The Untapped Potential of the Closed Algeria-Morocco Border - Opinion

The EuBulletin recently ran an interesting opinion piece about the consequences of keeping the Moroccan/Algerian border closed. The EUBULLETIN.COM is a publication that seeks to explain complex issues in an easy-to-understand manner. They are committed to presenting a diversity of voices and ideas both from within and outside of Europe – that could often be in strong disagreement with one another – with the aim of achieving a balanced dialogue between different stakeholders and constituencies. It aspires to meet the needs of policy-makers, business community, government, civil society and informed citizens

The relations between Algeria and Morocco have been frozen since 1994 when both sides closed their border due to the long-standing dispute over the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara. The lack of progress has been a result of numerous factors, such as France’s unconditional support of the Moroccan side, which is thus complicating the EU’s stance on the issue or by the inability of the United Nations to broker any sort of agreement. However, most observers agree that the frozen conflict could be and should be resolved by Morocco and Algeria themselves, for example in a similar fashion as India and China did.

India and China did not count on an initiative and good will of an outside power when solving their territorial conflict. Actually, they did not really solve the conflict – the 1962 war when China seized a disputed border territory in the Himalayas claimed also by India. Both sides merely focused on the revival of their economic ties because they failed to find a solution to the territorial dispute. A solution like this would be more than welcome in both Algeria and Morocco, which could both tremendously benefit from the opening of their border and thus trade flows.

Morocco has a thriving fertiliser industry and could benefit from importing Algerian gas while Algeria could benefit from the Moroccan crop nutrient. In reality, Rabat has bought minimum amount of gas from its neighbor despite the existence of a pipeline that has been carrying Algerian gas through Morocco to the Iberian Peninsula since 1996. In contrast, Morocco could provide Algeria not only with fertiliser but also with foodstuffs as well as manufactured goods.

Instead of working on utilising their mutual economic potential, the pipeline that was built during a political thaw in mid-1980s under Morocco’s King Hassan II and Algerian President Chadli Bendjedid is working at less than half of its capacity and Morocco is just building a regasification site to support its thriving fertiliser industry – a sign that it is not planning to buy Algerian gas any time soon.

In a nutshell, instead of leveraging the potential of their key industries, both sides are looking for reasons to keep the border closed, including for trade. Algeria claims that a closed border provides a better control of drug trafficking and Moroccans travelling to join the Islamic State. If Algeria were to open its Moroccan border, it would surely be seen as a welcome development by the EU but while it is far from certain that it will bring greater diplomatic leverage, this step will certainly not change France’s pro-Moroccan stance. Last, but not the least, Algiers’ political elites are not entirely convinced whether current domestic political realities – namely an ailing president and the economic pressures due to the tumbling oil prices – bode well for such a bold initiative.

SHARE THIS!

The Effect of Brexit on Morocco

If Britain eventually goes ahead and leaves the EU there will be implications for Morocco. The effect of Brexit, at the very least, will be the need to formulate new trade agreements and establish a new economic relationship with Great Britain

The relationship between the UK and Morocco has a long history. The UK is one of Morocco’s oldest partners with 803 years of diplomatic relations. UK links to Anglophone Africa and Morocco’s Francophone African links have created a platform for new business relationships over the years.

UK exports of goods to Morocco reached £573 million in 2014. Bilateral trade in goods and services is worth around £1.8 billion. Morocco's exports to Britain are estimated at 6.01 billion dirhams, while imports amounted to 7.99 billion dirhams at the end of 2015.

Top UK exports to Morocco include: mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, vehicles (other than railway), iron and steel nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical machinery and equipment, aircraft, man-made staple fibres, knitted or crocheted fabrics, instruments and apparatus, beverages, vinegar and spirits.

In return, Morocco exports a variety of products to the UK including food, beverages, tobacco, crude materials and fuel, chemicals and related products, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment.

The UK is Morocco's 7th biggest customer, 15th biggest supplier and among the top 6 foreign investors in the kingdom. Morocco entered into a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the US in 2006 and an Advanced Status agreement with the EU in 2008.

London Stock Exchange welcomes Moroccan delegates 

The impact on trade between Morocco and Britain will be most felt with the imposition of customs duties and in the opinion of the President of the Moroccan Institute of International Relations (IMRI), Jawad Kerdoudi, there will be an initial decline in trade.

"In principle there will be the issue of customs duties between Morocco and Great Britain and therefore it is feared some decline in trade between the two countries," Mr. Kerdoudi said. He suggested that Britain should start negotiations with several countries, including Morocco, in order to sign free trade agreements to restore exemptions from customs duties. A process, he points out, that may take some time.

The question also arises as to where Morocco sits among the priorities of the UK.

If Britain's exit from the EU causes economic decline in Europe, European demand for Moroccan goods will also decline.

Economist Omar Kettani says that after the exit of Britain from the EU, Morocco must renegotiate free trade agreements not just with Britain but also with the EU. "Morocco should have an open vision and be able to negotiate win-win agreements, especially since Britain will be a country free of European restrictions," says Kettani.

Uncertainties about the economic and political future of Europe will have repercussions on the relationship between the EU and Morocco. However, Morocco will retain its important role with the EU in relationship to anti-terrorism and security cooperation.

The chief of the Bank Al Maghrib, Abdellatif Jouahri, has downplayed the effect on the Moroccan economy of a possible exit from Britain to the EU, calling it "limited". "The exit of Britain from the EU will certainly effect Europe, but will not impact the Moroccan economy more than 0.1 points," he declared during a press conference after the second quarterly meeting of this year the Council of the Central Bank.

Former British Ambassador to Morocco Clive Alderton and his family at the Fez Festival

Undoubtably Morocco and the UK will forge new ties. Back in 2014, the then UK Ambassador to Morocco, Clive Alderton, summed up the relationship succinctly when he said "The Morocco/UK relationship has come a long way in its 800 year old history. That is no surprise: as Monarchies, we are used to planning for the very long term. While the rapid pace of change in the 21st Century imposes new risks and challenges, it also offers vast new opportunities. We have overhauled our relationship to ensure it is fit for purpose to meet these challenges, rediscovering old friendships and making new ones along the way.”

To which one can only say, "InshAllah".

SHARE THIS!

Morocco and the Eurovision Song Contest

Back in 1980 Morocco became the first and only African country to enter the Eurovision Song Contest. It was not a happy occasion. Apart from what Eurovision sceptics would describe as a shocking lapse of taste in entering at all, the result was dismal - 7 points and ending up in 18th place.  After the “national shame” of only coming second to last, the Moroccan king Hassan II decided that his country would no longer participate in the contest.

Then, a couple of years ago, the rumours started that Morocco might return to Eurovision. The head of the French delegation, Bruno Berbes, had called a return of Morocco “very likely”.  But that was stamped on by Fatima El Moumen, the head of international relations at the Moroccan broadcaster Société Nationale de Radiodiffusion et de Télévision (SNRT), “I have never heard of any intent of SNRT to participate in the contest.”

After the Arab spring and Berbes’ suggestions many fans had hoped for a return of Morocco. Other countries in the region are snuggling up to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) but none are expected to join at this stage. After the departure of the Tunisian dictator Ben Ali, Tunisia announced that it would work more closely with the EBU.  However, the country has musical integrity and participation at the Eurovision Song Contest is, thankfully, not envisaged at all. None of the Northern African and Middle Eastern nations that are part of the EBU and thus eligible to enter the Eurovision Song Contest have thus announced any interest to debut at the contest.

This week the rumours sprang up again and on the 11th of September SNRT claimed that they had not ruled out the possibility of making a comeback in the near future, but currently have no plans to make their return at the 2014 contest

So what had changed?  Competition within Morocco is a starting point. The popular public channel 2M TV has applied for EBU membership as well and 2M TV is known for challenging taboos by debating controversial issues and established a reputation for itself as a symbol of freedom of speech in Morocco. The channel regularly broadcasts Western news, films, sports and music.

If the broadcaster is accepted as a full EBU member it is likely that they will consider participation at the Eurovision Song Contest.

In 2011 the then Excecutive Producer of the Eurovision Song Contest, Svante Stockselius had explained, that the rules had been changed. If a channel is in the process of becoming an EBU member, they can already apply for Eurovision even if they’re not a full member yet. The deadline to send in the needed application papers was the beginning of December. Due to this new rule 2M TV may have apply for Eurovision and in case their application to become an EBU member is accepted, could participate in the Eurovision Song Contest

The bottom line is that nobody knows if and when Morocco will compete again. What is certain is that it will not be at the forthcoming 2014 Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen next May.

Morocco's Moment of Eurovision Glory

Morocco is the only African nation to have competed in the Eurovision Song Contest. Morocco debuted at the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest with Samira Ben Said with the song Bitakat Hob ( Love Message), placing 18th. The country never returned to the contest after their debut in The Hague. Samira Ben Said went on to become one of the biggest stars in North Africa enjoying massive success in Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, Dubai, Tunisia and throughout the Middle East and North Africa.


SHARE THIS!

Controversial Fishing and Farming Pact Signed

Morocco has cause to celebrate the signing in Strasbourg on Thursday of the controversial fishing and farming accord with the European Union. The issue has been divisive, with strong opposition from European farmers as well as some environmental groups. Critics say it will hurt small family farms in France, Spain and Morocco and swing the economic advantages towards the large European food conglomerates

the European Parliament will revisit the vetoed fishing agreement

The European Parliament approved the new fishing and farming accord with Morocco by 369 to 225 votes. It is intended that the new agreement will reduce customs costs and boost trade across the Mediterranean.

Supporters of the accord maintain that it will allow European access to a key market and show European support for Morocco as it undertakes democratic reforms prompted by the Arab Spring uprisings.

The win for Morocco comes in the wake of their embarrassing defeat on the proposed extension of the European Union-Morocco “agreement on fishing”. The resolution to scrap the EU-Morocco fisheries deal was approved on the 14th December, 2011 with 326 votes for, 296 votes against and 58 abstentions.

The fishing fleet in Agadir

However, despite last year's setback, two days ago all the countries of the European Union formally approved to authorize the Commissioner for Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, to resume contacts with Morocco and to sign a new fishing agreement, to replace that vetoed by the European Parliament last year after sustained social media pressure from supporters of the Algerian backed Polisario rebels.

The decision of the 27 member states does not expressly mention the Sahara or Polisario, references to which the governments of Spain and France opposed. The parliament's approval is now needed for it to be valid.

 According to European sources consulted by Europa Press Agency, the measure provides a "geographical description" of the regions covered by the agreement.and that should benefit from the advantages it offers. Specifically, the text mentions 'south 27° 40'N' The Polisario have been attempting to claim that Morocco is exploiting its resources and claims to be excluded from any agreement with Morocco.

On this occasion, Sweden, Finland, United Kingdom and the Netherlands voted against the document because they argued that there is no express reference to the Sahara region. In light on the online activism by Polisario supporters, it is a timely reminder for Morocco that the inability of the Moroccan representatives to understand the importance and impacts of blogs, online activism, and “the internet diplomacy” can have very negative consequences.

SHARE THIS!

EU welcomes Moroccan reform pledge

The EU has welcomed the announcement of extensive constitutional reform in Morocco,(see here) describing the King’s decision as “a commitment to further democratisation”.

In a joint statement, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle said the reform “opens a period of political debate that should include all political actors and civil society and be a response to the legitimate aspirations of the Moroccan people.”

The proposed constitutional reform, which is in line with the ambitions of Morocco’s Advanced Status with the EU, touches on key elements for modernisation, such as regionalisation, the independence of the judiciary, the separation of powers, the strengthening of the government’s role and equality for women. “Once fully implemented, it will be a qualitative leap in the process of reforms already initiated by Morocco,” Füle and Ashton said, adding: “The European Union stands ready to support Morocco's efforts to implement such far-reaching reforms.”

Hammam Project in Fez

This week saw the gathering of specialists from across the world for a conference in Fez aimed at examining the sustainability of hammams in the Mediterranean region. The View from Fez reports.



Hammamed is a project co-ordinated by Oikodrom of the Vienna Institute for Urban Sustainability and underpinned by Euromed Heritage which is funded by the European Union. Partners include the University of Liverpool in the UK, the Institut Francais du Proche Orient in Syria and ADER, the Agency for the Dedensification and Rehabilitation of the Fez Medina.

The research questions asked by Hammamed are:
- What is the desired sustainable future for the neighbourhood hammam?
- How can an operating hammam initiate such a sustainable future within a human settlement?

In the initial case study that was started a couple of years ago, hammams in several Mediterranean countries were identified for research. Included were Cairo, Damascus, Constantine (Algeria), Istanbul, Gaza and the Seffarine hammam in Fez.

The whole Mediterranean region shares a common object of cultural value – the hammam, the public Turkish bath.

The hammam has very specific features which reflect its importance and call for its promotion among the public: it is an architectural legacy and a living cultural heritage and as such it combines tangible and intangible heritage; it is well embedded in urban communities, filling an important role for neighborhoods and, in many cases, for the Medina as a whole, and yet it runs the risk of disappearing. Not only does the hammam generally have what's termed tangible heritage in such aspects as its architecture and the conservation of it, the water supply and hygiene, but also intangible heritage as in its part in local history, the socio-economic aspects and gender participation.

The main aim of the Hammamed project is to raise awareness of the hammam as a common cultural heritage in the Mediterranean area and beyond, mostly through public awareness-raising activities, conferences and workshops, dissemination activities and specific actions for two selected hammams (Hammam Ammuna in Damascus and Hammam Seffarine in Fez). There was an exhibition in Damascus in March, to be followed by one in Fez next year.

Interestingly enough, it's only in Fez and Morocco in general that the hammam is still used on a regular basis. Use in other cities such as Damascus and Cairo has largely fallen away over the last generation or two. There were 60 working hammams in Damascus in 1940; now there are 16. The buildings have either fallen into disrepair or now have other functions.

Hammam Ammuna, Damascus

The ceiling at Hammam Ammuna, Damascus

Among the expected results of the project are social studies, rehabilitation design on an ecological basis, hammam and neighbourhood days in Mediterranean cities, an exhibition and a documentary film.

The target group will be the scientific community of hammam related disciplines, selected governmental agencies and local population (especially youth, students, and women) and stakeholder representatives (teachers and hammam staff).

The meeting in Fez this week brought together project partners and associated experts in the field of sociology, town-planning, rehabilitation, and business and water management in order to work out the best practices for safeguarding and revitalizing the hammam as a traditional institution in the Mediterranean region. The issue of water was particularly addressed - scarcity, quality, hygiene, supplying systems, etc. The sociological and cultural aspects related to the role of the hamman in the Mediterranean Medina and its contribution to civil society and urban landscape development was addressed; comparisons with new hammams were made, taking into consideration social, ecological, economical and architectural aspects. Also, meetings with managers and employees of working hammams were organised in order to compare methodologies of maintenance and business-plan implementation and management.

The Seffarine hammam
The hammam in Seffarine Square has been closed for renovation for some time now. The Hammamed project is not about funding restoration of such buildings, which in this case is being undertaken by the Habous, but it is about establishing a sustainable management plan for the hammam.

Plan of the Seffarine hammam

According to the University of Liverpool (who provided the plan above, and photographs below), the Seffarine Hammam "should be restored as one of the most interesting public baths in Fez, especially with regard to the undressing room of its historical section, as this is one of the rare meshlah of the city that still preserves the original layout and decorative features. It also displays the traditional Roman hypocaust heating system and the original furnace. Moreover, despite its state of deterioration, this hammam is still functioning, serving the local community on a daily basis [this was the case until its closure recently-TVFF]. The practice of going to the hammam is, in fact, still very lively in Morocco, in contrast with other Mediterranean areas. In particular, in Fez this is evident not only in poor areas, but also in recently developed wealthy quarters, where new hammams are still being built, in spite of the fact that the existing dwellings have their own private bathroom conveniences.

"Hammams remain one of the essential urban facilities of Moroccan cities, together with the medersa and the mosque. Moreover, as observed in the contemporary hammam visited in Fez Jdid, not only is the layout of new public structures based on the traditional axial typology of historical hammams, but also some traditional bathers' facilities have been retained, such as the original bucket system for collecting water. All this leads to the conclusion that a proper restoration of hammam Seffarine, which should assess two important issues related to smoke pollution caused by the use of wood chip in the furnace, and to the necessity of making the bath and its surroundings adequate to contemporary safety standards, would provide the collectivity with a totally efficient and sustainable structure.

"- Hammam Seffarine is an almost unique example of hammam in Fez consisting of two adjoining and independent baths: one assigned to women and one to men (this section has been added in more recent times).
- It is one of the rare public baths in Fez which still preserves the undressing room in its original layout and with its original decorative elements.

the undressing room at Seffarine Hammam

- It also preserves the traditional hypocaust heating system and the original furnace.
- Unlike the free-standing hammams of Turkey and Egypt, and in line with the rest of public baths in Fez, hammam Seffarine is adjacent to other buildings, in order to reduce heat loss through the walls.
- In contrast with Turkish and Egyptian hammams, the entrance of the case study is anonymous and does not bear any particular decoration or advertising sign. This is another characteristic of the hammams in Fez.
- Unlike Mameluk and Ottoman hammams, which are typified by the central organization of the bathing spaces, hammam Seffarine shows a linear and axial layout, as distinctive of the typology of public baths in Morocco.

the cold room, Seffarine hammam

the hot room, Seffarine hammam

The university identifies two areas where emergency action is called for:
- the roof problems where water drainage and leakage has contributed additional structural strain because water tanks were introduced
- the removal of all vegetation from the roof as the plants are penetrating the structure of the hammam.

EU council ready to support Morocco's democratic reforms

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe is ready to support the democratic reforms programme ushered in Morocco, EU senior officials Bruno Haller and Mateo Sorinas stated after a meeting with Justice and Reconciliation Commission (IER) chairman Driss Benzekri in Strasbourg, France, Tuesday (24 January). Moroccan efforts towards law, human rights and civil and individual liberties are in line with EU council actions, said Haller, hailing the "unprecedented" experience of the IER, set up to look into and settle past rights abuses in Morocco between 1956 and 1999.

The EU Council can support Morocco in human right education and legislative reforms, notably in terms of fighting torture and ill-treatments," Haller said, underlining that the two parties "will further develop and consolidate" their co-operation. Sorinas said the IER's actions should have external support and called for closer relations between Moroccan and European members of parliament to promote a culture of tolerance based on respect of human rights.

Tags: Morocco, Fes, Maghreb, news

Moroccan News Briefs - #16

Moroccan News Briefs published in The View From Fez draw on open source material, contributions from readers, as well as material from Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), Morocco Times and official Moroccan Government press releases.

Canary Islands seek "neighbourhood plan" with Morocco

The Canary Islands is seeking $121 million to develop the "Great Neighbourhood Plan" with Morocco. The programme will promote co-operation with Morocco in various fields and contribute to reduce illegal immigration.

At the end of a meeting with Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner in charge of foreign relations and neighborhood policy, Martin Menis said this program will promote cooperation with Morocco in various fields and contribute to reduce illegal immigration.He also stressed that the EU should promote co-operation and humanitarian aid policies in sub-Saharan Africa and to develop the "Great Neighbourhood Plan" suggested by the European Commission in May 2004.

Cited by the Canary Islands news agency “ACN”, Martin Menis recalled that the European policy of neighborhood cannot be carried out beyond Morocco, pointing out that the European Union should promote cooperation and humanitarian aid policy to guarantee development in the sub-Saharan Africa.

Morocco denies secret interrogation reports.

On Saturday the government of Morocco denied reports that the country had taken in al-Qaida suspects for secret interrogations by the CIA.

The Moroccan weekly, Le Journal Hebdomadaire, reported that two private planes had landed at the Sale military base near the capital, Rabat, in late December and early January, carrying suspected al-Qaida members sent by the U.S. intelligence agency.

"We categorically deny this information," Interior Minister Mustapha Sahel( pictured left) said, and added that he was "indignant about this type of irresponsible information aimed at sowing trouble."

He also underlined "with regret that the publication of this erroneous and partial information falls under the newspaper's line, which is characterised particularly by aggressiveness and the will to mislead."

The General Inspector of the Royal Armed Forces, General Abdelaziz Bennani also denied these “allegations".

He "regretted that certain newspapers do not check their information before publishing it.”

The private newspaper, Le Journal Hebdomadaire, was legally pursued several times for allegedly making false reports.

The latest lawsuit, which will start next Thursday in Casablanca, opposes the newspaper to the European Strategic Intelligent and Security Center (ESISC), based in Brussels.

ESISC has recently published a study on Morocco, which Le Journal Hebdomadaire described as favourable to Morocco and alleged that arrangements had taken place between the Moroccan authorities and the ESISC.

A Washington Post report in November alleged that the CIA flew terrorism suspects around the world to a network of clandestine prisons. The Council of Europe, Europe's human rights watchdog, is investigating claims that the prisoners were shipped through European airports - in breach of international and national laws.

A Swiss investigator in the case, Dick Marty, said in December that the prisoners held in Europe were hurriedly sent to North Africa - possibly to Morocco - when word of the secret program leaked out. The CIA declined to comment.

The report in Le Journal Hebdomadaire said the planes' "deliveries" to Morocco were then transferred to a detention center run by the Moroccan security agency, known by its French acronym DST, in Temara, just outside the capital.

An Amnesty International report in 2004 accused Moroccan investigators of "systematic" torture and mistreatment of inmates at the Temara detention center.

Morocco's prime minister acknowledged that there were isolated cases of prisoner abuse but promised the government would crack down on such mistreatment.

Morocco is party to the following UN human rights treaties which have corresponding treaty bodies:; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the United Nations Committee Against Torture, the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Morocco has also signed the Rome Status of theInternational Criminal Court.

Morocco football setback

A controversial penalty converted by Didier Drogba (pictured above) gave the Ivory Coast a 1-0 win over Morocco in the second Group A game at the African Cup of Nations on Saturday. The Elephants were awarded the penalty when Walid Regragui was judged to have dragged down Drogba in the 37th minute. But television replays show that the initial contact was made outside the area. Drogba scored from the spot with a low shot into the left-hand corner that beat Tarik El-Jarmouni, who dived the right way but was unable to get his hand to the ball.

The match was played out in front of an almost empty Cairo International Stadium - a sharp contrast to the turn out for Egypt's win over Libya on Friday. Drogba's goal stung the Moroccans into seeking an equaliser but the Ivorian defence, marshalled by Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue, held firm.

The second half saw Youssef Hadji and Maroune Chamakh initiate a series of spirited attacks. But with Ivorian goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie in fine form, the Moroccans grew increasingly desperate.

The crowd and the man controlling the stadium scoreboard were briefly fooled by a 20-yard strike from Youssef Hadji, which seemed to hit the back of the net - but the ball had actually hit the side netting, to the disappointment of the Moroccan fans.

Morocco are now third in Group A, with zero points and a goal against. Hosts Egypt, who sealed a 3-0 victory over Libya in the tournament's opener on Friday, are group leaders with three points, followed by Côte d'Ivoire on goal difference. The Libyans are at the bottom with no point and three goals against.

The Atlas Lions will take on the Pharaohs on Tuesday in the second match of the group stage, while the Elephants face outsiders Libya on the same day.

“The game against Egypt will be decisive,” Fakher said. “We will have to win if we are to stay on course for a ticket to the coming round. We will join efforts to come out victorious and make a better performance,” the Morocco coach concluded.

Tags: Morocco, Fès, Maghreb, news