During his first official visit to Morocco since the advent of the young King Mohammed VI, the President of the Republic Jacques CHIRAC came accompanied by business leaders. During this "visit of the heart". as he himself described it, the French president reaffirmed his political and economic support for the constitutional monarchy. As the leading economic partner and provider of development aid, France counts on Morocco’s support to maintain peace in the Mediterranean and contain the Islamists.
Franco-Moroccan relations are not in "good stead", contrary to what the king of Morocco HASSAN II says to journalists at the end of his first interview with President François Mitterrand. Indeed, the subjects of dissent exist, including the rapprochement of France with Algeria, the fate of Western Sahara and especially human rights. The release of socialist opponent Abderrahim Bouabid is important to the French head of state.
Interviewed on the relations that General De Gaulle had with the former king of Morocco, Mohammed V, his son HASSAN II considers that the relations were like a solid friendship. He thinks that Mohammed V, admired for being a leader listening to the aspirations of the Moroccan people, has always been a loyal partner towards France. As a successor, HASSAN II inherits this respectful esteem that the French Head of State has towards the Sutee of a friendly country.
To forget his previous diplomatic indelicacy, Nicolas Sarkozy accepted the invitation of the king of Morocco, Mohammed VI: a real state visit with all the apparatuses, with in the background trade negotiations. Indeed, the priority issue for the French head of state was economic: the signing of contracts, including the effective sale of a TGV.
According to HASSAN II, King of Morocco, after the difficult period of colonization, the reconciliation of Morocco and France was exemplary. There was neither winner nor vanquished. The French from Morocco have always been well received. As proof, the nationalizations of lands and companies were made peacefully. Morocco is the only country in the world to have compensated the former settlers. The next trip of President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing will be an opportunity to consolidate the ties between the two countries and to continue a fruitful collaboration.
The official visit of the King of Morocco to France was an opportunity to reiterate the great friendship that personally binds Hassan II to his counterpart Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. If the official speeches are solemn, the two heads of state have repeated, each in their own way, their deep friendship. "Welcome dear friend to this France which welcomes you as a sovereign and as a brother." begins GISCARD d'ESTAING. HASSAN II continues: "I love and value the French head of state very deeply".
La visite officielle à Paris du roi du Maroc HASSAN II, a débuté par un moment de recueillement sur la tombe du Soldat inconnu aux côtés du général de GAULLE. Une réception en l'honneur du souverain marocain a été organisée à l'Elysée. "Nos deux pays marcheront côte à côte dans un avenir de coopération" a affirmé HASSAN II.
After the elimination of the team from Morocco, however winner of Scotland by 3-0, report in the district of Barbès in Paris and Brussels, where there is a large community of Moroccans, the elimination of the Moroccan team having been hard felt. - Paris, district of Barbès (18th ardt): Reactions of Moroccan supporters in a café. A young "As if by chance, it falls against us. The World Cup is ruined". - Two men kissing each other thinking about their team’s great play "We were playing with our talent. 3-0 is football!". - Brussels last night: Moroccan community with flags in the streets, proud of their team despite the elimination. - Telesidewalk about the penalty granted to the Norwegian team against Brazil which eliminated the Moroccan team: a man "Morocco played well. People are disappointed because of the Brazilian performance". Another "Last Minute Penalty...".
Before the friendly match against the French football team, Henri MICHEL, the coach of the Moroccan team, is confident. The Moroccan players expressed their happiness to face the world champions on Wednesday night in Marseille in a friendly match.
Interview of Leila SLIMANI, writer, she presents her novel "Le pays des autres" to Gallimard. "I wanted to be big, to be a literary challenge, to the smells of Morocco as a child. It was important to me and I thought it was very interesting. Morocco is an absolutely exciting Romanesque territory, with colourful historical figures, lots of panache, lots of complexity in what happened during the 20th century." - She adds that she does not like the term "very banal" of "person of Maghreb origin". "There’s a kind of violence in that expression, like we’re all the same, in the same bag."
The INA Galaxy 
