Aminet 6/Aminet 6 - June 1995.iso/Aminet/docs/misc/wfbook93_texi.lha/texi/165.data

Text File | 1995-03-27 | 11.7 KB | 395 lines

@node Geography (Morocco)
@section Geography (Morocco)

@display

Location:
  Northern Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea,
  between Algeria and Western Sahara
Map references:   Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  446,550 km2
 land area:
  446,300 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
  total 2,002 km, Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km
Coastline:
  1,835 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  24 nm
 continental shelf:
  200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty is unresolved; the UN
  is attempting to hold a referendum; the UN-administered cease-fire has been
  currently in effect since September 1991; Spain controls five places of
  sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - the
  coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla which Morocco contests as well as the
  islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas
  Chafarinas
Climate:
  Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior
Terrain:
  mostly mountains with rich coastal plains
Natural resources:
  phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt
Land use:
 arable land:
  18%
 permanent crops:
  1%
 meadows and pastures:
  28%
 forest and woodland:
  12%
 other:
  41%
Irrigated land:
  12,650 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes;
  desertification
Note:
  strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar



@end display

@node People (Morocco)
@section People (Morocco)

@display

Population:
  27,955,090 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.16% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  29.23 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  6.56 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  -1.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  53.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  67.5 years
 male:
  65.7 years
 female:
  69.4 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  3.96 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Moroccan(s)
 adjective:
  Moroccan
Ethnic divisions:
  Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%
Religions:
  Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages:
  Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business,
  government, and diplomacy
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  50%
 male:
  61%
 female:
  38%
Labor force:
  7.4 million
 by occupation:
  agriculture 50%, services 26%, industry 15%, other 9% (1985)



@end display

@node Government (Morocco)
@section Government (Morocco)

@display

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Kingdom of Morocco
 conventional short form:   Morocco
 local long form:
  Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
 local short form:
  Al Maghrib
Digraph:
  MO
Type:
  constitutional monarchy
Capital:
  Rabat
Administrative divisions:
  37 provinces and 5 municipalities* (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Agadir, Al,   Hoceima, Azilal,
Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen,,   El Jadida, El Kelaa des Srarhna, Er
Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Fes*, Figuig,,   Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga,
Laayoune, Larache,
  Marrakech, Marrakech*, Meknes, Meknes*, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda,,   Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat,,
Sidi Kacem, Tanger, Tan-Tan, Taounate,
  Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit
Independence:
  2 March 1956 (from France)
Constitution:
  10 March 1972, revised in September 1992
Legal system:
  based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial
  review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court
National holiday:
  National Day, 3 March (1961) (anniversary of King Hassan II's accession to
  the throne)
Political parties and leaders:
  Morocco has 15 political parties; the major ones are Constitutional Union
  (UC), Maati BOUABID; National Assembly of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN;
  Popular Movement (MP), Mohamed LAENSER; National Popular Movement (MPN),
  Mahjoubi AHARDANE; Istiqlal, M'Hamed BOUCETTA; Socialist Union of Popular
  Forces (USFP); National Democratic Party (PND), Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI;
  Party for Progress and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 Chamber of Representatives:
  last held on 14 September 1984 (were scheduled for September 1990, but
  postponed until June 1993 when 27 new seats will be added); results -
  percent of vote by party NA; seats - (306 total, 206 elected) UC 83, RNI 61,
  MP 47, Istiqlal 41, USFP 36, PND 24, other 14
Executive branch:
  monarch, prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral Chamber of Representatives (Majlis Nawab)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Mohamed KARIM-LAMRANI (since October 1992)



@end display

@node Government (Morocco 2. usage)
@section Government (Morocco 2. usage)

@display

Member of:
  ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO,
  G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF,
  IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, OAS
  (observer), NAM, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOSOM,
  UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Mohamed BELKHAYAT
 chancery:
  1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009;
 telephone:
  [phone]
 consulate general:
  New York
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  (vacant)
 embassy:
  2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat
 mailing address:
  P. O. Box 120, Rabat, or PSC 74, APO AE 09718
 telephone:
  [212] (7) 76-22-65
 FAX:
  [212] (7) 76-56-61
 consulate general:
  Casablanca
Flag:
  red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Solomon's
  seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam



@end display

@node Economy (Morocco)
@section Economy (Morocco)

@display

Overview:
  The economy had recovered moderately in 1990 because of: the resolution of a
  trade dispute with India over phosphoric acid sales, a rebound in textile
  sales to the EC, lower prices for food imports, a sharp increase in worker
  remittances, increased Arab donor aid, and generous debt rescheduling
  agreements. Economic performance in 1991 was mixed. A record harvest helped
  real GDP advance by 4.2%. Inflation accelerated slightly as easier financial
  policies triggered rapid credit and monetary growth. Despite recovery of
  domestic demand, import volume growth slowed while export volume was
  adversely affected by phosphate marketing difficulties. In January 1992,
  Morocco reached a new 12-month standby arrangement for $129 million with the
  IMF. In February 1992, the Paris Club rescheduled $1.4 billion of Morocco's
  commercial debt. This is thought to be Morocco's last rescheduling. By 1993
  the Moroccan authorities hope to be in a position to meet all debt service
  obligations without additional rescheduling. Servicing this large debt, high
  unemployment, and Morocco's vulnerability to external economic forces remain
  severe long-term problems. In 1992 Morocco embarked on a program to
  privatize 112 state-owned companies. A severe winter drought in 1991/92 cut
  back agricultural output in 1992.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $28.1 billion (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  0% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
  $1,060 (1992 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  19% (1992 est.)
Budget:
  revenues $7.5 billion; expenditures $7.7 billion, including capital
  expenditures of $1.9 billion (1992)
Exports:
  $4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  food and beverages 30%, semiprocessed goods 23%, consumer goods 21%,
  phosphates 17%
 partners:
  EC 58%, India 7%, Japan 5%, former USSR 3%, US 2%
Imports:
  $7.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
 commodities:
  capital goods 24%, semiprocessed goods 22%, raw materials 16%, fuel and
  lubricants 16%, food and beverages 13%, consumer goods 9%
 partners:
  EC 53%, US 11%, Canada 4%, Iraq 3%, former USSR 3%, Japan 2%
External debt:
  $20 billion (1991)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 8.4%; accounts for 27% of GDP (1990)
Electricity:
  2,384,000 kW capacity; 8,864 million kWh produced, 317 kWh per capita (1992)
Industries:
  phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods,
  textiles, construction, tourism



@end display

@node Economy (Morocco 2. usage)
@section Economy (Morocco 2. usage)

@display

Agriculture:
  accounts for 16% of GDP, 50% of employment, and 30% of export value; not
  self-sufficient in food; cereal farming and livestock raising predominate;
  barley, wheat, citrus fruit, wine, vegetables, olives; fish catch of 491,000
  metric tons in 1987
Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of hashish; trafficking on the increase for both domestic
  and international drug markets; shipments of hashish mostly directed to
  Western Europe; occasional transit point for cocaine from South America
  destined for Western Europe.
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.3 billion and an additional
  $123.6 million for 1992; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral
  commitments (1970-89), $7.5 billion; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $4.8
  billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $2.5 billion; $2.8 billion debt
  canceled by Saudi Arabia (1991); IMF standby agreement worth $13 million;
  World Bank, $450 million (1991)
Currency:
  1 Moroccan dirham (DH) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Moroccan dirhams (DH) per US$1 - 9.207 (February 1993), 8.538 (1992), 8.707
  (1991), 8.242 (1990), 8.488 (1989), 8.209 (1988)
Fiscal year:
  calendar year



@end display

@node Communications (Morocco)
@section Communications (Morocco)

@display

Railroads:
  1,893 km 1.435-meter standard gauge (246 km double track, 974 km
  electrified)
Highways:
  59,198 km total; 27,740 km paved, 31,458 km gravel, crushed stone, improved
  earth, and unimproved earth
Pipelines:
  crude oil 362 km; petroleum products (abandoned) 491 km; natural gas 241 km
Ports:
  Agadir, Casablanca, El Jorf Lasfar, Kenitra, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi,
  Tangier; also Spanish-controlled Ceuta and Melilla
Merchant marine:
  50 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 305,758 GRT/484,825 DWT; 10 cargo, 2
  container, 11 refrigerated cargo, 6 roll-on/roll-off, 4 oil tanker, 11
  chemical tanker, 4 bulk, 2 short-sea passenger
Airports:
 total:
  73
 usable:
  65
 with permanent-surface runways:
  26
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  2
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  13
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  26
Telecommunications:
  good system composed of wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links;
  principal centers are Casablanca and Rabat; secondary centers are Fes,
  Marrakech, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan; 280,000 telephones (10.5 telephones
  per 1,000 persons); broadcast stations - 20 AM, 7 FM, 26 TV and 26
  repeaters; 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean
  INTELSAT and 1 ARABSAT; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and
  Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave to Algeria; microwave radio
  relay network linking Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, and
  Morocco



@end display

@node Defense Forces (Morocco)
@section Defense Forces (Morocco)

@display

Branches:
  Royal Moroccan Army, Royal Moroccan Navy, Royal Moroccan Air Force, Royal
  Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 6,852,698; fit for military service 4,355,670; reach
  military age (18) annually 309,666 (1993 est.); limited conscription
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 3.8% of GDP (1993 budget)



@end display