Morocco Against Portugal @ World Cup

Morocco failed in their match against Portugal despite having a large number of Moroccan supporters in the crowd

Unfortunately Ronaldo struck quickly with a superb header

Morocco played an amazing game with a majority of possession, but not having a top striker to put the ball  in the net resulted in a number of missed shots at goal. Portugal won by the single goal, but played in a lack lustre manner.

Morocco are now out of the World Cup

Ronaldo was not at his best, but the only man to score

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World Cup Heartbreak For Morocco

Cafe space throughout the Fez Medina was at a premium for the world cup clash between Morocco and Iran. Patrons spilled out onto the pavement where hastily rigged televisions provided less than perfect viewing conditions. 

For much of the match it seemed that Morocco's domination would result in a goal, or at least a draw.

Aziz Bouhaddouz scores own goal in stoppage time

However, two substitutes brought about Morocco's downfall. First came Sofyan Amrabat, who gave away a stupid free-kick in stoppage time. The kick led to Aziz Bouhaddouz heading the ball into his own goal.

There was silence in the cafes as the patrons got up and left. Heartbreak for Morocco. With games to come against Portugal and then Spain, it appears that Morocco's World Cup is already over.

Iran’s Mehdi Taremi reacts to Morocco's own goal

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Russia Drops Far East (Дальний Восток) Visas for Moroccans

Moroccans will no longer be required to get visa to travel to the region usually referred to as just "Far East" (Дальний Восток)

Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev, this week announced that businessmen and tourists from 18 countries, including Morocco, can travel to the Far East Russia without visas.

“I have recently approved the list of countries, whose nationals can take advantage of the preferential regime. Businessmen and tourists will not need to undergo the traditional procedure of Russian visas receipt,” said Medvedev.  Moscow is hoping that the cancellation of visa procedures “will promote growth of investment and tourist attractiveness of the Far East,” said Medvedev.

The Russian PM added all that is required from foreigners willing to visit the region is “to enter their data on a special website in the Internet.”

The decision is expected to boost tourist traffic. The selection of the 18 countries was based on bilateral agreements “on visa-free travel for those ready to use such an approach for us,” explained the Russian PM.

The 18 countries are Algeria, Bahrain, Brunei, India, Iran, Qatar, China, North Korea, Kuwait, Morocco, Mexico, UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tunisia, Turkey and Japan.

The Russian Far East (Russian: Дальний Восток России, tr. Dal’niy Vostok Rossii; ) is the the extreme east parts of Russia, between Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia and the Pacific Ocean. The Far Eastern Federal District, which covers this area, borders with the Siberian Federal District to the west. The Far Eastern Federal District has land borders with the People's Republic of China and North Korea to the south west and maritime borders with Japan and the American state of Alaska.

According to the 2010 Census, Far Eastern Federal District had a population of 6,293,129. Most of it is concentrated in the southern parts. Given the vast territory of the Russian Far East, 6.3 million people translates to slightly less than one person per square kilometre, making the Russian Far East one of the most sparsely populated areas in the world.

Kamchatka is spectacular 

The Russian Far East is extraordinarily far from Russia's major population centres. The largest city in the region, Vladivostok, is a full seven time zones away from Moscow, with 9,300 km of railroad between them. The Far East is very different from popular conceptions of Russia—it is very mountainous and has an often spectacular Pacific coastline.

If time and money are not constraints, the highlights of this massive region include the city of Vladivostok, the beautiful Kuril Islands, the otherworldly National Parks of Kamchatka, cruising along the coast of Chukotka, and big game hunting in the wildlife paradise of Yakutia.

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What's the Story With the Russian Tourists?

For the last several weeks The View From Fez has been visited by an unusual and increasing number of Russians. But is this upsurge in interest matched by tourist numbers?

This week's top source countries

Back in March the news media reported that the number of Russian tourists was expected to soar in the coming years following the visit by King Mohammed VI to the Russian Federation, a visit which gave a new momentum to Moroccan-Russian cooperation.

At the time the Moroccan National Tourism Office signed 12 agreements related to tourism as well as agreements with big Russian travel agencies to sell Moroccan destination to some 85,000 Russian tourists in 2016.

King Mohammed VI and President Putin

The strategy appears to be working and if the the hits on The View From Fez are any indication the potential tourists are doing a lot of research before travelling.

Last year, Russian tourists, who visited Morocco, spent over €25 million, according to the latest data released by the Moroccan Tourism Observatory.

About 60 percent of these Russian tourists were accompanied with relatives, while 18 percent of them came in organised trips. Over 49 percent of them stayed in rated hotels, while 45 percent chose Riads or rented apartments.

Russian tourists visiting a souq

Tourism professionals are confident that Morocco can attract over 200,000 Russian tourists a year. Talks are underway with airlines, such as Royal Air Maroc and Aeroflot, to open new routes between Moscow and St. Petersburg and Marrakesh and Agadir.

Agadir remains Russian tourists’ favourite destination in Morocco. According to Maghreb Arab Press, 11,541 Russian tourists visited Agadir at the end of June 2016, against 3,034 only during the same period of last year. The Regional Council of Tourism (CRT) says this is an increase of 280.39% during the first half of 2016.

Their number at the end of June 2016 reached 11,541, against 3,034 in the same period of 2015, according to statistics recently published by the CRT.

In early December Morocco’s Tourism Observatory released a communiqué showing that 8.1 million tourists have visited Marrakech in the first nine months of 2016. Visitor numbers from most European countries were down, however, the number of Russian visitors has doubled while Chinese tourists increased by 180 percent, compared to the same period of 2015.

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Large Numbers of Chinese Tourists Arrive in Fez

The cooler weather is not the only thing to arrive in Fez in the last few weeks. Along with superb weather has come an influx of thousands of Chinese tourists. Not only are there many large tour groups, there are also couples and individual travellers

And, it is not only Fez, but the entire Kingdom that is benefiting, with the number of Chinese Tourists to Morocco tripling since May. While South Korea, Thailand and Japan continue to be the most popular travel destinations for Chinese tourists, there was a 3500% year-on-year increase in visa applications to Morocco processed by Ctrip, a Nasdaq-listed travel agency based in Shanghai, China.

The major factor behind this boom is the Memorandum of Understanding signed last May which aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Morocco and China, particularly in tourism.

Lahcen Haddad, Minister of Tourism, and Li Jing, the Chinese Director General of the National Tourism Administration, signed the Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen bilateral cooperation in tourism, investment and promotion and to promote the development of tourist flows, including knowledge exchange in the fields of management and training.

Among many things, the MoU has canceled the visa for Chinese tourists to visit Morocco. This resulted in the increased the interest of the Chinese tourist market in the kingdom by 300 percent, as reported by China Tourism Academy.

This rise in interest is the highest in the world in comparison with other touristic destinations that stand at 60 percent increase at best. This is mainly due to the competitiveness of Morocco in regards to travel cost.

According to Moroccan newspaper Hespress, Morocco has become one of the ‘warm’ destinations for Chinese tourists, as the temperature drops in other destinations.

A map posted by the same Academy shows that Chinese tourists are more drawn to Morocco than any other African country, while South Africa is the second most attractive African country.

Earlier this year, during a seminar was co-organised by the Ministry of Tourism, the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT), the National Tourism Confederation, and the Tourism Observatory, where Morocco’s Minister of Tourism reported on Morocco’s plan to attract 100,000 Chinese tourists by 2020.

“The Ministry of Tourism offers an important position to the Chinese market in its vision for the future, which expects to attract 100,000 Chinese tourists by 2020,” said Haddad.

One obstacle that needs to be addressed is that there are no direct flights between China and Morocco, so popular routes with third countries in between are chosen. The packages this year for Chinese tourists include a stop-over in Dubai.

Trips to Morocco are fully booked for this month and September, According to Zheng Lijuan, assistant president, China International Travel Service Co, rips to Morocco in August and September were are fully booked.

China has significant potential as an emerging market for tourists. The country had 98.2 million tourists in 2013 and generated $102 billion in tourism spending in 2012, making it the top country for tourism spending.

Along with the Chinese arrivals Tourism activity rebounded in Agadir during the month of August with a  9.44% increase in arrivals with many coming from the growing  Russian market.

According to statistics of the Regional Council of Tourism (CRT), a total of 140,901 tourists visited Agadir, against 128,744 in the same period of 2015. Moroccans account for more than half of the arrivals - 76,724 against 68,889 a year earlier -  representing an increase of 11.37%. The French came second with 14,549 tourists, a figure down 10.31% compared to the same period of 2015, followed by the English who totalled 7,285 visitors (+ 0.97%).

The Russian market recorded a net increase from 1,188 in August last year o 4089, an increase of 344.19%. This growth confirms the recovery of the Russian market which has already recorded in July an increase of 468%, or 5,180 arrivals against 1,105 in the same period of 2015.

In terms of classification of tourist accommodation unit, classified 4 star hotels come in first with 44,578 tourists, followed by 5-star hotels with 32,386 and tourist villages with 21,248 visitors. The occupancy rate in the various tourist establishments recorded an increase of 4%, or 77.89% against 75.08% in August 2015.

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An Unofficial Russian ‘base’ in the Med?

A group of eleven members of the European Parliament have complained to the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, about the presence of Russian vessels in the Spanish occupied enclave of Ceuta (Sebta)

 Since 2011 around 60 Russian warships have stopped in Ceuta to resupply and give their crews a rest. The vessels have included an attack submarine, frigates, destroyers, amphibious assault ships and auxiliary vessels.

The European parliamentarians say that the frequency with which Russian navy ships call into the port – at least 10 times a year – has turned the Spanish exclave into the main base of the Russian fleet in the western Mediterranean.

The Russian submarine ‘Novorossiysk’ in Ceuta

The Europeans are not alone in raising objections to the use of Ceuta by the Russians.  This month Republican Congressman Joe Pitts tabled a motion in the US Congress urging Spain to stop allowing Russian Navy warships to refuel in Ceuta.

The motion, earlier this month, coincided with the arrival of another Russian vessel, the frigate Ladny, which stopped at the port to refuel and two days after two British Royal Navy ships escorted another Russian frigate, the Admiral Grigorovich, through UK waters.

“The presence of the Russian Navy close to British territorial waters in Gibraltar presents significant intelligence and security risks for the United States, the United Kingdom, and the NATO alliance,” the Pitts' motion states.

The frigate Ladny

Spain rejects all criticism and points out that the Russian visits typically last around three days and generate revenue for a city. According to the Ceuta Port Authority, around 2,300 Russian sailors spent leave in the city in 2014, each changing around €450 of foreign currency. That adds up to over €1 million a year, with most of it going on local dining and shopping. In addition Ceuta gains income from resupplying. An amphibious ship needs around 300 tons of diesel fuel and 150 tons of water; an oil tanker might need as much as 3,750 tons of fuel.

The Russian embassy in Madrid expressed surprise at the fact that “such a common practice as calling into foreign ports” could be the subject of controversy.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank says that “Spain’s policy of allowing the Russian navy to use Ceuta is hypocritical in relation to its reluctance to allow NATO to make direct visits between Gibraltar and Spanish ports.”

“The US government should make it clear at the highest levels that it views any support of the Russian navy as completely unacceptable in light of Russian aggression,” adds a Heritage policy brief.

Russia's destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov 

The brief points out that some of the visits by the Russian Navy have curious timing. For example, during the same week in April 2014 that the EU announced a new round of sanctions against Russia, Spain made a mockery out of the sanctions by hosting at Ceuta the Russian destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov, and two Russian navy tankers, the Dubna and the Sergey Osipov.

The most recent visit was made by the Russian submarine Novorossiysk en route to its base in the Black Sea. The Novorossiysk, commissioned in August 2014, is one of Russia’s newest submarines and one of the quietest diesel-powered submarines in the world.

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The Russians Are Coming -Добро пожаловать!

Добро пожаловать в Марокко русские!!

In the last month more than 10,000 Russians visited The View From Fez looking for information about Morocco. Over the last few years Russian visitors to the site have reached 45,000. This upsurge in interest has not yet translated into large numbers of Russian tourists in the country, but tourism operators say they expect many more Russians to start arriving in the next few months

Abderrafie Zouiten, the Director General of the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) was in Moscow this week and says that Morocco is aiming to attract 200,000 Russian tourists a year. That is an ambitious goal as the unofficial figures available for 2013/2014, suggest that some 50,000 Russian tourists visited the Kingdom. Moscow and St Petersburg are the prime targets for Morocco's advertising campaigns.

Abderrafie Zouiten

While there has always been a steady stream of Russians visiting the country, the increased interest over the last year is probably due to Morocco's stability and safe security environment, as compared to other North African and Middle Eastern destinations. Unrest in Tunisia, Turkey and Egypt has seen many Russians cancelling trips to the region.

Outside of the North African region Russian tourists have traditionally favoured Spain, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

Airline connections between Morocco and Russia have improved with Royal Air Morocco (RAM) offering direct flights between Moscow, Casablanca and Agadir, and plans to establish other direct flights between Saint Petersburg, Agadir and Marrakech. Although Fez has a new international terminal, it seems to have been neglected when it comes to connections to Russia.

According to Abderrafie Zouiten, the ONMT has devised an ambitious strategy to attract more Russian tourists. The organisation will host representatives of more than 30 Russian media outlets who have been invited to visit Morocco in February. They will be shown the cities of Agadir, Marrakesh and Casablanca. Once again, Fez is not mentioned. However Zouiten said that the Office is preparing to host 400 Russian travel agencies in April to promote the destination of Morocco.

Perhaps it's time for a Russian language school in Fez!

Добро пожаловать!

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No Beach Holidays for Morocco's Diplomats

After the lull during Ramadan and El Eid, Moroccan diplomatic activity has increased on several fronts with France and Russia high on the agenda

Russia's Sputnik News Agency reported yesterday (Friday) on an upcoming visit to Russia by HM King Mohammed VI.  It is expected that the King will visit to Russia by the end of the this year, and that during the visit a number of important bilateral agreements will be signed.

Moroccan Ambassador to Russia, Abdelkader Lecheheb, told RIA Novosti on Friday that the preparations for the king's visit planned to take place "by the end of the year" are well underway.

Ambassador Lecheheb

"The forthcoming visit of His Majesty the King has a historical and strategic importance, and is designed to give a strong impetus to the development and quality of bilateral relations and to deepening the strategic partnership between Russia and Morocco," Ambassador Lecheheb.

"We are currently preparing the king's visit, under which Moroccan experts in the fields of energy, the fishing industry, military industry, logistics and agriculture, have already visited Moscow…Many agreements are to be signed during the king's visit, and some major projects will be agreed on," the ambassador said.

The last time King Mohammed VI of Morocco was on an official visit to Moscow was in 2002, when a bilateral declaration on a strategic partnership was signed.

Hollande visiting in September

Francois Hollande is expected to visit Morocco in September. The French head of state is expected as part of this visit to award the insignia of Officer of the Legion of Honour to Abdellatif Hammouchi, Morocco’s head of the Domestic Intelligence Agencys, DGST and DGNS.

The decoration is seen by various political analysts as the last step to bury once and for all the “spat chapter” that hallmarked the relations between the two countries few months ago, a tussle triggered by French police officers looking to arrest the Moroccan DST chief, who was visiting France, for allegedly torturing a French national on Moroccan soil.

Abdellatif Hammouchi

The two countries resumed corporation in February following fruitful discussions at the Elysee Palace between President Francois Hollande and King Mohamed VI.

President Holland is due to hold new talks regarding a set of issues of common interest, such as enhancing security coordination and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Moroccans trapped by Libyan Revolution

A much more difficult situation is that of Mbarka Bouaida, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. This week she revealed that more than 70,000 Moroccan citizens have been removed from Libya since the start of the Libyan revolution in February 2011.

Bouaida, pictured above,  told the Moroccan parliament on Tuesday that when the situation began to deteriorate in Libya, Morocco was very concerned with the safety of its citizens, adding that "out of 120,000 Moroccans living in Libya, less than 50,000 remained there".

Bouaida said a joint committee from the ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Moroccan Expatriate and Migration Affairs was formed to follow up on the subject. According to the minister, two offices were opened in the border between Libya and Tunisia to welcome those who wanted to enter Morocco after the kingdom closed its consulates in Tripoli and Benghazi.

Bouaida added that Morocco has "removed all Moroccans who asked to return to their country and we allocated a special budget to facilitate their travel."

Commenting on the minister's remarks, an opposition lawmaker from the Socialist Union Party said "there are nearly 5,000 Moroccans trapped at the Ras Jadeer border crossing in Tunisia."

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Moroccan Adventurers Fail in Strange Russian Expedition

It was hardly in the footsteps of Ibn Battuta, but it must have seemed like a good idea at the time. Sadly, the reality fell a little short of expectations. Reviving the traditions of the Age of Discovery, two Moroccan citizens tried to trek across Russia to Finland with a hand-drawn map while taking notes of the journey.

The Petrozavodsk crossing where a visa is required

According to the Russian Border Guard Service in Petrozavodsk (Karelian/Vepsian/Finnish: Petroskoi), the capital city of the Russian Republic of Karelia, the two Moroccan travellers were detained in the border zone without visas and without permission to enter.

The adventurous Moroccan duo were navigating with the help of nothing more than a hand-drawn map showing local towns and distances to the Finnish border, as well as routes toward Finland, the service said in a statement.

They were also taking detailed notes of their movements, possibly intended to help later trekkers to follow in their tracks, the border guards said.

The famous Petrozavodsk church 

However, the expedition ended in failure: The duo, whose names were withheld, will now have to explain their adventures to Russia’s Federal Migration Service, the report said. Hopefully they will have a chance to see some of the fabulous Karelian architecture before being shipped home.


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Moroccan News Briefs #94

Hollande pays tribute to His Majesty King Mohammed VI

During a speech to the Parliament in Rabat on Thursday, François Hollande welcomed the "decisive steps" that Morocco performs "every day" towards democracy.

"The message is simple: France has confidence in Morocco," said the French president, "Your country every day carries decisive steps towards democracy," he added, "All is not as fast as some would like and there are still critical improvements, it is your responsibility, and our duty is to accompany you".

Claiming that Morocco is a country of stability and calm," François Hollande paid ​​"a tribute to the will of King Mohammed VI." He particularly noted the adoption in the summer of 2011, of the new constitution in the context of the Arab Spring, which guarantees in particular, he said, "tolerance" and "recognizes the multiple nature of the Moroccan identity" .

The head of the French government was making his first visit to the kingdom since his election in May 2012. François Hollande spoke of the multiple links and the "deep affection" for the kingdom. "I come on behalf of the whole of France, to tell you how proud I am of the relationship with Morocco," he claimed. A Franco-Moroccan parliamentary forum will be created by the end of the year, which will further unite the countries, François Hollande said.


Tourism in Morocco 2013 - early results mixed

In late February 2013, tourist arrivals at the border of Morocco experienced a change of 0% compared to the same period last year. The statistics from the Tourism Observatory show that after rising 3% in January, a decrease of 3% was recorded in February.

Bed nights have increased by 6%. According to the Observatory, "the main source markets of the kingdom have been mixed" over the period. Tourists from France showed a decrease of 5%. Italians down 3% and German tourists down by 2%.  However tourists from Great Britain increased by 8%.

The big surprise are the  Russians with an increase of an amazing of 136%.

The Ministry of Tourism is optimistic. "We are present in the major global tourism markets and have a plan of attack to maintain our international market share," the Minister Lahcen Haddad said.

Currently, Russia is directly targeted. The country itself is experiencing a major boom in tourism with over 16 million Rusians taking holidays abroad in 2012. This is a market that Morocco expects to attract and the Ambassador in Moscow, Abdelkader Lachhab, says: "to promote Morocco as a destination to Russian clientele requires a strategy that encompasses the efforts of all professionals in the sector."


Air Maroc plane makes emergency landing in Lagos

A passenger plane belonging to Morocco's national airline, Royal Air Maroc, made an emergency landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos shortly after taking off on Thursday.

According to local media reports Friday, the plane - carrying 126 passengers - came back to land some 10 minutes after taking off from the airport on a flight to Morocco.

Officials of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) were quoted to have said the pilot contacted the Lagos control tower, requesting for an emergency landing, which was quickly granted by the Air Traffic Controllers on duty.

All the passengers disembarked safely. No reason has yet been given for the incident.

Among the passengers was the National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Malam Mohammed Garba.


Illegal abortions -  doctor jailed

A doctor in Fkih Ben Salah has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for illegal abortion operations. On Thursday the trial court in Fkih Ben Salah condemned a doctor  accused of having conducted  illegal abortions.

The court also prohibited the accused from ever working as a doctor again.  The physician's secretary was sentenced to 5 years six months in prison for the same charge, while four other young girls were sentenced each to one year prison terms.

 Medical devices used in illegal abortion and large sums of money were also seized during the operation during which four women aged between 20 and 28 years were arrested -  three had undergone operations abortion, while the fourth was still on the table under anaesthesia.


Hotdog anyone? After the horse meat scandal...

Hot dog sausages are still available in Morocco. Nearly four years after the case in which a man was jailed for selling dog meat to customers, another scandal has become public, and by pure accident. On Wednesday Casablanca police laid hands on no less than thirty-seven corpses of dogs, slaughtered, skinned and prepared for processing into sausages, to be sold in the old medina of Casablanca.

At least this one is fresh! 

The case was reported Thursday morning by a Moroccan daily, citing police sources. According to them, the dead dogs were found at the back of a Honda vehicle, whose driver is not even a butcher. The man was initially arrested for a traffic breach in Boulevard Zerktouni, Casablanca and would have had, at worst, a traffic ticket. But things went wrong when the policeman decided out of "curiosity", to search the vehicle. The driver confessed that the corpses of small animals were destined for consumption.

An investigation was opened. This new food scandal is far from being an isolated case in Morocco. In January 2009, another individual in Casablanca was sentenced to six years in prison for selling dog meat presented as that of beef to his customers. During the investigation, the man confessed to dog meat mixed with chemicals to mask the smell and color of it. Health authorities have not yet responded to these new revelations.


If you have £1,000* to spare... 

If you are flush with cash at the moment and feeling in a charitable mood... then join Eve Branson and Sir Richard Branson in a weekend of exclusive Polo-themed events in the magnificent surroundings of Marrakech, generously hosted by the Jnan Amar Polo Resort.

The events take place over the weekend of April 26th to 28th.  All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Eve Branson Foundation.

The mission of the Eve Branson Foundation is to improve the lives of women and young girls in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco through access to business, education and health care. The Foundation provides them with educational opportunities, vocational training, work space, tools and other necessary resources to create marketable goods. As a result, these women and young girls have the possibility of becoming economically self-sufficient and able to generate income to support themselves and their families.

*£1,000 is the equivalent of €1,182, US$1,580 or 13,206 Moroccan dhs.


Art and Experimentation in Fez

The latest offerings from the French Institute in Fez provide a platform for the collaborative work of Magali Daniaux and Cédric Pigot. Since their meeting, ten years ago, the joint work of Magali and Cedric has been notable for its combination of experimentation and performance.

 It is cutting edge stuff with a definite predilection for connections between science fiction and documentary, advanced engineering and fantastic tales, heavy materials and fleeting sensations. Videos, sound research, radio plays, all take you to the edge of virtual digital art.

Details:

DISTANCE K    Exhibition: 4th to 12th April at the gallery of the Institute
SKIN WEAKENED    From now until 19 April at the space Sidi Mohamed Ben Youssef
Free admission


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You Are Welcome in Morocco Ms Putin!

Vladimir Putin’s youngest daughter, Yekaterina is apparently about to tie the knot with her Korean boyfriend Yoon Joon-won in Morocco sometime soon. Derek Workman writes that one Marrakech riad has taken the initiative and offered the Russian President, or his daughter, a room.

You are welcome here any time, Ms Putin!

"The Russian President supposedly visited Marrakech this week to sort out the hush-hush wedding of his daughter, that will probably take place La Mamounia Hotel. All I can say, Vlad dear, is that if La Mamounia is over-booked I’m sure we can help you at Villa Dinari."

They may not get the booking, but they certainly gain points for trying!

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Morocco's Education Revolution Continues

In a controversial move, Morocco is about to scrap its "free education for all" policy in favor of a sliding scale system, with the richer kids paying tuition and the poorest paying none. The intended change was announced on Monday by Higher Education Minister Lahcen Daoudi.

Lahcen Daoudi

The resistance to the initiative is not coming from parents who will have to fork out money for their children's education, but those who have been enjoying secure positions for years - the teachers. The teachers' unions are already in an uproar over the new system, which will be in place beginning in the 2013-2014 academic year, and which does away with seniority-based promotions in favor of merit-based advancement, following the US publish or perish model.

The reform especially affects students fo higher learning institutions, which so far have been completely free of charge.

The government is also looking at creative financing methods, such as foreign investments in Morocco's education system. France is a probable partner given its past colonial relationship with Morocco, while Russia is planning to open a multidisciplinary, 14-department university in Casablanca, with courses taught in English and Russian.


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Morocco's RAM and Russia's Aeroflot sign Memorandum

They may not be heavyweights in the world of aviation and for years one of them has been the butt of jokes about safety, but now they have linked arms. Last Thursday Morocco's flag carrier RAM and Russia's national flag carrier Aeroflot met in Moscow and signed a memorandum of understanding to consolidate cooperation in the aviation field.

During the signing ceremony, vice-director general of RAM, Abderrafie Zouiten, said that this agreement allows both companies to reinforce their presence in the field of air transport linking the countries of Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America and Southern Europe.

He added that the Moroccan and Russian companies are distinguished by their quality of service, which enables them to face competition and attract new customers.

Morocco's Ambassador to Russia, Abdelkader Lachhab, said that this memorandum is part of the strengthening of cooperation and bilateral economic relations.

NEW FLIGHTS TO MOSCOW

Finally came the important news - Lachhabe added that on Tuesday RAM launched an air route linking Moscow to Casablanca, and will operate three flights weekly. Now that is great news!

Nuclear power plant for Morocco

Russia's nuclear equipment export monopoly Atomstroyexport has announced that it plans to build a nuclear power plant in Morocco.



Atomstroyexport officials arrive March 19 in Morocco for a working visit to discuss the prospects of developing Morocco's nuclear power industry.

During the visit, Atomstroyexport representatives plan to visit the Sidi Boulbra site where Morocco's first nuclear power plant is expected to be built. The company's managers and experts are in talks with Morocco's National Electricity Office on the drafting of a feasibility study for the country's first NPP.

Atomstroyexport has also supplied relevant Moroccan organizations with information on Russian nuclear power plant technologies, the press office said.

Atomstroyexport is currently building five nuclear reactor blocks for NPPs in China, India and Iran. In October 2006, the company won a tender to build a plant in Belene, Bulgaria.


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news