Australia to Open Embassy in Rabat

Yesterday (Wednesday, November 16) in Marrakech, Australia’s top diplomat, Julie Bishop, announced that Australia will open an embassy in Rabat. This long awaited development is good news for both Australian expats and the thousands of tourists who visit the Kingdom each year

Salaheddine Mezouar and Julie Bishop

Australian Foreign minister Julie Bishop is in Morocco representing Australia at the 22nd UN conference climate conference (COP22) convening in Marrakech.

Following her meeting with Moroccan Foreign minister Salaheddine Mezouar, acting chairman of COP22, the Australian Foreign minister said her country has decided to open embassy in Morocco’s capital because the two countries share huge untapped potentials and bilateral cooperation prospects look promising.

“We hope the opening of the embassy will usher in a new era in Australian-Moroccan relations”, she said, expressing her country’s keen interest to foster further economic relations, especially in renewable energies.

About 30,000 Australian tourists visit Marrakech each year, added Mrs Julie Bishop, saying she is convinced that this number will keep growing in the coming years due to Morocco's political stability, tolerance and thriving tourism sector.

Morocco has a rapidly industrialising economy and there is significant opportunity to expand Australia’s trade and investment links, including in food and agriculture, infrastructure planning and sustainable development, mining, oil and gas, and health  as relations between the two countries are gaining momentum

Today I announce the Government’s intention to open an Australian Embassy in Rabat, Morocco, with the agreement from the Moroccan Government, as part of our commitment to expanding Australia’s diplomatic network. An embassy in Morocco is an important addition to Australia’s diplomatic network in Africa, a region of considerable commercial interest to Australia - Julie Bishop

It is believed that the new Embassy will also facilitate enhanced collaboration on counter-terrorism and other security issues.  Mrs Bishop pointed out that Australia values Morocco’s significant role in international efforts to fight international terrorism and extremism.

The two countries enjoy strong people-to-people links, with many thousands of Australians visiting Morocco each year.

The Australian Government hopes to open the Embassy in the 2017/2018 financial year contingent upon identifying a suitable location and office fit-out.

It is to be hoped that the new links mean that Australian residents in Morocco will also be able to gain residency permits for longer than one year.

Local Australians have welcomed the news while New Zealanders hope that their country will follow the Australian lead.

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Celebrations in Fez at Kiwi Victory!

It was party time in Fez last night as the New Zealanders celebrated their victory over Australia in the Rugby World Cup

A spokesperson for the UNZC (Unofficial New Zealand Consulate) issued a statement claiming victory several minutes before the final whistle. "New Zealand has thrashed Australia 34 - 17."

As the New Zealander's and their Moroccan fans celebrated the Australians licked their wounds. 'A comprehensive defeat," admitted one glum Aussie.

The UNZC has issued an invitation for The All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter to visit Fez. "I'm pretty grateful to be where I am considering what happened four years ago. I'm so proud of the team. To win back-to-back World Cups is a dream come true - it's a special feeling to be part of such a great team,"said Dan Carter.

Dan Carter's last game was his greatest

The New Zealanders are the first team to win the Rugby World Cup three times.

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New Zealand PM Visits Morocco

The Kiwi Prime Minister, John Key, has made a flying visit to Morocco - the first New Zealand PM to do so in decades

Executive Committee of the International Democrat Union

The purpose of the trip to Marrakech was "to chair a meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Democrat Union", according to a New Zealand government statement issued on October 12.

New Zealand is seeking to improve economic ties with African countries. The New Zealand Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade describes the current relationships with African nations as "thin" and "based on Commonwealth and sporting ties, historical support for African independence, and a long history of humanitarian and development assistance. Although these ties will remain important, New Zealand is seeking to move beyond our current level of contact with Africa, to develop trade linkages and find fresh ways of connecting with African interests."

African countries offer opportunities for increased bilateral trade. Although New Zealand’s trade with most African nations remains modest, exports to the continent have increased steadily since 1998. The North African markets, in particular, have shown rapid growth and are now of significant value. The recent upheaval in the Maghreb countries has sparked a process of transition which will give rise to new challenges and opportunities for New Zealand. After many years of pessimism, a core of African economies – the “African Lions” - are starting to show signs of strength and sustainability - NZ Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 

Links are already being forged, as is shown by the trip to New Zealand earlier this year by a Moroccan delegation led by Amine Mounir Alaoui, head of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University. The university was set up by Moroccan phosphate exporting company, Office Chérifien des Phosphates. During their visit the group visited Waikato, Auckland, Massey and Lincoln universities, as well as meeting with government agencies, Universities New Zealand and research partners in the new Lincoln Hub. Education New Zealand facilitated the visit.

Outside Lincoln University L-R Dr Driss Ennaanay, Head of School of Agriculture (in back), M Fahd Benkirane, Head of Sales, Oceania, OCP, Amine Mounir Alaoui, Head of Delegation, M Talal Zouaoui, Executive VP Communication and Public Affairs, OCP (behind) and Mohamed Belhoussain, Executive Vice President, Commercial, OCP.

The main purpose of the visit was to explore the potential for cooperation in the agriculture and agri-tech area for the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University’s new School of Agriculture. They were impressed with the capability and applied/industry-based approach of the New Zealand universities, and were especially interested in research cooperation and the potential for student exchange, study abroad, PhD study and teacher training.

While in New Zealand the delegation promoted Morocco as a secure gateway to Africa and a bridge to western countries.

Now that links have been made, the focus will be on identifying some key areas of research collaboration and gradual expansion of the education partnerships.

John Key meets with Benkirane

It appears John Key enjoyed his brief sojourn, describing it on his Facebook  page, he noted: "Chaired the latest meeting of the International Democrat Union in the amazing setting of Marrakech." The International Democrat Union (IDU) is the global working association of more than 80 Conservative, Christian Democrat and like-minded political parties of the centre and centre right.

John Key also travelled to Rabat and met with the Moroccan PM Benkirane.

I had a great discussion with Morocco Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane in Rabat yesterday. John Key ‏@johnkeypm on Twitter

The meeting was described as fruitful and resulted in John Key being invited to stay for lunch.

The Prime Ministerial lunch in Rabat

Other "high level meetings"include chatting with President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, and President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels. “The EU is a key trade partner for New Zealand with two-way trade totalling more than $19.5 billion,” said John Keys.

Sadly, the New Zealand Prime Minister did not make it to Fez to meet with the Kiwi expats. However, we can report some good news for him. Our local supermarket now sells New Zealand butter in 5 kilo blocks.

Hard as it is to imagine, some New Zealanders think John Key's trip was not so much about diplomacy, but rather a crafty way of getting to see the final of the the Rugby World Cup.


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Morocco, Algeria... and a New Zealand Fairytale?

It is rare for The View from Fez to report on football. It is even rarer for us to report a story that involves Morocco, Algeria and New Zealand. However, it is rarest of all that a small New Zealand football club makes the world news.

The FIFA Club World Cup run of Auckland City has turned into something of a fairytale after they unexpectedly defeated Moroccan Club Moghreb Tetouan last Wednesday - a result that saw the Moroccan side's coach getting sacked. Then came today's shock defeat of Algerian champions ES Setif in Rabat.

Auckland City celebrate as the fairytale continues

The New Zealand part-timers, who qualified for the tournament as Oceania champions are making a record sixth appearance. The world tournament pits the champions of each FIFA confederation against each other, to find the best club team in the world, and Auckland - the champions of Oceania and the only non-professionals - were widely expected just to make up the numbers.

However, New Zealand John Irving's goal in the second-half not only secured a win over Algerian side but also (for the first time) a place in the Club World Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

Auckland will now have four days to find their feet, and apply for more leave from their day-jobs, before they tackle the South American champions on Thursday morning when they face Argentina's San Lorenzo, the Copa Libertadores champions, in Marrakesh.

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Moroccan and New Zealander in Bizarre Love "Rectangle"

This is one of those tales that sounds as if it belongs in a cheap paperback romance novel. A lonely man and his ex-wife travel around the world to find love... and then things go wrong

The 55 year old man, described in the New Zealand newspapers as "a lonely Kiwi", had moved to Sydney, Australia 20 years ago and worked as a supervisor at a well-known Australian company. He separated from his wife - with whom he has two adult children - many years ago but they remained good friends.

Then he started looking on the Internet and struck up an email conversation with a Moroccan woman 30 years his junior . Then took his passport, birth certificate and baptism certificate in preparation for the wedding. In Morocco he converted to Islam  so as to be able to marry her. The plan was to  take her back to Australia to start a family.

It was at this point that things became a little weird. The "lonely Kiwi" actually flew to Casablanca with his former wife where she married the bride's brother in the same wedding ceremony. The two couples decided on a joint honeymoon and went on a "tourist jaunt" around the country.

The New Zealander flew with his former wife to Casablanca to meet his new partner.
Australian migration tribunal refuses to let young bride of 'lonely' New Zealander into the country

But immigration officials smelled something awry in the spicy intercontinental affair after it emerged the Kiwi man's ex-wife had also travelled with him to the Moroccan city of Casablanca and married the bride's brother in the same ceremony.

The bizarre love rectangle came unstuck when the Australian authorities refused to let his bride enter the country. The case came to light when it was sent before a Migration Review Tribunal of Australia hearing this month.

The "lonely" Kiwi man told the tribunal he had not wanted to get involved with a younger woman but thought "what the heck" and started an online relationship with the 24-year-old after being introduced online by her brother.

He applied for a loan from GE Finance and paid for himself and his ex-wife to travel to Morocco.

"They arrived in Casablanca, Morocco, in April and embraced their respective partners at the airport and then caught a train," the judgment said. They married the following month in a traditional ceremony, and photographs were presented to the tribunal.

However, although the Kiwi man converted to Islam before the ceremony he couldn't name his nearest mosque in Sydney or display any basic knowledge of the religion. He also took a character reference from a Maori elder to the tribunal - but it denied entry to his young Moroccan bride.

In declining her visa application, an official said the tribunal found it too hard to accept a married couple of 30 years with two children and six grandchildren "would travel together to marry a brother and sister much younger than themselves, from different cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds and conduct joint weddings and honeymoons before returning to Australia together".

It found the man and his former wife had been complicit in trying to get a "positive migration outcome" but stopped short of calling the marriage in Morocco a sham.

Rather, the tribunal said the Kiwi was an uncomplicated, lonely man who had been encouraged by the bride's brother into the relationship with "little or no insight into the nature of the relationship or the motivation of the visa applicant".

So, if you and your ex are planning to marry a Moroccan brother and sister, be warned, the road to marital bliss may be a little bumpy.


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Moroccan Tourism ~ the good news

With all the doom and gloom surrounding the cancelling of flights by budget airlines Easyjet and Ryanair (see story here), it is good to reflect on some positive news. While short haul budget flights being axed will result in far fewer Spanish, French and British tourists, passengers from long haul flights are on the increase.

While Americans. Canadians, Brazilians and South Africans are visiting Morocco, the biggest increase is in Australians and New Zealanders. Typically they do not use the low-cost airlines but arrive via the airline hubs such as Dubai, which provide direct flights into Casablanca. Morocco is viewed by Antipodeans as being a safe, friendly destination and certainly far more affordable than some European countries.

Australians made a record 8 million overseas trips in the year to June, 80 per cent of them as tourists. In just five years, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports, the numbers of trips overseas has swelled by almost 3 million or 57 per cent.

Australians made 1.23 million trips to Europe - mostly to the continent, not Britain - more than a million trips to other Asian destinations and more than half a million trips to other places from India to Latin America, Africa and the Middle East.

The Aussies are coming

The reason the that Australians are travelling in record numbers is financial. The high dollar now gives Australians almost double the buying power overseas that they had a decade ago, an annual trip overseas is becoming part of the lifestyle of millions of people who would once have holidayed at home. The economic glow Down Under is tipped to continue for some years.

Although there has been a dip in tourism during Ramadan, the influx of Australians is expected to continue, with increasing numbers in September, October and November.


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Morocco Asks Australia to Open Embassy in Rabat

Should Australia open an Embassy in Rabat? If you ask the opinion of Morocco's Canberra-based ambassador, His Excellency Mohammed Mael-Ainin, the answer is an unequivocal "yes".

Last Friday Ambassador Mael-Ainin had a chance to explain why an Australian Embassy in Rabat is considered important, when he appeared before a parliamentary committee inquiry in Canberra.

At the moment the nearest assistance for Australians is from the embassy in Paris. While the Paris embassy staff have a great track record in providing support to Australians, there is a growing need for a presence in Morocco. An Australian embassy could also be tasked with giving support to New Zealanders in the region. At the moment Australians in Morocco can seek assistance from the Canadian Embassy in Rabat (see information below) while New Zealanders need to contact Madrid.

As Ambassador Mael-Ainin (pictured left) pointed out, more Australians were visiting Morocco each year, with 33,000 Australian tourists in 2010. There has also been an increase in the number of Australian firms investing in Morocco. He said Morocco was a democratic nation which has a new constitution enshrining a commitment to human rights, trade unions, a political opposition and an independent judiciary. "Morocco is a very stable country. Politically it is very stable and that is very important for any country wanting to have an embassy," he said.

 The Australian parliamentary joint foreign affairs defence and trade committee is conducting an inquiry into Australia's diplomatic representation and looking at submissions from nations seeking an embassy. In a submission to the committee, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) secretary Denis Richardson said DFAT managed 95 overseas posts in 77 countries. "The number of posts managed by DFAT is lower than any other comparable country," he said, adding that consular and embassy staff numbers were five per cent lower than in 1996 while the range and intensity of activities have steadily increased.

LINKS
The Australian Embassy in Paris, France is available to assist any Australian citizen who might be in need of help or consular advice, and the first point of contact is their web site: http://www.france.embassy.gov.au

The Australian government also has a “consular sharing” agreement with Canadian Embassy counterparts and any Australian citizen seeking consular assistance may contact or present directly (during office hours) to the Canadian Embassy in Rabat.

Embassy of Canada in Morocco
13, bis rue Jaâfa-as-Sadik, Agdal
Rabat, Morocco

Postal Address
Embassy of Canada in Morocco
C.P. 709 Rabat-Agdal
Morocco
Telephone: ( 212) 537 68 74 00
Email: rabat@international.gc.ca

Please note that the Canadian Embassy cannot issue Australian passports but in certain cases they can provide emergency travel documentation to allow you to travel to the nearest Australian Embassy. They may also be able to provide assistance with certain notarial acts.

New Zealand Embassy, Madrid, Spain (also responsible for Morocco): +34 915 230 226.


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The New Zealand earthquake

Information for Australians and New Zealanders.

The death toll from the Christchurch earthquake stands at 65 with more than 200 people known to be missing.

With thousands of Australians in the earthquake struck region of Canterbury in New Zealand it is possible you may want information about your friends or family. So here is DFAT hotline for Australians concerned about family or friends: 1300 555 135

If you are a New Zealander wanting information about family and friends, the number for enquiring from outside New Zealand is +64 7 850 2199.