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Abdel

Hi - here you will find a brief manual to Morocco, please note this thread is a read only, if you want discuss a topic, feel free to post it in the right forum. Enoy!

The Kingdom of Morocco is the most westerly of the North African countries known as the Maghreb. Strategically situated with both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, but with a rugged mountainous interior, the country remained independent for centuries while developing a rich culture blended from Arab, Berber (Amazigh), European and African influences.

Morocco's strategic location has shaped its history. Beginning with the Phoenicians, many foreigners were drawn to this area. Romans, Vandals, Visigoths, and Byzantine Greeks successively ruled the area. Muslim and Arab forces began their conquest of Morocco in the seventh century A.D., bringing their civilization and Islam. Several dynasties, both Arab and Berber (Amazigh), have reigned in Morocco. The current dynasty, the Alaouite, has ruled Morocco since 1649.


Morocco's location and resources led to early competition among European powers in Africa, beginning with successful Portuguese efforts to control the Atlantic coast in the 15th century. France showed a strong interest in Morocco as early as 1830. Following recognition by the United Kingdom in 1904 of France's "sphere of influence" in Morocco, the Algeciras Conference (1906) formalized France's "special position" and entrusted policing of Morocco to France and Spain jointly. The Treaty of Fez (1912) made Morocco a protectorate of France. By the same treaty, Spain assumed the role of protecting power over the northern and southern (Saharan) zones.



Nationalist political parties, which subsequently arose under the French protectorate, based their arguments for Moroccan independence on such World War II declarations as the Atlantic Charter (a joint U.S.-British statement that set forth, among other things, the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they live). A manifesto of the Istiqlal (Independence) Party in 1944 was one of the earliest public demands for independence. That party subsequently provided most of the leadership for the nationalist movement.



France's exile of the highly respected Sultan Mohammed V in 1953 and his replacement by the unpopular Mohammed Ben Aarafa, whose reign was perceived as illegitimate, sparked active opposition to the French protectorate. France allowed Mohammed V to return in 1955, and the negotiations that led to Moroccan independence began the following year.



The Kingdom of Morocco recovered its political independence from France on March 2, 1956. Through agreements with Spain in 1956 and 1958, Moroccan control over certain Spanish-ruled areas was restored. The internationalized city of Tangier was reintegrated with the signing of the Tangier Protocol on October 29, 1956. The Spanish enclave of Ifni in the south became part of Morocco in 1969. Morocco took control of its Saharan zones in 1975 after the Spanish army left the area. Soon after, the southern parts of Morocco were attacked by the Polisario Front which is mainly supported and equipped by Algeria. The United Nations which brokered a ceasefire in 1991 is still attempting to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. To this date, Spain occupies the small enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and other small islands in the north of Morocco. Armed conflict was avoided when Morocco tried to reclaim the tiny island of Leila.



Morocco faces the problems typical of developing countries - restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and achieving sustainable economic growth. Following structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is now fully convertible for current account transactions, and reforms of the financial sector have been implemented. Droughts depressed activity in the key agricultural sector and contributed to a stagnant economy in 1999 and 2000. During that time, however, Morocco reported large foreign exchange inflows from the sale of a mobile telephone license and partial privatization of the state-owned telecommunications company. Favorable rainfall in 2001 led to a growth of 5%. Formidable long-term challenges include: servicing the external debt; preparing the economy for freer trade with the EU; and improving education and attracting foreign investment to boost living standards and job prospects for Morocco's youth.

Abdel

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco conventional short form: Morocco local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah local short form: Al Maghrib

Data code: MO

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Rabat

Administrative divisions: 37 provinces and 2 wilayas*; Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit note: three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara; decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature in March 1997 creating many new provinces/regions; specific details and scope of the reorganization not yet available

Independence: 2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday: Throne Day or Sete de Throne 30 July (1999) (anniversary of King MOHAMED VI's accession to the throne)

Constitution: 10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996

Legal system: based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 23 July 1999) head of government: Prime Minister cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and a lower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 5 December 1997 (next to be held NA December 2000); Chamber of Representatives - last held 14 November 1997 (next to be held NA November 2002) election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, IP 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, UT 13, FFD 12, CDT 11, UTM 8, PPS 7, PSD 4, PDI 4, UGTM 3, UNMT 2, other 3; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - USFP 57, UC 50, RNI 46, MP 40, MDS 32, IP 32, MNP 19, PND 10, MPCD 9, PPS 9, FFD 9, PSD 5, OADP 4, PA 2, PDI 1 note: CDT, UTM, UGTM, UNMT are all labor unions listed under Political pressure groups and leaders; see explanation in the deion of Parliament

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch

Political parties and leaders: Action Party or PA ; Constitutional Union or UC ; Democratic Forces Front or FFD ; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Issa al-OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Party for Independence or PDI [Thami el-OUAZZANI, Said BOUACHRINE]; Istiqlal Party or IP ; Labor Party or UT ; National Democratic Party or PND ; National Popular Movement or MNP ; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; Organization of Democratic and Popular Action or OADP [Mohamed BENSAID]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Moulay Ismail al ALAOUI]; Popular Constitutional and Democratic Movement or MPCD [Dr. Abdelkarim al-KHATIB]; Popular Movement or MP ; Social Democratic Movement or MDS ; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP

Political pressure groups and leaders: Association of Popular Trade Unions or ADP ; Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT ; Democratic National Trade Union or USND ; Democratic Trade Union or SD ; General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM ; Labor Union Commissions or CS ; Moroccan National Workers Union or UNMT ; Moroccan Union of Workers or UTM ; Party of Shura and Istiqla ;

International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Abdel

For several centuries, Morocco was the center of a great empire stretching all the way from Northern Spain through West Africa. The unifying factor was primarily religion. Between the ninth and the twelfth century, three dynasties of Sultans came to power with a clear objective of spreading Islam. The Berber tribes that had embraced Islam were quickly associated as equal partners for further conquests. For three centuries the conquest of Spain proceeded and the success achieved in the name of the Sultan further solidified the unity of Morocco. This solidarity continues to assure both political and spiritual authority for Moroccan Kings.

After eight centuries of occupation by the Arabs, the Catholic Kings of Spain succeeded in driving out the Moslems and Jews from Spain in 1492. Three million Moslems, which included a large number of Europeans and Jews who had converted to Islam, sought refuge in Morocco over the years, adding to a population that was no more than four million at that time. Many of these refugees left Morocco for other parts of the Arab World, and other Middle Eastern countries. Because of its strategic position, from the fifteenth century on, Morocco has had to withstand the constant assaults of European powers, in particular Spain, Portugal and France. This constant threat from the exterior and the efforts of Kings to mobilize the population for resistance further strengthened the unity and national consciousness of the country.

In the end, Morocco lost its independence in 1912 when it was forced to sign a protectorate treaty with France. Although the treaty left the ruling Alawite dynasty in place, it ceded control of governmental functions to the French. Morocco regained its independence in 1956, and, since then, the Alawite dynasty has regained the rule over the country. King Hassan II succeeded his father King Mohammed V in 1961 and built a new model of government, which enabled him to retain substantial authority while introducing selective elements of western-style democracy, including an elected parliament and a system of multiparty politics. Until recently the center-right had dominated parliament and government. In 1997, the King finally achieved his ambition of installing a "gouvernement d'alternance", i.e. a government that alternates from the right to the left.

King Hassan II died on July 23, 1999 and was succeeded by his son King Mohammed VI. Western governments respected King Hassan II as a moderate Arab leader and skilled international power broker. His successor, king Mohammed VI has introduced a vast program of reforms and modernization.

Abdel

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Mauritania.
Area:

Morocco is slightly larger than California and Oregon combined. Approximately 710,000 sq. km (about 275,000 sq. miles of which forms the Western Sahara). Coast length: 3500 km (both Atlantic and Mediterranean). Morocco is located at the northwest of Africa. It is bordered in the north by the strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean sea; to the south by Mauritania; to the east by Algeria and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean.

Area : 710 ,850 square kilometers.

Climate:

Mediterranean climate, warm on the coast, continental in the interior and arid in the South. Rain falls mainly in coastal areas from November to March. The Mountain areas have cooler climates. Annual average temperatures of the major cities are as follows: Rabat, 71¡F; Casablanca, 69¡F; Marrakech, 71¡F; Ouarzazate, 64¡F; Fes, 66¡F; Meknes, 68¡F; Tangier, 66¡F.

The dominating weather in Morocco is Mediterranean, temperated in the west and the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Inside the country, the weather is more continental with significant differences of temperature. The Atlas area is very humid, it snows frequently. The south has desert weather.

Elevation:

Rif mountains: Jbel Tidirkine, 2,465 meters; Middle Atlas: Jbel Bounaceur, 3,326 m.; High Atlas: Jbel Toubkal, 4,165 m.; Anti-Atlas: Jbel Aklim, 2,531 m.
Main Cities:

(1994 estimate) Casablanca, economic capital, 3.1 million (m); Marrakech, 1.6m; Rabat, administrative capital, 1.5m; Tetouan, 1.4m; Fes, 1.2m; Oujda, 1m; Agadir, 0.9m; Meknes, 0.8m; Laayoune, 0.2m.
Time: GMT/UTC

Major Rivers:

Rivers Sources Length in Km

- Draa High Atlas 1,200

- Oum Rbia Middle and High Atlas 600

- Sebou High Atlas, Rif 500

- Moulouya Middle and High Atlas, Rif 450

- Tensift High Atlas 270

- Ziz High Atlas 270

- Bouregreg Central Massif 250

Mountain Chains and Major Peaks:

Mountain Chains Highest peaks Height in meters

- Rif Jbel Tidghine 2,465

- Middle Atlas Jbel Bounaceur 3,326

- Jbel Bouiblane 3,190

- High Atlas Jbel Toubkal 4,165

- Jbel Mgoun 4,071

- Jbel Ayachi 3,747

- Anti-Atlas Jbel Aklim 2,531.

Abdel

Tradition of Tolerance
"Oh, somber Morocco, stay walled in and close off to new things, keep your back turned to Europe and remain steadfast in the things of the past".

Fortunately, Pierre Loti's incantation from his book in Morocco never came true. Indeed, throughout its long history, Morocco's doors have never been closed.

Serving as a bridge between two continents, between Muslim and Christian, between Spain and the rest of North Africa (the Straits of Gibraltar are less than 15 km wide), the Alaouite Kingdom along with Turkey, is geographically the closest Muslim country to the west.

It is perhaps in its attitude towards minorities, namely the Jewish minority, that Morocco has best shown its spirit of tolerance. In 1492, fleeing the extermination by the very Catholic Isabelle, 150.000 Spanish Jews were welcomed in Morocco, where they enjoyed the status of dhimmi or protected jew.

Then, when the Vichy authorities in the last World War tried to impose the Yellow star and other discriminatory measures on Moroccan Jews, King Mohammed V refused the demands of the occupying authorities. He never questioned the oussaya, the duty to protect the Jewish minority.

And in the early 1950s, during the struggle for Algerian independence, when the Jews began to worry about their future, King Mohammed V tried to reassure them and to slow their departure for Israel. Eventually, he agreed to their departure and told his ministers, "The Jews are my children and I love them. I do not know the reason for their departure, but if it is their will, we will forgive them".

When King Mohammed V died in 1961, the "children" mourned his death along with other Moroccans.

His Majesty, King Hassan II, took up the torch. He accepted the departure of 200.000 jews for Israel, allowing them to keep their Moroccan nationality. He even played an important role in the meetings between the Arab word and the government of Tel Aviv.

It was in Rabat in 1977 that Moshe Dayan, Begin's new Secretary of Foreign Affairs, met the Egyptian emissary of President Sadat. That meeting led to the Camp David Accord.

Illustrating Morocco's importance on the Middle East scene was the visit of courtesy and gratitude paid by Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres to Morocco the day after signing the Washington accords.

To the other religion of the Book, Christianity, his Majesty, King Hassan II, has made gestures that were not simply symbolic. He admitted to the Royal Academy a dignitary of the Vatican, Monsignor Norbert Calmels and, after his death, the prestigious African Cardinal Bernardin Gantin. The Catholic Clergy, though small, is not only able to carry out its duties freely, but it is also paid by the public authorities.

However, the most spectacular initiative - a first in the Arab Muslim world - was the invitation to Pope Jean- Paul II to visit Morocco. On August 19, 1985, in the Casablanca stadium, the leader of Christendom addressed 80,000 young Moroccans. "Christians and Muslims", he said, "have much in common, as believers and as men...

In the past, we have also misunderstood each other and often opposed one another and exhausted ourselves in quarrels and war. I believe God is calling upon us today to change our old ways".

Abdel

The products of Moroccan handicraft are one of the fundamental characteristics of the Moroccan lifestyle. Over 40 corporations have been working wood, metal, copper, wool, linen, stone and clay for centuries. Adapted to the needs of modern life, our handicraft production relies on our traditions, offering a large variety of products ranging from small works of art to the simplest utilitarian objects. A wonderful scent and sense of life come out of it.

MOROCCAN LEATHER-WORKING, Morocco has a thousand types of Moroccan leather-working, all of which are of old tradition -in Fes and Marrakech a whole district is reserved to tanners. Fes, Marrakech : wallets, desk sets, babouches, leather poufs etc... Tetouan, Shefshaouen, Taghzout : multiple-compartment bags, leather- covered earthenware, plates and belts. Marrakech :Camel saddles (used as seats).

METALS, Copper: The Maghrebian household uses a great deal of copper industry products because copper is a material which captures dazzling light. Wrought irons: They are worked into candleholders, lampshades, bars, mousharabies and mirror frames. They are wrought in Marrakesh, Safi, Fes, etc...

CARPET WEAVING: All activities of the Moroccan artefacts go a long way back and carpet weaving is certainly the oldest of all. There are two types of carpets in Morocco. Rural carpets: which are the oldest and Urban carpets (each of these fall into an infinite number of categories).
Urban carpets: Rabat, Meknes, Fes, Marrakech.
Rural carpets: Berber carpets of the Middle Atlas (Azrou) ; of the region of Zadrs (Oulmes), of Shishaoua (Marrakech) and of Aït Ouaourguite (Ouarzazate).

Abdel

Moroccan cuisine is exotic!; It is extensive in its variety and remarkable in its taste and aroma. The centuries long history of invasions have contributed to the diverse sense of good food traditions, different ingredients and naturally the best possible combination of all these factors. It carries different levels of distinct tastes from north, south and the east; but the most strong influence comes undoubtedly from the east!



Morocca produce a large range of fruits and vegetables: nearly all tropical and Mediterranean varieties. Fish and seafood are plentiful while natural environment is very generous for feeding large quantities of sheep and goat. Poultry is also very popular throughout the country. Even the desert supplies a rich harvest of dates from its remote oases.



Most these ingredients have always been used by the indigenous Berber people of Morocco in their traditional dishes. Also the invaders introduced a large number of now traditional ingredients, along with previously unknown preparation and cooking methods. The people of Andalucia from southern Spain taught the Moroccan cooks how to use the ingredients such as; olives, olive oil, some fruits, nuts and herbs in cooked dishes. The Arabs introduced spices, different varieties of bread and dishes based on grains. French and Italian cuisine had a profound effect on the contemporary Moroccan cuisine as well.



Bread is eaten in every meal. Equally well known traditional segment of Moroccan cuisine is 'tajine'. Tajine is mainly a casserole of meat and poultry named after the cooking pot in which it is cooked. Tajine may be common menu item in every Moroccan restaurant but the most famous national dish is still 'couscous'. Couscous is cream-colored grains of semolina steamed over a highly-flavored stock made from meat and vegetables, and served with the meat and a sauce made from the bouillon.



Olives pickled in lemon juice and salt are essential ingredient of many Moroccan dishes. All kinds of olives are used for different recipes. Various sizes and colors of olives are utilized for different occasions, mainly for taste but also for presentation.



In special occasions, the most popular dish is always 'b'stilla'. It is made with an extravagant combination of spiced pigeon meat, creamy lemon flavored eggs and almonds. Then it is baked or fried in a circular case of overlapping leaves of pastry and topped with a lattice-like sugar and cinnamon decoration before served.



Charcoal roasted lamb, known as 'mechoui' is traditionally served during the Aid al Kebir festival which takes place just after Ramadan. Although there are many more delicious Moroccan dishes to be tasted before judging the superiority of Moroccan cuisine to the others we would like to apologise to offer only this much for the time being.

Abdel

A COUNTRY WHERE ART AND REALITY INTERTWINE

The attraction that Morocco has held for many great Western artists and authors over the past decades is explained, in my opinion, by the artistic savoir- faire which the country has used to forge tradition and modernism.

It is a country that not only welcomes strangers and enjoys the advantages of a healthy economic infrastructure and flourishing private development, but has also kept the vigor and the beauty of those magnificent contrasts so stunningly depicted by Delacroix in his paintings at the beginning of the 19th century. In fact, contemporary authors often take for their best works annotations from Delacroix's famous Travel journal.

The medinas and Moroccan villages fascinated Delacroix, He entered the darkness and silence of the alleys, explored narrow gorges, nooks and crannies. Before putting them down on paper, he made mental notes of passing silhouettes - of the elderly, the guards, the jews, the artisans, the veiled women - who hugged the walls or glided through the markets, crossing his field of vision like fugitives, before slipping away forever. All this is both an attraction and invitation for the artist.

Even I have had this same experience, but cruelly deprived by nature of the least bit of talent as an illustrator or a painter, I was only able through writing and photography, one helping the other, to reconstruct a landscape or a scene in detail. But how can one put across the hubbub at dawn in the square of Jemaa El- Fna? Which words could portray the entire range of nuances of Essaouira, with its changing and fleeting light?

Dazzled by the decor of Marrakesh and the small kasbahs of the Draa Valley, seized - almost hypnotized - by the elegantly sober minarets and hermitages, I felt all the frustrations and helplessness of someone who does not have the tools to throw himself into an adventurous creativity.

In Morocco, art and reality frequently intertwine so that the rough walls of buildings, made with bare hands, display thumbprints, just like certain paintings by contemporary artists.

On my terrace in Marrakesh, I have sometimes let my imagination wander like a vagabond. I have dreamed of reproducing on a page the splendid images that are offered by the traditional Moroccan home.

The meager resources available to me to string together nouns, adjectives, verbs - so derisory compared with the powerful images that painting has to recreate - led me to invent, as compensation, a different writing style; to contort, reshape and make transparent my writing, all in the spirit similar to an artist confronted with a canvas. Like them, I am searching for the basic essentials - absolute light, spark and clarity.


By: JUAN GOYTISOLO