Paul Bowles: A Musical Portrait in Fez

Paul Bowles: A Musical Portrait by Irene Herrmann (piano) & Carole Blankenship (voice) Monday, March 4 at 7 PM ALIF Riad, 6 Derb Drissi, Batha

Irene Herrmann and Carole Blankenship present a music/spoken word concert of Paul Bowles’ music that includes solo piano, songs, storytelling, and readings from Bowles’ writings.

Irene Herrmann, accompanist at the University of California Santa Cruz, is executor of the Paul Bowles Music Estate. Her musical acquaintance with Bowles began in 1992 with a visit to the composer in Tangier. It quickly grew into a lively friendship of discussing, editing, disseminating, and performing his music. Her CD of Bowles’ music includes chamber music, solo and duo piano works and features several performance premieres. Her recitals often use the lecture/performance format, replete with Bowles anecdotes, personal insights into his music, and readings from his essays and works of fiction. The collaborations include vocalists who perform songs from Bowles’ prolific output in the genre of American art song and highlight his musical friendships with Tennessee Williams, Gertrude Stein, and William Saroyan.

Carole Blankenship, soprano, is Associate Professor of Music and Elizabeth G. Daughdrill Chair in the Fine Arts at Rhodes College. She is heard regularly in recitals, chamber music concerts, and oratorio performances. In October 2010, she presented a paper for the International Paul Bowles Conference at the University of Lisbon, Portugal and has presented lecture recitals on his works recently in Brisbane, Australia and in the U.S. With Irene Herrmann she co-edited two sets of songs by Paul Bowles for Classical Vocal Reprints.

This concert, organised by the ALC-ALIF Music Club and Book Club, is free and open to the general public.

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Spotlight on Ancient Sijilmassa

Morocco World News is reporting that the Ministry of Culture and Communication will organise an international congress to celebrate 1,300 years of the historic city of Sijilmassa’s existence

Collaborating with the National Institute of Archeological Sciences and Heritage, the ministry will hold the congress on December 2-3 in the city of Rissani, a town in Errachidia Province, eastern Morocco, under the theme: “Sijilmassa: The Memory and the Challenge of Development.”

Sijilmassa was founded in 757 AD by the Zenata Amazigh tribe. It was a medieval Moroccan city that served as an important trade centre in the Maghreb during the middle ages. In the year 1000, the city was inhabited by approximately 100,000 people.

The ancient city experienced many invasions of several Amazigh (Berber) dynasties before it was abandoned in A.D. 1339.

The initiative is part of the ministry’s strategy to preserve and enhance archaeological sites and historic monuments.

The ministry has adopted a comprehensive and integrated approach to strengthen archaeological research in all Moroccan regions.

The conference will be a platform for debate on the legal protection of Sijilmassa following its inclusion in the National Heritage list.

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British Newspaper's Diplomatically Incorrect Headline!

In an act of tabloid stupidity the UK's Daily Mirror published a front page that has been described as "diplomatically incorrect" In reporting the British Royal's trip to Morocco, the headline read "Meghan and Harry Fly into Danger Zone"

It followed up by saying there were "Security fears as Prince and heavily pregnant Duchess head to city of riots".  Moroccans were not impressed.

The visit is part of the strengthening of cooperation between the U.K and Morocco and the promotion of gender equality through visits to schools and meetings with youth, said a British diplomatic source.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited on Sunday a boarding school Education for All, in the region of Marrakech, as “Grand Atlas” secondary school in the region of Marrakech.

Prince Harry held talks with members of the Moroccan Paralympic team that took part in the London 2012 Summer Paralympics, and praised the progress made by Paralympic sport in Morocco, following the building of infrastructure that meets international standards.

For her part, the Duchess of Sussex met with women entrepreneurs who stressed the importance of the vital role played by women in the Moroccan society as well as progress made in access to information and education.

The royal couple also held talks with businesswoman Meriem Bensalah Chaqroun, former head of Morocco’s Employers Association (CGEM), and Mustapha Bakkoury, President of the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN).

King Mohammed VI held a tea ceremony at the Royal Residence in Sale

They also attended an official reception at the British Ambassador’s residence in Rabat, where they met young entrepreneurs, influential women of the Moroccan civil society as well as athletes with specific needs.

On Monday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stopped by the Andalusian Gardens to learn about a youth empowerment initiative.

However, while the royal couple have had an enjoyable time, the trip has not been without incident for the royal photographers.

The duke and duchess of Sussex came along with a team of official photographers, and all three of them have taken to Twitter to denounce Royal Air Maroc (RAM) for losing their baggage.

According to a tweet from Mark Cuthbert, one of the royal photographers, seven members of the media had no baggage upon arrival, and five of them have “gone the whole trip without them.” He complained that RAM refused to even give them a lost baggage reference number and accused RAM of having “woeful service.”

Tim Rooke, another royal photographer, tweeted that after three days he still has not received his luggage. He claimed that RAM “won’t even file a missing bag report.”

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Lixus - Ancient Site to Open to the Public

The Ministry of Culture and Communication has announced the opening of the archaeological site of ancient Lixus. It will open to the public in April

The city of Lixus is the oldest archaeological site in Morocco and one of the oldest Phoenician establishments in the western Mediterranean. It is located north-east of Larache, a city on the Atlantic Ocean between Rabat and Tangier, on the right bank of the Lokos River.

The ministry said that the archaeological site “is of historical importance and exceptional value.” The ministry spent MAD 10 million to build barriers around the site and create a centre to introduce its heritage.

The visitor centre

The statement added that the ministry has spent an additional MAD 1.8 million to establish stores for antique pieces, a conference hall, and a reception space, as well as improving and preparing routes to access the site and valuing its components.

The ministry partnered with the Italian embassy, the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS), and the University of Siena to carry out the works.

The site’s opening is within the framework of Heritage Month, held every year from April 18 to May 18.

Lixus is an Amazigh (Berber) name that means “golden apples” in Arabic.

According to historical sources, the city of the “golden apples” was built in 1180 B.C. by an Amazigh King of the ancient kingdom of Mauretania. The city experienced major development during the reign of Amazigh King Juba II during the 1st century B.C.

Lixus was settled by the Phoenicians in the 8th or 7th century BC and was later controlled directly from Carthage. It was part of a chain of Punic towns along the Atlantic coast of modern Morocco; other major settlements further to the south are Chellah (called Sala Colonia by the Romans) and Mogador. When Carthage's empire fell to Rome during the Punic Wars, Lixus, Chellah, and Mogador became outposts of the province of Mauretania Tingitana.

Lixus flourished during the Roman Empire, mainly when the emperor Claudius (AD 41-54) established the province of Africa with full rights for the citizens. Lixus was one of the few Roman cities in Berber Africa that enjoyed an amphitheater. In the third century, Lixus became nearly fully Christian and there are even now the ruins of a Paleochristian church overlooking the archaeological area

The Muslim invasions destroyed the Roman city. Some Berber life was maintained for about a century after the Islamic conquest of North Africa, attested by the presence of a mosque and a house with a patio with walls covered with painted stucco.

Fish paste processing vats for making "garum"

Most of Lixus has not been excavated, and only between 10 and 20 percent of the area has been uncovered.

According to UNESCO data, the site of Lixus is one of the most important sites that Morocco has succeeded in including in the World Heritage List. Lixus joined the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Morocco in 1995.

See Suzanna Clarke's photo essay on her visit to Lixus CLICK HERE

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Must Read Moroccan Book - available again in Fez

Good news! Copies of Through the Peacock Gate are available again at the American Language Center Bookshop in Fez.

ALC Fes-ALIF Bookstore is at ALC Fes & ALIF: American Language Center & Arabic Language Institute in Fez.
ALC-ALIF Bookstore
Monday-Saturday
9:45 -12:45 & 2:30 - 7 PM
2, Rue Ahmed Hiba, Ville Nouvelle Fes, Maroc

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Henna Treat for Meghan Markle

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, accompanied by her husband Prince Harry, received a traditional henna ceremony during their visit to Asni in one of the residential schools run by the NGO "Education For All".

The expectant mother was offered a floral tattoo on her left hand, celebrating her pregnancy and her unborn baby.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan visited Sunday a boarding school to allow teenage girls from remote areas to study at the foot of snow-capped Atlas Mountains.

This official visit to Morocco, organised at the request of Queen Elizabeth II, will be the last trip abroad of the couple before the birth of their first child in the spring.

A doctor has been travelling with the 37-year-old American actress and nearly a hundred journalists have been accredited for the occasion.

The couple arrived Sunday morning in the town of Asni, located south of Marrakech, where they were greeted by young students, under the eyes of a curious crowd.

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Concern Over Loss of Fez Gardens

Residents of the Fez Medina have expressed concern that the new car park at Ain Azliten will mean the destruction of existing gardens 

Part of a 400 million dh project to build one of eight car parks with a total capacity of 4,000 places, the new Ain Azliten car park will incorporate space which is currently market gardens, orchards, a plant nursery and the courtyard of an historic house.

Abdullah has grown up in the gardens

While it is widely recognised that Medina is in need of more parking amenities for tourists and residents, the gardens are the last remaining green space of significant size in the Fez Medina. About 10 long term residents will be displaced as a result of the development.

Residents for more than 40 years who will be displaced

Last week, a group of about 40 business owners and residents from the nearby Ta'laa Kbira submitted a petition to the Wali requesting to preserve the gardens. "They could at least include part of the existing gardens as public parkland in the development," said Mohamed Elyoussoufi, who was born and brought up in the area. "The only park the Medina has is at Jnan Sbil. The gardens at Ain Azliten will be a real loss for the residents of the Medina. We would like to make something nice, because we love this city."

The courtyard of this historic house is slated for demolition

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An App For Visitors to Fez

Fez: A geolocation application to boost tourism

The Regional Tourism Council (CRT) in Fez has just launched a geolocation application. "Downloadable from App store, this tool can locate restaurants, travel agencies, hotels, and craft locations," says Yassir Jawhar, delegate chairman of the CRT.

According to Yassir Jawhar, "tourists could easily go to geolocated locations, give their opinion, buy a service or a product at the lowest cost". "Through this application, the CRT is allied with the objectives of digitalisation launched by the ONMT," adds Jawhar.

Note that an interactive site and a new tourist guide of Fez are being finalised. There is a press trip planned for early March, which will promote the new facets of the destination.

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Free Concert in Fez

Teri & the Electric Blues Parade in Concert! Thursday, February 21 at 7 PM ALIF Riad, 6 Derb Drissi, Batha, Fes Medina

Since last year's tour of the American Language Centers, Teri & The Electric Blues Parade have been developing their own sound and writing new songs influenced by their rock, blues and jazz sound. The new songs take the listener on a musical journey from gentle moments of musical beauty to big sounds of psychedelic rock! Some of these new songs were influenced by the band's previous visit to Morocco. There will be opportunities to speak with the band and ask questions about the way that performing and visiting Morocco has been an influence on their new music.

This concert, organized by the ALC-ALIF Music Club, is free and open to the general public.

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Moroccan Airports Break Records

Moroccan airports received about 1.861.875 customers in January 2019, making this the highest recorded number of passengers

According to data from the Moroccan Airport Authority (ONDA), Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca received the highest record of global traffic, approximately 40 percent that includes 783.098 passengers.

Meanwhile, other Moroccan airports registered equally positive results. Marrakech’s Menara Airport recorded over 20 percent of increase increase in traffic. , Fes’ Saiss Airport (17,57%), Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport (15,05%), and Rabat-Sale Airport (17,58%).

ONDA announced that while European Airports, which represent 79 percent of international air traffic, have registered a 10 percent increase South American Airports marked a growth of nearly 20 percent.

Meanwhile, North America and the Maghreb countries experienced growth rates of 0.89 and 0.11, respectively. The Far East suffered a decline of 2.3 percent.

Aircraft movements also experienced a booming period.

In January 2019, there were 16,604 movements, an increase of 10.66 percent over the previous year. Mohammed V airport shares 43.97 percent of the global increase for Moroccan airports, while Marrakech-Menara shares 21.71 percent and Agadir Al Massira 8.55 percent.

During the same period, the traffic of commercial aircraft flying over the Moroccan airspace experienced a strong growth of 10.8 percent. Meanwhile, freight traffic recorded during this period increased by 2.66 percent to reach a volume of 7181.60 tons against 6995.32 ton

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Stormy Rainfall and Snow in Morocco

Morocco’s National Meteorological Directorate (DMN) has issued an alert forecasting rain and snow in the coming days from Monday to Wednesday across Morocco

Snowfall from 15 to 40 centimetres is expected in several regions including Al Haouz, Azilal, Chichaoua, Midelt, Ouarzazate, and Taroudant from Monday and Tuesday.

Stormy rainfalls are also expected from Monday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the provinces of Essaouira and Safi, and from 3 to 11 p.m. in the provinces of Haouz, Chichaoua, Marrakech, and Taroudant.

Chilly weather is also expected in the provinces of Midelt, Azilal, Tinghir, Al Haouz Ouarzazate, Chichaoua and Taroudant on Tuesday.

Minimum temperatures will range between -5 and 0 degrees Celsius.

The cold wave is also expected on Wednesday in the provinces of Bouleman, Ifran, Midelt, Beni Mellal, Azilal, Tinghit, Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Chichaoua, Taroudant, and Bouarfa.

Minimum temperatures will be between -6 and -1 degrees Celsius, while maximum temperatures will range between 3 and 8 degrees Celsius in the region.

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Another Al Hoceima Earthquake

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.7 degrees on the Richter scale was recorded today in the province of Al Hoceima, says the National Institute of Geophysics (ING). The quake, whose epicenter is located in Bni Bounsar commune (Al Hoceima province), occurred at 5:35 am (GMT + 1), says the ING National Seismic Monitoring and Warning Network in a seismic warning bulletin.

The tremor was 34 km deep, 34.892 ° N latitude and 4.435 ° W longitude.

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New books for the Fez Medina Children's Library

The Fez Medina Children's Library has just acquired 92 new books, as a result of donations from sponsors and a recent trip to the Casablanca Book Fair

Librarian Samia Bachraoui and treasurer Suzanna Clarke at the Casablanca Book Fair

"This year we expanded our range to include an extra 22 books for young adults, as well as 14 reference books, and six art and craft books," said head librarian Samia Bachraoui.

Treasurer Suzanna Clarke said, "We are aware that the children who attend the library regularly are growing up and need more challenging material, so we wanted to supplement the picture books for younger readers we've bought on earlier trips."

The book purchases were made possible with the generous support of donations from Caroline di Carlo, the Sheik family, Cafe Clock and Plan-It Morocco, ​among other sponsors.

Librarian Samia Bachraoui talks to the Association of Moroccan Libraries

The Medina Children's Library is currently looking for a larger space, close to its current location off the Ta'laa Sghira in the Fez Medina, so it can service a larger number of children and increase the activities on offer.

To find out more about the Fez Medina Children's Library CLICK HERE. 

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Stan Breckenridge in Concert in Fez

Stan Breckenridge in Concert! Monday, February 18 at 7 PM. ALIF Riad, Derb Drissi, Batha, Fes Medina

This concert, in honour of Black History Month and organised by the US Embassy in Rabat and the ALC-Fes/ALIF Music Club, is free and open to the general public.

Stan Breckenridge is a professional musician, academician, author, and holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from Claremont Graduate University In Claremont, California. He has performed and given lecture-performances in England, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Slovakia, and the Ukraine. Stan has appeared with and/or performed for personalities such as Madeleine Albright, Bill Cosby, Mahalia Jackson, Jerry Lewis, Martha Reeves (of the Vandellas), Larry McCormick, Rowan and Martin, David Ruffin (of the Temptations), Nancy Sinatra, John Travolta, and John Wayne.

Stan Breckenridge has nine albums: Inspirations (2014), Out of Love for Jazz (2012,) Reflections (2009), A Soulful Christmas (2008), This Is My Song (2007), Live in Poland (2005), Solo (2003), Meditations (2001), and Expositions (1999). He also recorded an album in 2017, "Black and Tan Fantasy," with Poland’s longest-running traditional jazz group – Jazz Band Ball Orchestra (JBBO).

Dr. Breckenridge was selected as a United States Distinguished Chair Fulbright Scholar to Poland for 2012-2014, where he taught at the University of Marie Curie Sklodowska in Lublin, and Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Currently, in addition to performance, he is an “Artist in Residence” Visiting Professor in the Faculty of English at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poland.

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The Casablanca Medina gets a makeover

The rehabilitation works of the old medina of Casablanca are now entering its last phase, that of the makeover of the public space and the restoration of buildings in ruins

Started in 2010 under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, the rehabilitation program is in its final phase to the delight of the inhabitants. "The medina is changing its face," says Hassan, who lives near the famous restaurant La Sqalla. "The shops are changing their storefront, the streets are cleaner and above all we feel safer with the new public lighting," he says. Today, the old medina and its monuments are popular places for tourists, whether national or foreign. "We see more and more tourists wandering our streets," says Hassan.

Led by the Casablanca Urban Agency and a committee of 18 members, the program has been divided into two main phases. The first, already finalised, extended from 2010 to 2014 and consisted of upgrading the infrastructure of sanitation, water and electricity networks, the restoration of walls, equipment and squares. In 2016, the King inaugurated the health centre and Dar Annassij (weaving house), located in the heart of the medina of Casablanca.

Monuments have also been restored, such as the Ettedgui Synagogue and the Sidi Allal Al Karaouani Mausoleum. In the same way, the Buenaventura church has been converted into a culture house.

Among the main actions carried out were the upgrade of the "Bab Marrakech" crèche, the construction of the "Derb Cadi" youth and women's home, the completion of the "Opera" socio-sports centre and the realisation the "Craftsmen's Space" project, which supports the efforts made to re-qualify handicrafts in the old medina. 40% of the commercial areas were reorganised as well as the creation of a Heritage Interpretation Center (CIP).

The second program focused on improving living and housing conditions, promoting commercial, craft and tourist activities. The Urban Agency of Casablanca (AUC) has just launched a call for tenders for the selection of a provider responsible for the social support of households occupying buildings threatening to fall into ruin. The operation, budgeted at 300 million dirhams, particularly targets the inhabitants of 3,000 buildings threatening to collapse. Aware of the need to accelerate the pace of upgrading and give a boost to this project, the Urban Agency of Casablanca is preparing to launch a call for tenders on February 12, 2019 carrying the social support of households occupying buildings threatening ruin at the Old Medina of Casablanca for an envelope of 4.45 MDH.

 The rehabilitation of the old medina of Casablanca is a priority in view of the challenges that it represents not only architectural but also in terms of protection of the inhabitants of the Medina. The collapse of homes threatening ruin is a real risk.


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Morocco a Top Investor in Clean Energy

Morocco is one of only 22 countries that have invested more than $2 billion in clean energy. Morocco has invested $2.8 billion in renewable energy

Bloomberg NEF, a clean energy data provider, published the report and pointed out that Morocco’s Noor Midelt project was the largest major solar project financed worldwide last year. The cost of the project has been estimated at $2.4 billion.

Global investment in clean energy reached $332.1 billion last year, down 8 percent for 2017. The drop is due to an 24 percent decrease in commitments in favour of solar energy.

The investment scale allocated to solar energy fell by 24 percent in 2018 compared to 2017. Despite this decrease in investments, photovoltaic capacity reached a record high—over 100 gigawatts for the first time.

Wind energy investment jumped 3 percent to $128.6 billion, whereas solar energy investment fell to $128.6 billion. The contrast was due to a sharp drop in capital costs.

As a result, the global benchmark for the installation costs of a megawatt of photovoltaic capacity fell by 12 percent in 2018, as manufacturers reduced their selling prices in response to the oversupply of solar panels on the global market.

Morocco has a strong renewable energy potential given its varied geography. Morocco has installed 120 MW in wind energy in 2018, making it the 3rd country in terms of installed capacity in the Africa / Middle East (MEA) region, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) ). The first place goes to Egypt with 380 MW installed, while Kenya is 2nd (310 MW).

In total, the new wind farms built in the region have a capacity of 962 MW in 2018, an increase of 300 MW compared to 2017. By 2013, some 6.5 GW will strengthen the current capacity, according to the experts. GWEC.

In Ouarzazate, central Morocco, the annual averages of daily global horizontal irradiation vary from 3.86 to 7.85 kilowatt hours per square meter per day, or 7.9 to 11.2 hours of sunshine per day on average.

In terms of wind power potential, the annual average wind speed at 10 meters in the Tangier area, north eastern Morocco, is 10 meters per second. For the Dakhla area, in the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, it varies between 7 and 8.5 meters per second.

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Fez pays 400 million DH to build 8 "smart" car parks

With funds of 400 million DH, the car park program of the medina envisages the development of 8 car parks, the rehabilitation of the public spaces and the installation of an information devices. 

This project is financed by the State, the Ministry of the Interior, the Fund Hassan II and the Commune (Commune of Fez)

 Initiated as part of the project to promote the Medina and its access, these parking areas will be developed Bab Boujloud, Sidi Bounafaa, Ain Azliten, Oued Zhoun, Bab El Guissa, Bab El Hamra, Bab Jdid, and Bin Lamdoun.

With a total capacity of nearly 4,000 places, the construction of the car parks will cost some 300 million DH. "At least two of them will be underground. "They will all be equipped with signs, information screens, and green spaces," said Driss El Azami El Idrissi, mayor of Fez.

The authorities evacuated the old car parks, including that of Bab El Guissa, adjoining the Palais Jamai hotel. In Bab Boujloud, the operation will be much more complex since it will be necessary to clean up a property of 11,45ha, before launching the building site.

The initiators of the project have already prepared the architectural plans and the financial arrangement of the various actions. Thus, a budget of 100 million DH is reserved for the acquisition of land. It will be supported by the Domains of the State and the Municipality of Fez.

In addition, the development of car parks, the rehabilitation of the streets of the medina, the rehabilitation of public spaces and the installation of an information devices will require an investment of 300 million DH. This amount is financed equally by the Ministry of the Interior and the Hassan II Fund.

The general planning of execution will extend until 2022. The objective is to preserve "the academic and spiritual identity" of the millenarian city. It is in this spirit that in 2013, a first program of safeguarding the monuments of the old medina had been put in place and today has enabled the rehabilitation of 27 sites with high historic value.

The new project should revitalise the economic activity of the medina and its main markets. "Because, with the improvement of accessibility and development of car parks, including those of the municipalities of Mechouar Fez-Jdid and Jnane El Ouard, visitors will be more and more numerous, Moroccan and foreign", says the mayor.

The program will finance the development and repair of roads and cobblestones of 23 km of lanes. This will embellish the urban landscape of the ancient fabric of the medina.

In addition to the restoration of historic monuments, the development of car parks and the improvement of accessibility to historical sites, it will be necessary to create a cultural activity to boost tourism. This is the idea defended by Said Zniber, wali of the Fez-Meknes region. The latter associates with its project university and tourism professionals to create a bank of cultural projects in the image of Fez. To begin, a reflection is led on the culinary and artistic animation of the place Boujloud. It is the same for the animation of the garden Jnane Sbill as well as the "sound and light" of Fez. For these last two sites, the mission is entrusted to Abderrafih Zouitene, president of the Spirit Foundation of Fez.

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Clio and Maurice in Concert in Fez

Clio and Maurice in Concert! Thursday, February 7 at 7 PM ALIF Riad, 6 Derb Drissi, Batha Fes Medina

Clio and Maurice is the name of an impossible duo. A voice and a violin are merging and colliding, in search of a common dimension. It is composed of the soul singer Clio Colombo and the violinist Martin Nicastro (Pashmak). The duo was born in August of 2017 and since then the two played in some of the most popular venues in Milan. In 2018 they toured Germany and France, and they will be soon in England and Netherlands. They are currently recording their first EP.

This concert, organized by the ALC-ALIF Music Club, is free and open to the general public.

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Morocco is preparing to celebrate the Fes International Film Festival, from February 12 to 16, 2019.

The king of Morocco, Mohamed VI on the occasion of the 1200th anniversary of the Foundation of the city of Fes, sent a message to his community.

In this message, Mohamed VI stresses that the Moroccan people are determined to establish their identity as a source of arts and crafts, personal initiative, mobility of production, trade and a rich tourist destination. his qualifications and his spiritual appeal.

This requires, according to the sovereign, "the reinforcement of all its modern infrastructures, the introduction of new technologies of knowledge and communication, and the consolidation of the developmental thinking of its young people so that the permanent capital of the city ​​remains its qualified resources.

It also requires, according to the king, the realisation of integrated development projects offering a decent life for all inhabitants in order to perpetuate the solidarity and patriotic values ​​of the city. These values ​​according to Mohamed VI, have made Fez a precursor city in the defence of the principles of Morocco and its sanctuaries, sovereignty and unity.

The Fez International Film Festival aims to realize the orientations of the royal letter announced on the occasion of the 1200 years of the foundation of the city of Fez; the creation of a space for dialogue and exchange of experiences and cultural inking between cinematographers, actors and enthusiasts in the cultural and artistic field. It also aims to promote the region as a human and architectural heritage as well as a location for filming.

This festival will also contribute to the influence of the city of Fez on the national and international level. The festival wants to make cinema a lever for economic investment in the region and participate in the development and qualification of the artistic taste of the inhabitants and youth of the region.

The organisation of an international film festival of this magnitude and of this kind in the city of Fes will undoubtedly be a qualitative contribution in the list of events and activities held in the region. It will also play an important role in creating cultural, economic, tourism, social and artistic dynamism.

This first edition of the festival is considered as a space for exchange between different cultural centres through film screenings, meetings and conferences that will bring together different actors, enthusiasts and fans of the cinema.

It is also an opportunity for training, guidance and direction through special workshops for students and film lovers.

The festival will also be an opportunity to celebrate and promote the cultures of the various invited countries, their properties and their achievements in the cinematographic field.

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Closure of Cinema Batha Causes Concern and Confusion

According to local businesses, the old cinema at Batha is scheduled to close down on Monday. According to numerous people, the complex has been bought and is going to be redeveloped. The question on everybody's lips is - redeveloped as what?

Cinema Cafe has an uncertain future

Several locals say they think it will reopen in about six months as a cinema. Others are not so sure. "We have no idea what has been proposed", says a local shopkeeper. "The building was owned by the government who have given us no information. But we are worried about the businesses attached to the complex.

This is a legitimate concern as the closure of the complex will mean the end of the very popular Cinema Cafe and the annex to Thami's Restaurant which has just been redecorated.

Thami's annex to close on Monday?

According to the staff at the Cinema Cafe, they have no alternative space available and have had no assistance from the new owner of the old complex.

The View From Fez would like to hear from anyone who has more information.

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Morocco's Airports Open Doors for Non-Travellers

Since Tuesday, January 29, all airports in Morocco are accessible to non-travellers. This was announced by a source at the National Office of Airports (ONDA). It was the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) that made the decision two years after implementing the measure.

In March 2016, two terrorists blew themselves up at Brussels International Airport in Belgium. Following the tragedy that left 14 dead and at least 92 injured, the Moroccan airports had reinforced their security in April, barring access to departure and arrival halls to all those who were not equipped with 'a flight ticket. Upon arriving at the airport gates, travellers had to show their travel documents.

"These measures were taken for security reasons, in accordance with international requirements," said a source working at ONDA.

Does the DGNS plan to strengthen security measures elsewhere in the airport? "The security measures at the airport level are continuously reinforced, in harmonisation with the international standards envisaged on this subject", affirms to our writing a source within the DGSN. "Currently, with the return of the access of passengers and their companions to the air platforms, these measures will remain on the same level of vigilance for both parties", adds our source.

Airports are still monitored by the military deployed in 2014 with the Hadar plan . They are responsible for ensuring the safety of passengers against any terrorist threat.

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