Ireland to Open Embassy in Rabat

The Irish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the opening of a new embassy in Morocco

This announcement was made on Monday by Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney at the "Global Ireland" event, an initiative of the Irish government aimed at broadening and deepening Ireland's presence abroad.

"A new embassy in Rabat will enable us to develop business opportunities, particularly in the agri-food sector, agricultural machinery and renewable energy," said the Irish Foreign Ministry in a statement.

"Ireland is currently one of the few EU Member States without presence in North Africa, a strategically important region on the borders of Europe and an important partner," the source said.

"Our network of diplomatic missions, consisting of 80 embassies, consulates and representations, is modest by international standards. I believe it is important to invest now in this global presence, "said the Irish minister quoted by the statement of his department. This redeployment will help Ireland "play its full role in meeting global challenges, while respecting our moral obligations as citizens of the world," added the head of Irish diplomacy.

At present the diplomatic interests of Ireland in Morocco are represented by the ambassador of this country in Portugal, as well as by two honorary consuls in Agadir and Casablanca.

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Breaking News: Morocco Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Iran

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said today that his country has suspended relations with Tehran and urged the Iranian ambassador to leave the country, "because of the relationship between Hezbollah and the Polisario".

Bourita said in an interview with reporters, including Anadolu's correspondent, that "Morocco has decided to close its embassy in Tehran and has asked Mohamed Taqi Muayed, the Iranian ambassador to Rabat, to leave the country".

He added that the reason for this measure was "the commitment of the Lebanese Hezbollah, backed by Iran, in a relationship with the Polisario, which threatens the security and stability of Morocco".

And explain that "his country has evidence that Hezbollah leaders had financed the Polisario and trained some of its elements."

"Rabat has information that diplomats from the Iranian embassy in Algeria have facilitated the meeting of Hezbollah leaders with the leaders of the Polisario," he added.

Iran's Embassy in Rabat

The diplomatic channels between the Islamic Republic and the kingdom were interrupted in March 2009 unilaterally by Morocco.

Officially, Rabat challenged the vision of a senior Iranian official who said the state of Bahrain was "the fourteenth province of Iran". In solidarity with the small state of the Gulf, Morocco had broken all ties with the Islamic Republic. Diplomats also spoke of the interference of Iran, and Tehran-sponsored Shiite proselytising activities.

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Fez and Florence - Twin Cities?

A move towards a twin city partnership between Florence and Fez is a step closer

According to L'Economiste, Dario Nardella, the mayor of Florence (Italy), arrived this Wednesday in Fez. Accompanied by a delegation of businessmen, the 42-year-old was received by Driss El Azami El Idrissi, the mayor of the Moroccan spiritual and cultural capital.

The ambition of the two men is to reactivate the twinning between the two cities, first signed in 1961 under the leadership of King Hassan II.

"The aim of Dario Nardella is to make operational a decentralised cooperation," confides Abdelkrim El Meliani, honorary consul of Italy in Fez. According to him, "the mayor of Florence is interested in cooperation in the fields of culture and investment".

A workshop is scheduled tomorrow today (Thursday) between the heads of Chambers of Commerce of Fez and Florence. This will bring the visions of the economic operators of the two cities closer together. Meanwhile, the University of Florence is already a partner of the Euromed University of Fez.

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Moroccans Gain Visa Free Entry to Qatar

The French language magazine, Telquel.ma, is reporting that Moroccans no longer need a visa to travel to Qatar. The information was confirmed by the Qatari Minister of the Interior, during a meeting with the President of the first chamber of the Moroccan parliament, Habib El Malki, and the Minister of Industry Moulay Hafid Elalamy.

Qatar has exempted Moroccan citizens from visa. The information was confirmed to Habib El Malki, president of the first chamber and to the Minister of Industry Moulay Hafid Elalamy during a lightning visit organised this Tuesday in Qatar to represent King Mohammed VI at the inauguration of the "Port Hamad", a major port infrastructure opened by the emirate that faces a blockade imposed by its neighbours.

In an official interview, the Qatari Minister of the Interior informed his Moroccan visitors, "that the State of Qatar lifted the visa requirement for the benefit of the citizens of the Kingdom of Morocco". This measure comes one month after the announcement of the visa waiver for 80 countries.

The announcement of Qatar comes as part of a very symbolic visit. First chamber president Habib El Malki traveled to Qatar on Tuesday to represent King Mohammed VI at the inauguration ceremony of Hamad port, an infrastructure designed to "break the chains" of the boycott decreed by the neighbours of this small Gulf state. The Qatari Minister of Transport, Jassem bin Seif al-Salliti is quoted as saying "Nothing will stop us or our ambition.

According to a statement by the House of Representatives, this is a "short trip" during which El Malki was accompanied by Moulay Hafid Elalamy, Minister of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy. Habib El Malki was received by Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who "addressed his fraternal greetings" to King Mohammed VI, thanking him "for the efforts currently being made to promote the economy of Qatar in the service of brotherly Qatari people". The President of the First Chamber and the Minister of Industry were subsequently welcomed by the Qatari Minister of the Interior, who informed them of his country's decision on visa exemption.

The opening of the port on Tuesday will help Qatar achieve food security and economic diversification in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. Large container ships will now go directly to Qatar rather than docking in the United Arab Emirates, where cargo used to be transferred to smaller vessels.

Hamad Port will have an annual capacity of 7.5 million shipping containers, and separate terminals dedicated to general cargo, cereals, vehicles and livestock. The port is the largest of its kind in the Middle East with the capacity to receive all types of ships and vessels. It is expected to be fully operational by 2020, when it will cover around 20sq km.

The port inaugurated by Qatar is one of the "most important in the country and the Middle East," according to the statement of the House of Representatives. The port is located in the town of Mesaieed on the southeast coast of Qatar, one hour from Doha. According to AFP the emir sheikh "who rarely appeared in public since the beginning of the crisis" was present at the inauguration but "he did not speak".

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New US Consul General in Casablanca

Jennifer Rasamimanana has just taken office as Consul General of the United States in Casablanca. She is replacing Nicole Theriot, who completed her diplomatic mission to Morocco on 5 May

An American diplomat since 1999, Jennifer Rasamimanana has served in the political, consular, economic and public sectors in France, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Tunisia, Syria and Togo.

During her mission to Washington, she served in the Cabinet of State Secretaries with Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. She also worked as a supervisor of the diplomatic competition.

Between 2010 and 2012, she was Arabic spokesman for the State Department, two years during which she led the communication with Arabic-speaking audiences from Oman to Morocco.  In 2012, she was "diplomat in residence" and professor at Sciences Po Paris.

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Malaysia - Morocco ~ Now Visa Free

The Moroccan government and its Malaysian counterpart have signed an agreement to allow citizens of both countries to travel back and forth without visa requirements

Morocco's Ambassador to Malaysia Mohammed Reda Benkhaldoun and Datuk Ramlan Ibrahim

The partial abolition of the visa agreement was signed by Foreign Affairs Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ramlan Ibrahim on behalf of the Malaysian government and the Kingdom of Morocco's Ambassador to Malaysia Mohammed Reda Benkhaldoun on behalf of Morocco.

Under the new agreement, Malaysian and Moroccan passport holders who are travelling for business or social visits with valid documents are allowed to enter and exit both countries without a visa for a maximum period of 90 days.

Malaysian passport holders, including diplomatic passport holders, will be able to enter Morocco freely for a maximum period of 90 days, for official or social purposes without the requirement of a visa.

The visa waiver is also applicable to transit passengers travelling through both countries.

In an official statement, the Malaysian ministry said the agreement is expected to further enhance bilateral relations between the two Muslim countries.

It will also enhance economic, trade, investment and tourism cooperation between both countries.

The agreement will take effect after all requirements have been fulfilled by both countries.

Morocco established diplomatic ties with Malaysia in 1963.

Morocco exports canned fish, food, fertilisers, plastics and chemical products to Malaysia and imports mainly electric and electronic goods.

Bilateral trade between Malaysia and Morocco stood at about US$200-US$300 million in 2015. 2,927 Moroccans visited Malaysia in 2016 and the number is expected to increase gradually following the agreement.

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Australia's Ambassador to Morocco Announced

Today Australia announced the appointment of Ms Berenice Owen-Jones as Australia’s first resident Ambassador to Morocco

Ms Owen-Jones is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and was most recently Director of Studies, Diplomatic Academy. In Canberra Ms Owen-Jones has held a range of positions including, Director, Security Policy and Clearances Section. She served overseas with DFAT at the Australian Embassy in Paris.

Ms Owen-Jones holds a Bachelor of Economics, Australian National University and Diploma of International Law, Australian National University. She is expected to take up her appointment in June 2017

Australia and Morocco enjoy close ties and celebrated the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2016.

The establishment of an Australian Embassy in Rabat and appointment of an Ambassador to Morocco is an important addition to Australia’s diplomatic presence in Africa and part of the single largest expansion of the nation's diplomatic network in 40 years.

Our Ambassador to Morocco will lead efforts to enhance bilateral ties and open new areas of cooperation, including expanding trade and investment links in food and agriculture, infrastructure planning and sustainable development, mining, oil and gas, and health.

Australia values Morocco’s significant contribution to international efforts to fight global terrorism and violent extremism, and works as a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS. The new Embassy will enhance Australia's ability to collaborate further on counter-terrorism and security issues.

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Moroccan Embassy in Australia - Contact Update

The e-mail address for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Canberra (embassymoroccocanberra@maec.gov.ma) has not been operational since Thursday, March 30, 2017 due to an update of the Embassy’s e-mail platform

You can, however, still contact the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Canberra through the e-mail address: sifmacan@moroccoembassy.org.au

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Moroccan Flag Flies High in Australia

Last month the Moroccan Embassy in Australia took part in the 21st edition of Australia's National Multicultural Festival in Canberra, which concluded on February 19

According to visitors to the festival, the Moroccan stall was a fascinating attraction and during the festival was visited by thousands of Australians who expressed their interest in the historical richness, the geographical and cultural diversity of the Kingdom and their admiration for the beauty of Moroccan art craft and the elegance of the Moroccan costume.

For Australians with little knowledge of Morocco, the work of Moroccan artisans was of particular interest, with exhibits of work created from different materials including wood, leather, ceramics and bronze.

Moroccan Ambassador H.E. Mr. Karim Medrek

The Ambassador of His Majesty the King to Canberra, H.E. Mr. Karim Medrek, received visits at the exhibition  of The ACT Chief Minister, the Hon. Andrew Barr, the Minister for multicultural Affairs Senator the Hon Zed Seselja and ACT Labor Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, in addition to several Ambassadors and members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Canberra.

The theme chosen for this year by the Moroccan Embassy was focused on enhancing the millennial tradition of the Kingdom and its multiple identities, symbolised by the peculiarities of its different regions, the richness of Moroccan heritage, the cultural specificities of the Kingdom and its touristic assets.

Moroccan culinary art was also honoured thanks to the dishes prepared and presented by the Moroccan Association of Sydney, which gave the Australian public an opportunity to appreciate Moroccan gastronomy with  its rich flavours and aromas.

For Moroccans the sight of Moroccan flags waving at the sky of Canberra gave a special Moroccan touch to this 2017 edition of the Canberra National Multicultural Festival.

Australia's Multicultural Affairs Minister Zed Seslja with the Ambassador

Since taking up his duties in Canberra, Karim Medrek has been very active and done much to raise Morocco's profile. As the Ambassador of His Majesty The King of Morocco to Australia, he also is Ambassador to a huge area - Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Australia is to open an embassy in Rabat in the coming year and it is hoped that New Zealand will follow Australi's move and establish an embassy. H.E. Karim Medrek has already made a trip to New Zealand, where he was warmly greeted on Waitangi Day.

The Canberra National Multicultural Festival is one of the most important cultural events in Australia and has an annual audience of nearly 300,000 visitors. This festival allows Canberrans, national and international visitors alike to congregate in Canberra over one weekend for what is one of the biggest celebrations of cultural diversity across Australia.

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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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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".

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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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Shake Up of Moroccan Consulates

There is expected to be a recall of Moroccan consuls from a number of countries after HM King Mohammed VI expressed dissatisfaction over a range of problems from neglect of duties to disdain for the Moroccan community's interests or problems

Media outlets have described the situation prevailing in some consulates as "practises that belong in another age".

One report in the Al Massae newspaper indicates that "repeated scandals" involving several Moroccan diplomats has caused attention to focus on some 70% of Moroccan consulates abroad.

When King Mohammed VI was informed of the situation by Moroccans abroad, his anger provoked an immediate reaction in the Foreign Ministry and following an emergency meeting held on the 5th of August, the Foreign Minister, Salaheddine Mezouar, announced a series of measures to improve the effectiveness of consulates.

An audit of consulates will evaluate, "the performance of consular officers and local staff on the basis of criteria of competence, transparency and dedication to the Moroccan community service residing abroad".

Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar

Close attention will be paid to appointment procedures, to ensure better qualified diplomats are selected, rather than candidates whose only assets are their family names or their proximity to the senior officials of the Ministry. The short list for the consul positions was canceled, reports Al Massae, because of rumours that during the last round of appointments consuls were chosen in advance. The appointment to the consul position in Frankfurt was cited as an example.

Many diplomats who are said to be occupied only with their own affairs or with politics have been identified. A number stationed in France, Spain, Italy and Germany are expected to be recalled shortly.

Salaheddine Mezouar has said he will also reform the pension policy. The minister, who comes from Meknes, was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in October 2013.

Al Massae also cites the case of a Moroccan diplomat who refused to go to the country to which he had been appointed, on the grounds that the country in question could "negatively taint his surname". The diplomat waited a year before being appointed to another European country that he felt better suited his status, but in the meantime received all of his salary.

Emergency meeting in Rabat on August 5th

Mezouar warned against new consuls damaging the image of Morocco abroad. He also announced a rejuvenation and feminisation of the consular corps, starting from November. Finally, the Minister announced that an international hotline service for complaints by Moroccans living abroad will be operational from August.

It is worth noting that at the emergency meeting held on August 5 in Rabat, in attendance were the Interior Minister Mohamed Assad and representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Freedoms, the Ministry of Moroccans living Abroad, Foreign Affairs and Migration and the General Secretariat of Government. The presence of these officials suggests a possible change in laws affecting the Moroccan community abroad.

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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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New UK Ambassador to Morocco Appointed

The British Foreign Office has appointed Karen Elizabeth Betts as the new Ambassador of the UK to Morocco. The British diplomat succeeds Clive Alderton who has been based in Rabat since December 2012

Ms Betts currently serves as Counsel at the Embassy of Great Britain in Washington, USA , where she is responsible for foreign and security policy. She joined the Foreign Office in 2001. Betts was also a national security adviser to the British government.

The diplomat is expected to take up her post in Rabat in September. Betts has also been named as  non-resident Ambassador of the United Kingdom in Mauritania.

Former Ambassador  Clive Alderton, returns to London for the post of Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

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Morocco and France Mend Fences but Tourism Down

According to pundits the French are staying away from Morocco with holidays being cancelled and French bookings becoming increasingly rare

Media24 reports tht French tourists traveling to Morocco has registered a 30% to 40% decline in January. Last week was marked by a near total freeze of the volume of bookings by French tourists, it added.

The downward trend in French bookings and departures to Morocco, which started in September 2014, has apparently intensified in the wake of the terrorist attacks in France that claimed the lives of 17 people.

The terrorist threats from the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) seem to have also contributed in the decline of the numbers of French tourists travelling to Morocco. Salafist demonstrations in Tangier and Fez in the last few days have not helped.

Christiane Taubira and Mustapha Ramid meet in Paris

Yet at the same time, the rift between France and Morocco which caused Morocco to suspend cooperation agreements with France a year ago, seems to be resolved. A joint statement from Moroccan Justice Minister Mustapha Ramid and French counterpart Christiane Taubira follows meetings on Thursday and Friday and, after months of discussions.

They said the new accord allows for deeper and more effective cooperation while respecting each other's laws and institutions. It didn't elaborate, but said the agreement adds to already strong ties between France and the North African kingdom.

The spat was triggered by French police turning up at the Moroccan ambassador's residence to question intelligence chief Abdellatif Hammouchi — who wasn't present — over a torture complaint filed by a French association. Hammouchi had been accompanying the interior minister for a four-country meeting.

At the same time, King Mohammed VI is reported to have flown to France last Friday for a private visit, thought it is suspected he is likely to meet French President Francois Hollande during his visit.

While there appears to be a flurry of positive activity on the diplomatic front, things are still rocky in other areas.

The Moroccan government is moving towards elevating the position of English in the Moroccan Curriculum and in the educational system of Morocco in general over French.

The Strategic Report of the Supreme Council for Education, Training and Scientific Research, soon to be submitted to King Mohammed VI, is recommending replacing French with English in Moroccan Curriculum, according to sources in the government.

The recent session of the General Assembly of the Council saw a heated debate over adopting the English language as a medium of instruction in Moroccan schools. Many members of the Permanent Committee on Curriculum, Programs, Trainings and Teaching Tools, hailed the proposal while others defended the use of French.

Visa delays

The slow processing and often refusal by French authorities to issue visas to Moroccans has long been a bone of contention between the two countries. The situation has not been improved even though there are discussions in Europe in relaxing restrictions.

French Consulate in Agadir "slow to issue visa"

A Moroccan man died Friday after setting himself on fire outside a French consulate in protest at delays in his visa application, a local NGO said.

According to Aziz Sallami, president of the local branch of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights, Mustapha Riad (47) died a week after setting himself ablaze outside the consulate in Agadir "due to a lack of a response to his visa request".

Riad, who had lived in France for 17 years, had lost his French residency permit and applied for a visa.

Alexander Diebolt, a spokesperson for the the French embassy in Rabat, said the embassy regretted Riad's "tragic" death and added that France provides around 200,000 Moroccans with visas each year.


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Australians Meet in Fez

The Consul General from the Australian Embassy in Paris, Anthea Griffin, undertook a consular visit to Morocco in March. During the visit resident Australians were invited for an “Australian Evening” in Fez. Anthea was accompanied by the Austrade contractor in Morocco, Oussama Alaoui, Regional Consul, Tricia Martino, and Paris-based Consular Officer, Peter Cullen.

The evening provided an opportunity for the Australian community to meet each other, to share information about living in Morocco and to raise any issues with the Australian government representatives.

There was good attendance at the evening from Australian residents working in a range of sectors including tourism, mining and education. Some travelled from as far as Agadir, Marrakech and Essouira. The evening included a traditional Aussie Bar-be-que with a Moroccan touch. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and to enjoy meeting a diverse group of fellow Australians.

As one Fez resident reported to The View from Fez "It was a great night that was deemed a success by all. It was a chance to network, meet other Aussies, discuss common issues we all faced and seek solutions. Some of us with children were also able to organise our Austrlian passports for them, others were able to discuss visa issues for spouses etc. I feel most of us came away feeling like their was a sense of support that would continue (let's hope) and were happy to have at least contacts in the Embassy in Paris for future reference."

Peter Cullen, Anthea Griffin, Oussama Alaoui, Tricia Martino

Mr Alaoui provided an overview of Austrade services and Australian business interests in Morocco. He mentioned the growing number of Australian agricultural and mining projects under consideration. He revealed official Moroccan statistics more than 30,000 Australians had visited Morocco last year.

The Australian consular team encouraged Australians to register their details on the Australian government web site:

www.smartraveller.gov.au

The register allows the Australian Embassy to maintain contact with Australian citizens through group e-mail communication. The Embassy in Paris uses the register mailing list to pass on information such as Australian elections and changes to travel advisories. It is also used to notify Australian residents of visits by Paris Embassy consular staff to Morocco. The register is an invaluable tool in assisting to locate Australians in a crisis situation or emergency.

The Australian Embassy Paris has non-resident accreditation for Morocco which can make it challenging to provide consular and passport services for Australians on the ground. Under the consular sharing agreement with Canada, the Canadian Embassy in Rabat provides some consular services to Australians in Morocco.

Further information on consular services can be found on the Smartraveller website.


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Fez And Her Sister Cities

The Magnificent city of Fez

Twin cities or Sister cities have always been a cute idea, but does it produce any real benefits? The Mayor of Fez seems to thinks so. Last Thursday he wrapped up a visit to Kairouan in Tunisia, by saying that he was determined to revive the sister city relations ship with Kairouan

In his remarks Hamid Chabat said he wanted to revive the relationship between the two cities by concluding a cooperation agreement. The agreement would focus on the preservation of heritage architecture and culture as well as music and liturgical singing.

Kairouan in Tunisia

Fez has had a twin city relationship with Kairouan since 1965, but it has lapsed over the years into a symbolic rather than dynamic relationship.

 Al-Karaouine in Fez

The relationship is far older. The medieval university Al-Karaouine is part of the mosque, founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihria, the daughter of a wealthy merchant named Mohammed Al-Fihri. The Al-Fihri family had migrated from Kairouan (hence the name of the mosque), Tunisia to Fes in the early 9th century, joining a community of other migrants from Kairouan who had settled in a western district of the city. Fatima and her sister Mariam, both of whom were well educated, inherited a large amount of money from their father. 


Fatima vowed to spend her entire inheritance on the construction of a mosque suitable for her community. In addition to a place for worship, the mosque soon developed into a place for religious instruction and political discussion, gradually extending its education to a broad range of subjects, particularly the natural sciences.

Given the history between the two cities it is to be hoped the modern relationship can be revived and based on something more mainstream than liturgical singing.

Just for the record Fez is twinned with:

•  Montpellier, France, since 1961
•  Strasbourg, France, since 1961
•  Florence, Italy, since 1961
•  Kairouan, Tunisia, since 1965
•  Saint Louis, Senegal, since 1979
•  Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain, since 1982
•  Jerusalem, since 1982. (The twinning was signed with the Palestinian Authority)   
•  İzmir, Turkey, since 1995   
•  Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, since 2003
•  Suwon, South Korea, since 2003
•  Coimbra, Portugal
•  Lahore, Pakistan
•  Puebla, Mexico

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