Morocco Media Report: June 17

On June 17^th, King Mohammed VI of Morocco declared creation of constitutional monarchy and announced proposals for constitutional amendments in his speech. The proposals would be put to a referendum on July 1^st, 2011.

In response to the King’s speech, February 20 Movement called for a protest on Sunday, June 19^th. The movement gathered a few thousand Moroccans and called for creation of parliamentary monarchy in Morocco.

On June 20^th, the European Union endorsed reform proposals by the King of Morocco.

On the business side, The Middle East Association, UK will lead a Trade Mission to Morocco in September (11^th-17^th) to explore opportunities open to British businesses in the country. It will visit Casablanca and Rabat.

Politics

EU in Support of King’s Reforms

RTE News (06/20) – EU hails Morocco reform pledges

EU Observer (06/20) – EU takes king’s side in Moroccan protests

7^th Space (06/20) – Morocco commended for draft constitution

February 20 Movement

CNN (06/20) – Thousands protest in Morocco, but support king

Youtube (06/20) – Thousands protest Moroccan king’s reform plan

Morocco Board (06/19) – Morocco: protests against proposed new constitution

CNN (06/19) – Protest called in Morocco after king’s speech

Agence France-Presse (06/19) – Moroccan king fails to win over youth protesters, Sunday rallies set

France 24 (06/19) – Youth reject King’s reforms and call for protests

San Francisco Gate (06/19) – Moroccan king’s backers attack democracy activists

The Sydney Morning Herald (06/19) – Reforms fail to impress youth group

ABNA.co (06/19) February 20 movement calls for protests in Morocco

Care2 (06/19) – Morocco King’s Reforms “Not Enough”; Feb 20 Movement Calls for Protests

BBC (06/18) – Morocco: protesters say king’s reforms ‘not enough’

Aljazeera (06/18) – Protests called against Morocco reform plan

Google (06/18) – Moroccan king fails to win over protest movement

Yahoo News (06/18) – Moroccan king fails to win over protest movement

News Network (06/18) – Morocco’s February 20 Movement to Protest King’s Reform Plan

Voa News (06/18) – Morocco’s February 20 Movement to Protest King’s Reform Plan

Iran English Radio (06/18) – February 20 Movement Calls for Protests in Morocco

Morocco’s Constitutional Reforms

Hudson New York (06/20) – The Moroccan exception, Act II

Catholic Culture (06/20) – Morocco: new constitution to recognize freedom of worship

The New York Times (06/19) – Morocco: standing up to the King

ABC News (06/19) – Moroccan king curbs its own power

Global Post (06/19) – Morocco: the king’s speech

Middle East Online (06/19) – Moroccan king presses ahead with reforms

BBC (06/18) – Morocco’s King Mohammed unveils constitutional reforms

CNN (06/18) – Moroccan king concedes powers in radical blueprint for change

The Guardian (06/18) – Morocco’s king bows to pressure and allows reform

Aljazeera (06/18) – Timeline: The reign of King Mohammed VI

Press TV (06/18) – ‘Morocco reforms might stand a chance’

Boston.com (06/18) – Morocco’s king alters constitution

Dailykos (06/18) – Arab Spring and I/P: interesting developments in Morocco

Radio Netherlands Worldwide (06/18) – Morocco’s king unveils reforms, curbs to own power

Frum Forum (06/18) – Morocco’s king unveils reforms

The Washington Post (06/17) – Morocco’s king declares creation of constitutional monarchy, but keeps key powers

The Financial Times (06/17) – King unveils plans for Moroccan reform

Bloomberg (06/17) – Moroccan King Proposes More Power to Lawmakers in Constitution

Reuters (06/17) – HIGHLIGHTS-Morocco’s king speech on constitutional reform

Reuters (06/17) – Morocco King to lose some powers under reforms, remain key figure – draft

Yahoo News (06/17) – King declares Morocco a constitutional monarchy

Yahoo News (06/17) – Morocco’s king unveil reforms, curbs to own power

Yahoo News (06/17) – King Mohammed VI Sends Landmark Constitutional Changes to Moroccan People for a Vote

Huffington Post (06/17) – King Mohammed VI , Moroccan King, To Announce Constitutional Reforms

Aljazeera (06/17) – Morocco reforms to cut monarch’s powers

Euro News (06/17) – King of Morocco to unveil reform proposals

OpEd News (06/17) – Arab Spring Strikes Again: Morocco Reforms to cut Monarch’s Powers

Herald Online (06/17) – King declares Morocco a constitutional monarchy

AJC (06/17) – Morocco’s king outlines constitutional reforms

Star News (06/17) – King declares Morocco a constitutional monarchy

Kansas City (06/17) – King declares Morocco a constitutional monarchy

Iranian.com (06/17) – The King’s speech

Morocco Board (06/17) – Morocco: text of new constitution draft (Arabic)

The Sahara

Sahara News (06/20) – Sahara : the Polisario tries to undermine the negotiations to perpetuate the status quo

Other

The Guardian (06/18) – After the Arab Spring: the view from Morocco

Vao News (06/18) – Countering the appeal of terrorism

Business

Middle East Association (06/20) – Morocco Trade Mission: 11-17 September 2011

Global Trade (06/20) – USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Report, Morocco

Steel Guru (06/20) – Deal for pioneering solar project in Morocco

Logistics Week (06/20) – DHL inaugurates its €5.5 million gateway in Casablanca at Mohammed V airport

Oil Voice (06/20) – Circle Oil Post First Full-Year Profit

Share Net (06/17) – Morocco’s Jan-May trade gap jumps 25 pct to 76.57 bln dirhams

Culture/Sports

The Telegraph (06/20) – Morocco: readers’ tips, recommendations and travel advice

The Washington Post (06/19) – David Kemboi of Kenya and Samira Raif of Morocco win Sao Paulo marathons

Rugby League (06/18) – Morocco hosts MENA championship and name squad

TMC Net (06/18) – Travel: TheBigTrip: Arab Spring breaks: Trips and tips: Middle East & north Africa

The New York Times (06/17) – Win a Trip 2011: First Imp On June 17^th, King Mohammed VI of Morocco declared creation of constitutional monarchy and announced proposals for constitutional amendments in his speech. The proposals would be put to a referendum on July 1^st, 2011.