MOROCCO HOSTS BRITISH FILM WEEK FROM NOV 13-20
Morocco’s capital, Rabat, will host a British Film Week on November 13-20, a program initiated by the British Council-Rabat in collaboration with the Moroccan Film Center and the Institute Specializing in Film and Broadcasting (ISCA).
This British Film Festival will include the projection of five movies from the 13th to 17th of November by British directors in four categories, namely comedy, fantasy, romance, and tragedy, the British Council says in a statement
The line-up includes Never Let Me Go (2010) by director Mark Romanek (November 13th), Monster (2010) by Gareth Edwards (November 14th), Let Me In (2010) by Matt Reeves (November 15th), Submarine (2010) by Richard Ayaode (November 16th), and Four Lions (2010) by Christopher Morris (November 17th).
This week’s program also includes training in documentary filmmaking provided by two directors of the British Documentary Film Institute in the UK, to be held between the 14 and 20 of November in collaboration with the ISCA.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
MOROCCO ENTERS A NEW ERA
MOROCCO ENTERS A NEW ERA
The constitutional reforms announced by the King of Morocco last month amid the popular uprisings in northern Africa and the Middle East would bring Morocco into a new era where the best possible structures, in terms of modernity, balance of power, accountability and human development, are to be put in place. Major protests have so far toppled regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, and have now spread to other Arab countries, including Libya, Bahrain and Yemen. Moroccan Ambassador, Ahmed Amaziane, said the reforms pledged by King Mohamed VI, which stressed independence of the judiciary, a regionalisation process, and expanding the power of the prime minister, would be enshrined in the amended constitution. ''Although these elements are already being practised, they were not really in black and white in the (present) constitution. Now we have the opportunity to incorporate all these into the proposed constitutional reforms,'' he told Bernama during a recent interview here. He added that a constitutional referendum would be held, most likely in June or September, to let the Moroccan people decide on whether to accept the reforms. Amaziane explained that the king has instructed a commission to consult all groups within Moroccan society, including political parties, the business community, civil society, trade unions and youths, to debate the proposed amendments to the constitution before it is drafted and sent to the king.
''Once they have given the draft to the king, he would see whether it comprises all the elements stated in his speech on March 9 and a referendum would then be held for the Moroccan people to approve the constitutional reforms,'' the ambassador said. ''With that, we solve the problem of legitimacy on who is speaking on behalf of the people of Morocco,'' he said, adding that a referendum was the most democratic way known to men to solve the legitimacy problem. The envoy added that during the Feb 20 protest movement in Morocco, various sections claimed that they were speaking on behalf of the Moroccan people. ''You have the young people from Facebook, the Islamists, the liberals speaking on behalf of the people of Morocco. With the referendum, the people can decide. If they don't like it, they can reject it,'' Amaziane said. Amaziane said that in Morocco the spectrum of views was wide - from the Islamists to the liberals - and also from people who want ''to go slowly about it,'' until a viable system is put in place, because if the country has a system that works, ''you cannot just scrap it and then put something which is new and you are not sure whether it is going to work. ''That is why the referendum is a very key issue in solving who is who and who is speaking on behalf of whom,'' he added.
Also, the ambassador dismissed the contention that the king proposed the constitutional reforms because of the popular uprisings in the North African and Middle Eastern countries. He pointed out that the process for all the elements in the proposed constitutional reforms started in 1999 when the king ascended the throne. ''Many people did not know that. That's why they think this is the response. Maybe the exact timing of the March 9 speech is due to the demonstration, but not the whole process as such,'' he added. ''The elements we are talking about were either started or had been announced during the last 10 years,'' he said, adding that some proposals, such as nominating the prime minister from the party which commanded the majority in parliament, had been practised but not put in ''black and white'' in the constitution. He pointed out that international observers have said that the Feb 20 protest movement in Morocco was not violent or tense because the protesters knew that initiatives had been taken to ensure that the country moved towards a more democratic process, as well as towards creating opportunities and equality for all citizens.
Amaziane noted that when King Mohamed came to power in 1999, the first thing he did was set up the Justice and Reconciliation body to look into all human rights abuses committed during his father's reign and, subsequently, those citizens who had been harmed were given compensation and offered apologies. The king was also responsible for the national human development initiatives and personally oversaw all programmes and projects to fight poverty and widen access to basic social services and education for poor people. Another important element is the regionalisation process, Amaziane said, adding that the king had already instructed a committee to look at how to manage a diverse country like Morocco, explaining that the regionalisation process would give the regions as much autonomy as possible in handling their local affairs. Amaziane added that prior to this, the regions were managed by the central government, which had more power, but the regionalisation process will see the regions gaining more power and freedom to run their own affairs, such as allowing their citizens to control the budget. Furthermore, each region would have its own investment centre, instead of having one office at the national level. This would save time as investors need only to go to the centre they want to invest in.
Asked how the reforms would affect Morocco's relationship with other countries, Amaziane said press reports indicated that foreign countries have praised the king for spearheading the reforms and responding to the people's requests. ''They said that the king's response was appropriate and very good, timing-wise and quality-wise also,'' he said. The king, in his March speech, described the constitutional reforms as a milestone in the consolidation of the country's distinctive model, which is based on democracy and the pursuit of development.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
The constitutional reforms announced by the King of Morocco last month amid the popular uprisings in northern Africa and the Middle East would bring Morocco into a new era where the best possible structures, in terms of modernity, balance of power, accountability and human development, are to be put in place. Major protests have so far toppled regimes in Tunisia and Egypt, and have now spread to other Arab countries, including Libya, Bahrain and Yemen. Moroccan Ambassador, Ahmed Amaziane, said the reforms pledged by King Mohamed VI, which stressed independence of the judiciary, a regionalisation process, and expanding the power of the prime minister, would be enshrined in the amended constitution. ''Although these elements are already being practised, they were not really in black and white in the (present) constitution. Now we have the opportunity to incorporate all these into the proposed constitutional reforms,'' he told Bernama during a recent interview here. He added that a constitutional referendum would be held, most likely in June or September, to let the Moroccan people decide on whether to accept the reforms. Amaziane explained that the king has instructed a commission to consult all groups within Moroccan society, including political parties, the business community, civil society, trade unions and youths, to debate the proposed amendments to the constitution before it is drafted and sent to the king.
''Once they have given the draft to the king, he would see whether it comprises all the elements stated in his speech on March 9 and a referendum would then be held for the Moroccan people to approve the constitutional reforms,'' the ambassador said. ''With that, we solve the problem of legitimacy on who is speaking on behalf of the people of Morocco,'' he said, adding that a referendum was the most democratic way known to men to solve the legitimacy problem. The envoy added that during the Feb 20 protest movement in Morocco, various sections claimed that they were speaking on behalf of the Moroccan people. ''You have the young people from Facebook, the Islamists, the liberals speaking on behalf of the people of Morocco. With the referendum, the people can decide. If they don't like it, they can reject it,'' Amaziane said. Amaziane said that in Morocco the spectrum of views was wide - from the Islamists to the liberals - and also from people who want ''to go slowly about it,'' until a viable system is put in place, because if the country has a system that works, ''you cannot just scrap it and then put something which is new and you are not sure whether it is going to work. ''That is why the referendum is a very key issue in solving who is who and who is speaking on behalf of whom,'' he added.
Also, the ambassador dismissed the contention that the king proposed the constitutional reforms because of the popular uprisings in the North African and Middle Eastern countries. He pointed out that the process for all the elements in the proposed constitutional reforms started in 1999 when the king ascended the throne. ''Many people did not know that. That's why they think this is the response. Maybe the exact timing of the March 9 speech is due to the demonstration, but not the whole process as such,'' he added. ''The elements we are talking about were either started or had been announced during the last 10 years,'' he said, adding that some proposals, such as nominating the prime minister from the party which commanded the majority in parliament, had been practised but not put in ''black and white'' in the constitution. He pointed out that international observers have said that the Feb 20 protest movement in Morocco was not violent or tense because the protesters knew that initiatives had been taken to ensure that the country moved towards a more democratic process, as well as towards creating opportunities and equality for all citizens.
Amaziane noted that when King Mohamed came to power in 1999, the first thing he did was set up the Justice and Reconciliation body to look into all human rights abuses committed during his father's reign and, subsequently, those citizens who had been harmed were given compensation and offered apologies. The king was also responsible for the national human development initiatives and personally oversaw all programmes and projects to fight poverty and widen access to basic social services and education for poor people. Another important element is the regionalisation process, Amaziane said, adding that the king had already instructed a committee to look at how to manage a diverse country like Morocco, explaining that the regionalisation process would give the regions as much autonomy as possible in handling their local affairs. Amaziane added that prior to this, the regions were managed by the central government, which had more power, but the regionalisation process will see the regions gaining more power and freedom to run their own affairs, such as allowing their citizens to control the budget. Furthermore, each region would have its own investment centre, instead of having one office at the national level. This would save time as investors need only to go to the centre they want to invest in.
Asked how the reforms would affect Morocco's relationship with other countries, Amaziane said press reports indicated that foreign countries have praised the king for spearheading the reforms and responding to the people's requests. ''They said that the king's response was appropriate and very good, timing-wise and quality-wise also,'' he said. The king, in his March speech, described the constitutional reforms as a milestone in the consolidation of the country's distinctive model, which is based on democracy and the pursuit of development.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
MOROCCO HOSTS BRITISH FILM WEEK FROM NOV 13-20
Morocco’s capital, Rabat, will host a British Film Week on November 13-20, a program initiated by the British Council-Rabat in collaboration with the Moroccan Film Center and the Institute Specializing in Film and Broadcasting (ISCA).
This British Film Festival will include the projection of five movies from the 13th to 17th of November by British directors in four categories, namely comedy, fantasy, romance, and tragedy, the British Council says in a statement
The line-up includes Never Let Me Go (2010) by director Mark Romanek (November 13th), Monster (2010) by Gareth Edwards (November 14th), Let Me In (2010) by Matt Reeves (November 15th), Submarine (2010) by Richard Ayaode (November 16th), and Four Lions (2010) by Christopher Morris (November 17th).
This week’s program also includes training in documentary filmmaking provided by two directors of the British Documentary Film Institute in the UK, to be held between the 14 and 20 of November in collaboration with the ISCA.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
Morocco’s capital, Rabat, will host a British Film Week on November 13-20, a program initiated by the British Council-Rabat in collaboration with the Moroccan Film Center and the Institute Specializing in Film and Broadcasting (ISCA).
This British Film Festival will include the projection of five movies from the 13th to 17th of November by British directors in four categories, namely comedy, fantasy, romance, and tragedy, the British Council says in a statement
The line-up includes Never Let Me Go (2010) by director Mark Romanek (November 13th), Monster (2010) by Gareth Edwards (November 14th), Let Me In (2010) by Matt Reeves (November 15th), Submarine (2010) by Richard Ayaode (November 16th), and Four Lions (2010) by Christopher Morris (November 17th).
This week’s program also includes training in documentary filmmaking provided by two directors of the British Documentary Film Institute in the UK, to be held between the 14 and 20 of November in collaboration with the ISCA.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
MOROCCO APPROVES KING MOHAMMED'S NEW CONSTITUTION
MOROCCO APPROVES KING MOHAMMED'S NEW CONSTITUTION
Moroccans have approved constitutional reforms put forward by King Mohammed VI in response to recent pro-democracy protests. The reforms grant executive powers to a prime minister, but the king is retained as head of the military, religious authorities and judiciary. The concessions come after protests inspired by the so-called Arab Spring.
Popular uprisings have toppled Presidents Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. The turnout in Friday's constitutional referendum - the first under King Mohammed's 12-year rule - was nearly 73%, officials said. The king did not say anything as he cast his vote in the capital, Rabat, but he has described the reforms as a ''decisive historic transition''.
All the country's main political parties, unions, civic groups, religious leaders and media urged Moroccans to vote in favour of the new constitution. If the results are confirmed, the king will remain the head of state, the military, and the Islamic faith in Morocco, but the prime minister - to be chosen from the largest party elected to parliament - will take over as head of the government.
The king has pledged that the reforms will reinforce the independence of the judiciary, boost efforts to tackle corruption, guarantee freedom of expression and gender rights and make Berber an official language, alongside Arabic. The reform plan has been welcomed abroad, with the European Union saying it ''signals a clear commitment to democracy''. King Mohammed, 47, acceded to the throne in 1999 following the death of his father, Hassan II, and now heads the Arab world's longest-serving dynasty.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
Moroccans have approved constitutional reforms put forward by King Mohammed VI in response to recent pro-democracy protests. The reforms grant executive powers to a prime minister, but the king is retained as head of the military, religious authorities and judiciary. The concessions come after protests inspired by the so-called Arab Spring.
Popular uprisings have toppled Presidents Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt. The turnout in Friday's constitutional referendum - the first under King Mohammed's 12-year rule - was nearly 73%, officials said. The king did not say anything as he cast his vote in the capital, Rabat, but he has described the reforms as a ''decisive historic transition''.
All the country's main political parties, unions, civic groups, religious leaders and media urged Moroccans to vote in favour of the new constitution. If the results are confirmed, the king will remain the head of state, the military, and the Islamic faith in Morocco, but the prime minister - to be chosen from the largest party elected to parliament - will take over as head of the government.
The king has pledged that the reforms will reinforce the independence of the judiciary, boost efforts to tackle corruption, guarantee freedom of expression and gender rights and make Berber an official language, alongside Arabic. The reform plan has been welcomed abroad, with the European Union saying it ''signals a clear commitment to democracy''. King Mohammed, 47, acceded to the throne in 1999 following the death of his father, Hassan II, and now heads the Arab world's longest-serving dynasty.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
MOROCCO HAS SUCCEEDED IN RESISTING GLOBAL SLOWDOWN
MOROCCO HAS SUCCEEDED IN RESISTING GLOBAL SLOWDOWN
Morocco succeeded in resisting the global slowdown thanks to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and privatization receipts, head of the Private Sector Development Division at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anthony O'Sullivan said, underlining that the Kingdom showed commitment to economic openness by concluding several free trade agreements.
''By the increase of the FDI sixfold in five years, in addition to the receipts of privatization, we got results despite the fact that Morocco is impacted by the downturn like the rest of the region's countries,'' O'Sullivan told French-speaking paper ''Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb''.
This country set up an anti-poverty program called the INDH to help the underprivileged, and developed its tertiary sector which stands for 60% of the GDP, thus reducing its dependence on agriculture, he added, recalling reforms implemented to improve the business climate, mainly the creation of the National Committee for Business Environment, the Moroccan Investment Development Agency and regional investment centers.
He went on saying that Morocco is among the countries of the region which have many development plans in relation to the different sectors: plan Emergence, vision 2020 for tourism, green Morocco plan, digital Morocco 2013 plan, and the energy plan. ''All these plans complement each other and seek to promote growth and employment.''
He highlighted the interest Morocco takes in infrastructure development including building the Tanger Med port, tourist centers, airports and highways, developing the electricity, water and telecommunication sectors, and slashing taxes in favor of businesses with a code of good governance.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
Morocco succeeded in resisting the global slowdown thanks to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and privatization receipts, head of the Private Sector Development Division at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Anthony O'Sullivan said, underlining that the Kingdom showed commitment to economic openness by concluding several free trade agreements.
''By the increase of the FDI sixfold in five years, in addition to the receipts of privatization, we got results despite the fact that Morocco is impacted by the downturn like the rest of the region's countries,'' O'Sullivan told French-speaking paper ''Le Matin du Sahara et du Maghreb''.
This country set up an anti-poverty program called the INDH to help the underprivileged, and developed its tertiary sector which stands for 60% of the GDP, thus reducing its dependence on agriculture, he added, recalling reforms implemented to improve the business climate, mainly the creation of the National Committee for Business Environment, the Moroccan Investment Development Agency and regional investment centers.
He went on saying that Morocco is among the countries of the region which have many development plans in relation to the different sectors: plan Emergence, vision 2020 for tourism, green Morocco plan, digital Morocco 2013 plan, and the energy plan. ''All these plans complement each other and seek to promote growth and employment.''
He highlighted the interest Morocco takes in infrastructure development including building the Tanger Med port, tourist centers, airports and highways, developing the electricity, water and telecommunication sectors, and slashing taxes in favor of businesses with a code of good governance.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
MOROCCO TOURISM GROWS DESPITE WORLD SITUATION
MOROCCO TOURISM GROWS DESPITE WORLD SITUATION
The number of tourists visiting Morocco was up by one percent last year, at just over 9.34 million, despite the world economic downturn, tourism official Kamal Bensouda said Thursday.
Tourist income was also up, by four percent, at 59 billion dirhams (5.36 billion euros, $7.12 billion), he told MAP news agency.
The steady results came despite recession in Europe, a continent which accounts for 80 percent of Morocco’s tourists, Bensouda said.
Most visitors are French, Spanish, or Moroccans living abroad, he added. Morocco was the only North African country which did not see a drop in tourism last year, when Arab Spring revolutions swept away the leaders of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
Agadir, one of the preferred destinations for tour operators, illustrates 2011′s drop in tourist activity.
Last January, Agadir registered in its classified hotels a total of 48,367 arrivals and 266,633 overnight stays, a drop of 19.93 percent and 23.36 percent respectively compared to the same period in 2011.
Meanwhile, the new Moroccan Minister of Tourism Lahcen Haddad believes that 2011 was still a good year. Despite the local and regional events, Moroccan tourism has had good achievements, he said.
“The sector, which contributes about 9 percent of the GDP, achieved satisfactory results in 2011 despite a difficult world and declining travel demand due to the economic crisis which hit the main tourist source markets of Morocco,” said the Moroccan minister, whose remarks were reported by the MAP news agency.
Tourism is one of Morocco’s main foreign income earners.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
The number of tourists visiting Morocco was up by one percent last year, at just over 9.34 million, despite the world economic downturn, tourism official Kamal Bensouda said Thursday.
Tourist income was also up, by four percent, at 59 billion dirhams (5.36 billion euros, $7.12 billion), he told MAP news agency.
The steady results came despite recession in Europe, a continent which accounts for 80 percent of Morocco’s tourists, Bensouda said.
Most visitors are French, Spanish, or Moroccans living abroad, he added. Morocco was the only North African country which did not see a drop in tourism last year, when Arab Spring revolutions swept away the leaders of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
Agadir, one of the preferred destinations for tour operators, illustrates 2011′s drop in tourist activity.
Last January, Agadir registered in its classified hotels a total of 48,367 arrivals and 266,633 overnight stays, a drop of 19.93 percent and 23.36 percent respectively compared to the same period in 2011.
Meanwhile, the new Moroccan Minister of Tourism Lahcen Haddad believes that 2011 was still a good year. Despite the local and regional events, Moroccan tourism has had good achievements, he said.
“The sector, which contributes about 9 percent of the GDP, achieved satisfactory results in 2011 despite a difficult world and declining travel demand due to the economic crisis which hit the main tourist source markets of Morocco,” said the Moroccan minister, whose remarks were reported by the MAP news agency.
Tourism is one of Morocco’s main foreign income earners.
morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)