HM the King performs Friday prayer in Al Firdaous mosque in Raba

HM King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, performed the Friday prayer in Al Firdaous mosque in Rabat

HM The King Chairs Council Of Ministers

HM King Mohammed VI chaired, on Thursday at the Royal Palace in Rabat, a council of ministers, a statement by the Royal Cabinet said.

 In the beginning of the meeting and in accordance with the royal instructions during the last council of ministers on fighting the negative impact of the delay of rains, the Agriculture Minister gave a presentation on the current situation of the agricultural campaign and measures taken by the government to address this matter.

The minister, who gave data on the general context marked by a rainfall deficit which has negatively impacted vegetation and pasture lands, said that the government elaborated a program to support the agriculture sector to avoid the worsening of this situation.
 
For the implementation of the program, 1.53 billion dirhams was allocated mainly to safeguard livestock in areas with little rainfall.
 
The program provides for a number of concrete measures mainly the exemption of imported barley from customs duties, the implementation of the program of supporting livestock, supplying seeds through increasing subsidies for certified seeds and the indemnification of farmers with agriculture comprehensive insurance and whose crop production suffered damages.
 
Considering the solicitude of HM the King for farmers and the rural zone, the government will be mobilized to ensure an ongoing follow-up of the situation.

 Afterwards, the council of ministers examined and adopted two draft laws on the military field and five international agreements.
 
The council has approved a draft law modifying the decree on the organization of the Royal School for military higher education meant to upgrade and reinforce the capacities of military officers in scientific research and national defense.
 
The council also adopted a draft law on the payment for services by the unit of the royal gendarmerie in charge of manufacturing protective masks.

 As part of the implementation of the provisions of the new constitution, particularly article 23 related to the commitment of Morocco to the promotion of human rights, the council approved the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

The council also approved a series of multilateral international agreements notably on the statutes of the International Renewable Energy Agency, the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs, the Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification, and a bilateral agreement on aerial services.

March  9, 2012

HM The King Receives French FM
 
HM King Mohammed VI received, on Thursday at the Royal Palace in Rabat, France's Minister of State, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Alain Juppé who is on a visit to Morocco.

The audience was attended by Foreign Minister Saad Dine El Otmani, France's Ambassador in Rabat Bruno Joubert and Nicolas Kassianides, technical councilor for the MENA region to the head of the French diplomacy.

March  9, 2012