common house, the Arab League, must be reorganized and revamped through enhanced cooperation and greater solidarity in our development efforts.
Self-reform is an internal process. It proceeds according to the specificities of each country. Let me confirm Morocco’s invariable position in this regard: just as we refrain from giving lessons to others, we will not tolerate being told what to do. No one, from the Arab world or anywhere else, shall impose their views on us.
Priority should be given to resolving inter-Arab disputes, which are the foremost obstacles hindering the desired reforms. However, these differences can definitely be overcome, provided trust, brotherhood and goodwill prevail.
The task of putting the Arab house in order will remain incomplete unless Arab lands are freed from foreign occupation. In this respect, as Chairman of the Al-Quds Al-Sharif Committee, I wish to reiterate our active support for the Palestinian people’s peaceful struggle waged under the leadership of our dear brother, President Mahmoud Abbas, for the establishment of an independent, viable Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel, in peace and harmony. I should like to assure our brother Abou Mazen of our backing for his reform efforts and for his approach based on negotiation, within the framework of the Road Map, the Arab Peace Initiative and international legality. The goal is to achieve just and comprehensive peace, which guarantees recovery of all occupied Arab territories. We also back international efforts aimed at enabling the Iraqi people to recover full sovereignty and preserve their national and territorial unity, within a democratic state, where security and stability prevail.
Mr. President,
Distinguished Brothers,
Political efforts to put the Arab house in order have spanned the entire sixty years of the Arab League’s existence. There probably were - and may still be - objective historical reasons for this. However, given the current situation in the Arab world and the prerequisites for new blocs, not to mention the expectations of our peoples, it is essential to reorganize, revamp and strengthen the Arab house.
Several reforms have been proposed and undertaken for this purpose. Various bodies have also been set up, leading to a plethora of Arab League institutions. Keeping in mind the importance of political action, we need to remember that revamping the Arab League hinges on a sound reorganization of its bodies as well as a redefinition of its mission, so that all member countries may meet the requirements of comprehensive development and of economic integration, which is the bedrock of modern blocs and groupings.
Surely, this objective is within our reach, for our human and material resources are both abundant and complementary. Moreover, it is not necessary to wait until the necessary conditions have been met by all twenty-two member countries to achieve the desired integration. Instead, we should foster an enhanced form of cooperation, based on promoting economic initiatives and regional – even sectoral – groupings involving two or more states. The latter will serve as links in a larger, homogeneous chain, gradually leading up to the desired integration. In this respect, I should like to reaffirm my commitment to the Arab Maghreb Union as a strategic necessity.
Solidarity for development purposes requires that all resources and energies be mustered for the all-important struggle our peoples are waging against ignorance, poverty, unemployment and exclusion. Only this kind of concrete solidarity will make Arab citizens feel - in their daily lives - that their belonging to the Arab world is, in fact, synonymous with sharing a life of dignity, and not an empty slogan or a mere reference to historical bonds.
To achieve enhanced cooperation and effective solidarity through development programs, within the framework of our common institution, we must adopt mechanisms with proven efficiency in the construction of strong blocs. What this means is that the more developed member states should contribute to the progress and development of less advanced countries, until all members attain a fairly similar development level and form a cohesive group.
This approach should help us open new prospects in order to reform and reorganize our common house, to make it a solid, close-knit entity, whose members stand together and support one another, like the community of Muslims, as described in the hadith of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
HM King Mohammed VI holds talks with Arab leaders in Algiers:
Algiers, Mar. 23 - HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco held, here Wednesday, separate talks with several Arab leaders on the fringes of the 17th Arab summit held on March 22-23.
The monarch met with Syrian President, Bachar Al-Assad, Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, vice Prime Minister of Sultanate Oman, Fahd Ben Mahmoud Al-Said, and President of the Kuwaiti Council of Ministers, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Asabah.
He also held talks with UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.
HM King Mohammed VI is also expected to hold, on Wednesday, talks with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, as was announced Tuesday evening at a press conference by Algeria's Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem.
This is the first visit of the Moroccan monarch to Algeria since his enthronement in 1999.
1-3.pictures from the first day of the 17th arab summit
4. ALGERIA-ARAB SUMMIT-FAMILY PHOTO epa000396362 Arab leaders pose for a family photo following the first day of meeting of the Arab League Summit at the Palais des Nations outside Algiers, Algeria Tuesday 22 March 2005. From L to R in front row: Qatar Emir Sheikh Hamid Bin Khalifa, Sudanese President Omar Hassan el Bashir, Tunisian President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, Libyan leader Moammar Kadhafi, Algerian President Abdelaziz Boutelfika, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Mauritanian President Ould Taya and Syrian President Bashar el Assad. EPA EPA/MIKE NELSON
5-6. ALGIERS, Algeria: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (L) chats with King Mohammed VI of Morocco during a group photo following a meeting of the 17th Arab Summit in Algiers 22 March 2005. Arab leaders open the two-day summit in the Algerian capital to discuss a 17-point agenda, includin a resolution to revive a plan for peace with Israel that the Jewish state rejected three years ago. AFP PHOTO/ABDELHAK SENNA (Photo credit should read ABDELHAK SENNA/AFP/Getty Images)
HM King Mohammed VI condoles Chirac on fire victims
Rabat - HM King Mohammed VI extended condolences to French President Jacques Chirac on the victims of the fire that broke out early Friday in a hotel in Paris claiming the lives of 20 persons according to the latest toll.
The fire, which left several dozen people injured, started in the six-storey Paris-Opera hotel in the 9th district of Paris, forcing some guests to jump from windows to escape the flames.
In a message addressed to the French president, HM King Mohammed VI offered condolences to the families of the victims and expressed sympathy with the wounded.
The cause of the fire remains undetermined but the blaze "may have been accidental," according to an initial inquiry.
HM King Mohammed VI receives US assistant secretary of state for Middle East
Fez - HM King Mohammed VI received, here Monday, visiting US under-secretary of state in charge of the Middle East, David Welsh.
Welsh was accompanied by US ambassador to Morocco, Thomas Riley.
The audience was attended by Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Taib Fassi Fihri.
Madrid praises Morocco's decision to release Spanish inmates
Madrid - Spain has praised as "magnanimous" HM King Mohammed's decision last week to grant pardon to five Spanish inmates who were among 1,179 prisoners released on the occasion of the circumcision of crown prince Moulay El Hassan.
The Spanish Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs described said this decision "reflects the excellent relations between the two countries."
According to the Spanish press, 69 Spanish inmates are still detained in Moroccan prisons, mostly for drug-related cases.
Pardon of the Spanish inmates was solicited by ministers of justice, Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar, and foreign affairs, Miguel Angel Moratinos, as part of "international judicial cooperation and the government's policy to assist and protect Spanish detainees abroad," both ministries said in a press release.
The Moroccan monarch grants pardon to inmates on the occasion of national and religious days.
On the occasion of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice), on January 21, 2005, the monarch pardoned or reduced the sentences of 514 prisoners.
HM King Mohammed VI congratulates new Pope
Rabat - HM King Mohammed VI has sent a message of congratulations to the new Pope Benedict XVI who was elected, Tuesday, as the 265th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
In his quality of Commander of Faithful and chairman of Al-Qods Al-Charif (Jerusalem) Committee, the monarch voiced willingness to work with the new Pope to consecrate justice, equality and coexistence among all the peoples of the world "without distinction in terms of faith or culture notably in the Middle East."
The sovereign said "this (Middle East)region is the cradle of celestial religions that were revealed to promote the noble human ideals and defend justice and right in the world."
He voiced confidence the new Pope will deploy all his efforts for the good of Christianity and for promoting the values of coexistence between civilisations.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Roman Catholic Church’s leading hard-liner, the first German Pope in centuries, served John Paul II since 1981 as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The 78 year-old cardinal succeeds to John Paul II, who died April 2 at age 84.
HM King pardons 456 persons on Prophet's birthday
Rabat - HM King Mohammed VI extended pardon to 456 persons, as the Islamic world marks on Thursday "Aid Al-Mawlid Annaboui", the prophet's birthday.
The grace measure concerns the remaining of the prison sentence for 40 inmates, the reduction of the prison sentence for 378 prisoners and changing life sentence to limited prison sentence for 6 prisoners.
Another 18 inmates benefited from a total grace on their prison sentence or the period that remains to be served, while 12 persons were exempted from paying a fine, and 2 others were pardoned from both the prison and the fine sentences.
HM King Mohammed VI had pardoned 7,179 prisoners, including 26 foreigners, on the occasion of the circumcision, Thursday, April 14 in Fez, of Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan.
HM the king usually grants grace measures during religious and national holidays.
Prophet's Birthday ceremony HM King pays tribute to religious scholars
HM King Mohammed VI, Amir Al Mouminine (commander of the faithful) awarded the Mohammed VI encouragement and tribute prize of Islamic thought and studies to Professor Abdelaziz Benabdallah, in recognition of his contribution to enriching Islamic studies through his valuable publications in religious sciences and Islamic culture, said MAP.
The sovereign also handed the Mohammed VI Islamic book prize of Islamic thought and studies to Professor Ibrahim Ba Mohamed.
These awardswere made during a religious ceremony held by the monarch had on Wednesday at Sidi Mohamed Al Hadi Benaissa Mausoleum in Meknes, on the occasion of Aid Al-Mawlid (Prophet's Birthday), celebrated on Thursday in Morocco.
The sovereign was accompanied by his brother HRH Prince Moulay Rachid and cousin HRH Prince Moulay Ismail.
During the ceremony, Koranic verses and panegyrics of the Prophet Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him, were read out, before the Al-Isha prayer.
On the same occasion, the King sent messages of congratulation to Arab and Islamic leaders.
The royal message also stressed that the Aid Al-Mawlid presents a precious opportunity to ponder on the meanings underlying this celebration and is a propitious moment for Muslims to further consolidate their solidarity and cooperation so that the Islamic world holds its due place in the concert of nations.
The sovereign also implored God to fulfil the aspirations of the Palestinian people to recover their rights, mainly their right to establish an independent state with Al-Quds Al Sharif as a capital.
HM King Mohammed VI arrived, Monday evening, in Abu Dhabi for an official visit.
Abu Dhabi - HM King Mohammed VI of morocco arrived, Monday evening, in Abu Dhabi for an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The royal visit comes at the invitation of UAE President, Sheikh Khalifa Ben Zayed Al Nahyane.
At his arrival in Abu Dhabi international airport, HM the King was welcomed by Cheikh Mohamed Ben Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and UAE Deputy Army Commander.
During this visit, HM the king is accompanied by a large delegation composed of Abdelaziz Meziane Belfkih and Mohamed Moatassim, Advisors to HM, Mohamed Benaissa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mohamed Rochdi Chraibi, Member of the Royal Office, Ahmed Toufiq, Minister of Habous and Islamic Affairs, Fathallah Oualalou, Minister of Finance and Privatization, and Taib Fassi Fihri, Minister-Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
After the United Arab Emirates, the monarch will be visiting the Republic of Singapore, at the invitation of its president Sellapan Rama Nathan.
HM King Mohammed VI arrived, Monday evening, in Abu Dhabi for an official visit.
Linear Mode
