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The King of Morocco spent the past two days in the city of Fnideq. There, he laid foundation stones and opened facilities, thus establishing a new era the northern city.
 Maghreb Arabe Presse On Wednesday, King Mohammed VI placed the signifying stone for a sea wall built to protect a fish unloading site. Costing $6 million dollars, the wall is meant to improve the site, increase the fishing days and income of local traditional fishermen.
Later in the day, the King laid another foundation stone – this time at the Institute of Applied Technology. Due to open in September 2011 with 700 students expected each year, the $2.7 million project will provide training in management, computer networks, accountancy, secretarial work and office automation.
 Maghreb Arabe Presse The next day, Mohammed inaugurated Fnideq’s multi-sport field which is part of major sporting center. With $14.8 million spent on this facility, it is meant to promote local talent and help sports and youth clubs.
Finally, the King laid his third foundation stone in the city. It was for a $15.5 million socio-medical complex which will have places for TB examination, respiratory infections, cancer treatments, hemodialysis and kidney diseases plus a dentist clinic and rooms for medical staff training and meetings. His Majesty was briefed on how this complex will further help the health service in Fnideq.
The city of Fnideq is located at Morocco’s northern most tip, almost touching Spain’s Ceuta enclave. It has a population of about 55,000.
Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco was awarded for her efforts in fighting cancer at a gala dinner for Association A.V.E.C. at Versailles on Monday. Dressed elegantly in a white sparkling dress, the wife of the King of Morocco was all smiles as she was lauded for her work.
 Eric Ryan/Getty Images David Khayat, president of the National Institute of Cancer in France, praised the Princess for her hard work against the disease.
Khayat said Lalla Salma has “unwavering commitment” to making the Moroccan people “show stronger solidarity in the battle for life.” He also commented on her putting “Morocco in a high level in the fight against cancer” and “to facilitate “the poor’s access to treatment and medicine to allow them an opportunity to recover.”
Lalla Salma was then given the 2010 award of the Charter of Paris against Cancer.
The Charter of Paris was founded in 2000 by former French President Jacques Chirac. It aims to bring together world and medical leaders together for the fight against cancer.
On Sunday, the Crown Princely couple of Belgium began a five day economic mission to Morocco. Philippe and Mathilde arrived in Casablanca and were greeted by Prince Moulay Rachid, King Mohammed VI’s brother and their host. Accompanying them were 300 Belgian business leaders. Although they arrived on a Sunday, things did not get started for everyone until Monday.
 Maghreb Arabe Presse The day began with Philippe at an inaugural meeting of the Ministerial conference of the countries of the Middle East and North Africa and those of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD-MENA) in Marrakech. The Crown Prince spoke of mutual trust between countries in order for trade to take place.
“Without trust, there can be no investment at least in a market economy because it is always a gamble on the future,” he said in a speech. “Trust is another essential ingredient. The recent crisis, marked precisely by a sudden drop in confidence, providing a further striking illustration.”
“Our economies must be restarted, there is prosperity for our citizens and their employment prospects. The effects of the crisis are still being felt, but the crisis has led to an awareness of the crucial role of good governance.”
 Later on, Philippe met with Prime Minister Abbas Al Fassi. The Prime Minister spoke of the great relationship Morocco and Belgium have together.
In the afternoon, the Crown Prince and Princess visited the marketplace of Marrakech. They toured the stands, tested local food, and chatted with the vendors.
Monday also included a visit to Marrakech’s treatment plant wastewater, and to an arts gallery.
Prince Albert II of Monaco was briefly in Morocco, where he laid a foundation stone for a resort project built by a Monte Carlo development company. He arrived Sunday, performed his engagement and left Monday.
 REUTERS/Jean Blondin Upon setting foot in the North African country, the Prince was welcomed by Prince Moulay Rashid, King Mohammed VI’s brother.
The next day, Albert went to Marrakesh, where the resort, Jawhar Hotel Spa and Residences, is being built. He laid the stone for the 94 million euro project, which is funded by the Societe des Bains de Mer de Monaco.
“This ceremony also marks a new stage in the development of warm relations that His Majesty King Mohammed VI and I have long enjoyed,” said the Prince, adding that “many joint projects with our both countries have emerged in the political, economic but also environmental”
“The complex is in line with the aspirations of Morocco’s Plan Azur, a visionary plan designed to encourage investment, real estate and quality tourism in the country,” Prince Albert said.
Jawhar will have 25 villas, a five-star hotel ( with 93 suites), two restaurants, swimming pools, shops, a kids club, a lounge, a tennis court, a spa, a business center, a library and a movie theater that seats 100 people.
On Wednesday, Morocco’s Princess Lalla Salma helped launch the “medicines for low-income patients” program as part of her anti-cancer association.
 Maghreb Arabe Presse The Princess was given a ”patient”tour at the Ibn Rushd Hospital in Casablanca, where the program began. The way it will work is by a patient will have a consultation and diagnosis of cancer, then he or she continues with the creation of medical records and review by a medical staff. After verification of the social situation of the patient, a sheet of drug allocation is granted, opening the path to chemotherapy.
Lalla Salma was also told ab0ut the storage of drugs used for this operation.
During her “patient” tour, she visited the examination room and patient treatment rooms for men and women where drugs are injected into them.
About 33 million dirhams were spent on the medicines for this program.
On Monday, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Casablanca for a global forum on the Mideast peace process. He was welcomed by Moroccan King Mohammed VI.
The two leaders discussed a number of issues, but most importantly, the Palestinian territories.
Abbas is in Morocco for the Al Quds International Forum, which King Mohammed is the patron of.
 Maghreb Arab Presse
 Maghreb Arabe Presse The King of Morocco officially opened the country’s Parliament in its capital of Rabat on Friday. In his speech to the Parliament’s two houses, King Mohammed VI stressed the need for legal framework for economic and social council.
“The aim is to develop a model Moroccan economic and social council that serves as an expert constitutional institution thanks to the quality of the advice and recommendations it gives regarding the nation’s chief economic issues,” he said.
The King also called for the council members to come from a diverse background. In other words, there should a substantial number of women, those from civil society and members of higher institutions.
King Mohammed added that the council must be open to all competent citizens, “in accordance with my wish to involve in the council all skilled Moroccans, wherever they may be.”
Furthermore, the Council should “give priority to drawing up – in the foreseeable future – the new social charter I have called for, and to give its opinion on the coordination and interplay between development plans and sector-based policies” and should seek to give concrete substance to the regional dimension of those plans.
“The setting up of this new council is a further step towards good governance in the area of development. I want the latter to be a pillar of our action to consolidate the dignity of our people and contribute to effective citizenship,” said King Mohammed.
During the opening of the World Health Organization’s regional committee in Fez, Morocco’s Princess Lalla Salma called for the creation of an anti-cancer solidarity fund for the Mideast.
 DR The wife of King Mohammed VI, who chairs her country’s anti-cancer association, said the disease does not have a place in the international community’s top priorities and urged that to change.
“In my capacity as Goodwill Ambassador for the World Health [Organization] I would like to start from the top of this prestigious forum, a call to all governments and policy makers, and through them the system of the UN to tell them that: It belongs to the international community to make the fight against cancer one of national and international priorities,” Lalla Salma said.
She continued to suggest a four year plan to combat the illness. The plan would rest namely on reinforcing solidarity among the Middle East countries, bolstering support to scientific research, adopting a national strategic planning approach, and paying key attention to the victims of this disease.
Also in her speech, Lalla Salma talked about the 10 year plan Morocco recently drafted for the prevention and control of cancer, which is based on good governance in the field.
“The calamitous effects of cancer,” said Her Royal Highness, “become more serious they are undermining the development process underway in many of our countries, especially those with low or medium incomes, especially in the absence an effective fight against smoking, responsible for 30% of cases affected by cancer. Worse: the consumption of tobacco, to devastating consequences, is, unfortunately, frightening proportions in our region, which has become one of the markets most conducive to the spread of this pernicious evil.”
In addition, the Princess discussed other diseases, such as AIDS.
“If diseases like AIDS and addictions of all kinds, growing in magnitude and severity,” she said. “It is because some complex cultural legacy of the show as “taboo” or forbidden, that the we must hide, and it is shameful to discuss.” Lalla Salma once again pointed out how Morocco, under the guidance of her husband, has set up several detox centers and AIDS prevention and treatment centers.
Lastly, the Princess talked about the global economic crisis, as well as the H1N1 virus, which is on the top of the list of many countries. “This crisis,” she said, “was accompanied by the beginnings of a turning point, symbolized by the globalization of the safety issue.”
“Similarly, it induces a greater awareness of the need to foster the emergence of a new global health, which is marked with the seal of equity and based on the principles of solidarity and responsibility.”
It has been announced that the 28 year-old cousin of King Mohammed VI, Prince Moulay Ismail, is engaged to marry German Muslim Anissa Lehmkuhl.
The King will chair the wedding, which will take place this Saturday, September 26th.
Miss Lehmkuhl is the daughter of a former German military attache to Morocco. Her parents, Omar and Amina, converted to Islam while living in the country.
King Mohammed VI returned to work earlier this week after resting from a stomach infection. He has been in Casablanca, opening facilities, laying foundation stones, and presiding over Ramadan lectures in the city.
 Maghreb Arabe Presse On Tuesday, the King opened an educational center for young people. The 1,395 square meter facility will teach about 600 local youths skills that would help them in the job market.
Wednesday, the monarch opened an addictology service, and laid the foundation stone of a children’s house in the Ibn Rochd University Hospital. The addictology center will treat those battling addiction to various things, such as drugs and the Internet, plus study addiction. There are rooms for addicts needing overnight treatment. As for the children’s house, that is meant for schooling children who will be hospitalized long-term.
 Maghreb Arabe Presse On Thursday, King Mohammed laid another foundation stone, this time for a construction training center. The center is funded by the Mohammed V Foundation, which was set up in honor of the King’s grandfather.
Over the last three days, King Mohammed has been supervising Ramadan lectures given by various imams from Morocco and North Africa. He was accompanied by his younger brother, Prince Moulay Rachid, and cousin Moulay Ismail. The religious leaders have been discussing the Muslim holy month, reading parts of the Koran, and telling those in attendance how to live a more holy life.
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