Morocco Expects to Join EU after Turkey
NEWS IMPRESSION: Cumali Onal, Zaman, Morocco
Morocco Expects to Join EU after Turkey
Have you ever thought about the question of which might be the next Muslim country to join the European Union (EU) after Turkey? There is only one answer to this question: Morocco.
Spain's southern neighbor has already officially applied to the European Union (EU) for membership. It's application was turned down in 1987, but the country is under the influence of French culture and still takes its prospects for EU membership very seriously. The EU rejected Morocco's candidacy as it is not included in the European continent, but Morocco thinks that it will join the privileged club. Morocco is a country where predictions have little to do with reality. The name Morocco has many connotations for us of a country covered by deserts, backward, with old buildings, dirty narrow streets, whereas, in reality it is not like that. How wrong this idea is can be understood on the journey from Mohammad the Fifth Airport to Casablanca. With immaculate wide avenues, lush green plants and fresh air like in Turkey, Casablanca, on the Atlantic Ocean, is as the romantic location of the Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman film from 1942, even though it was not shot there. The city, with an unofficial population of eight million, is the focus of attention of Western tourists as well as Muslims who coming from all parts of the world. The Hasan II Mosque is the second largest holy place after the Kaaba and the pearl of the Atlantic Ocean with its magnificent lightening system and characteristics representing Moroccan architecture. They love Turks very much Morocco holds great respect for Turks, which dates back to the Ottoman Empire's help to Moroccan Muslims against Spanish and Portuguese before. It is one of the few countries that does not require visas for Turks, and has schools established by Turkish entrepreneurs to build the relationship between the two countries. Education in schools in Morocco is both in Arabic and French. Though the literacy level is low, there is a high level of French spoken by the educated Moroccans and Spanish is common among the elderly in the north. The daily spoken language is Arabic, but highly influenced by French and many Arabic words are pronounced as if they are French.
One of the most obvious characteristics of Morocco is the peace and harmony in the society. Women with or without headscarves work alongside men everywhere, even in state buildings. The western influenced state does not interfere in people's beliefs. Rabat, a city established by France that has been the capital since 1912, does not differ from any European cities with its avenues, architecture, cleanness, and order. Even though Cairo has overtaken Rabat as the pioneer city in the Arab that it was in King Hasan II's time, Rabat is trying again to regain its importance for the world and the Arabic countries with closer relations established with the US recently. The US chose this city to explain its Greater Middle East Project (GMEP) to the Arab world at the beginning of last year and the Future Forum that was held December 10th and 11th, is one of the last initiatives of US Secretary of State Colin Powell although it did not please the Arab world.
Morocco, with coasts on both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, is like Turkey a point where different cultures, civilizations, and geographies meet. Besides it African-Arab-Berberi identity, Morocco is well integrated with Europe and the West in general. As the second country outside of Europe to officially apply for EU membership, Morocco has a major number of workers in Europe. What Turks are to Germany, Moroccans and Algerians mean for France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
The immense Sahara Desert contributes to the mystery of Morocco and has attracted the attention of Hollywood. Specifically the city of Urzazat hosts a big movie set and films like Lawrence of Arabia, Gladiator, the Jewel of the Nile, the Living Daylights, and Black Hawk Down were all made in Morocco's various regions.
Just as Casablanca and Rabat are commercial and political capitals, the cultural capitals of Morocco are Fes, Meknes and Marrakech. Only Turks call this country "Fas". This name originally came to our language from the Moroccan city of Fes. According to some historians, although the Ottomans reached at this city, they withdrew after a short time. Old Fes is under protection by UNESCO right now and perhaps it is the most protected historical heritage of Arabs.
Kayravin Madrasah in the city is considered as the first university. The mosque in the madrasah is the oldest mosque of Morocco.
Morocco was first called Magrib ul Aksa (far West) and now called only Magrib (far) by Arabs. Morocco is ruled by King Muhammad VI who comes from a family that has been governing the country for nearly 350 years.
In official records, the royal family is descended from Fatima the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. Fights for succession are prevented by a law that says the heir to the throne cannot marry unless his father dies or abdicates.
Morocco has a population of 32 million officially though it is thought to exceed 40 million, with many of them very young. There is no industry and agriculture is widespread, with phosphate deposits forming the biggest income resource, though French companies operate these. A big proportion of phosphate reserves of the world are in the Western Sahara, which contribute to the problems in the region and territorial disputes with Algeria.
'After Turkey it is our turn'
Another problem of Morocco is with Spain, which occupies Septe and Melilla on the coast of Mediterranean. Spain claimed these two cites as a reprisal for the British occupation of Gibraltar, but does not give citizenship rights to Muslims who form the majority in the two cities. On the other side, there are more than two millions Moroccans in European Union (EU) countries. Turkish membership of the EU is a great blow for the clash of civilizations thesis of why Morocco would be excluded, and they will also supply fresh labor force to the EU. Morocco, though geographically in Africa, does not differ much from Europe. Indeed, the European passion of Moroccans is subconsciously closely related to the EU adventure of Turkey: After Turkey's access to the EU, it will be their turn. Marrakech is The Base for Desert Adventurers Marrakech was founded in the 11th century by Muravids who gave their name to the country and state, and some Muslim countries call Morocco 'Marrakech'. Kutubiye Mosque constructed in the 12th century presents a unique architecture and beauty, which can be seen, all over the city. The city seems to be planned around the mosque. Menara Gardens, several hundred meters from the mosque are one of the most visited places. The Cemaa el Fena square near the mosque is a top tourist attraction. In the evening veiled fortunetellers and musicians sing Moroccan traditional songs, henna sellers, snake charmers, acrobats, punters and charlatans and dippers appear. This city which has been the gate to the desert for centuries is now the base of adventurers who want to breath its mystical atmosphere.
Motorcycles and bicycles are used widely and preferred mostly by women in Marrakech and this is a strange sight for foreigners who come to the city for the first time. Furthermore, the long cloaks prevalent in this city have different shapes for women and men and can also be worn in both summer and winter.
In Morocco each City has a Symbolic Color Every important city of Morocco is represented by a separate color. Casablanca is white, Fes yellow and red is for Marrakech. Taxis of each city are in their local colors. Casablanca means "White House" in Spanish and is covered mostly by white buildings, and called "Dar'ul Beyda", which means the same in Arabic.
Marrakech built on a plateau near the mountains is famous for its red buildings.
3 January 2005
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=1352
Monday, January 3rd, 2005
This Is What Turkey Thinks
. They should be proud of being part of their Islamonogoloid ancestry. They are raping Europe to death as it is. I think it is unfair that Europe should not be able to keep their European identities without a great portion or militants doing whatever the hell they feel like. It is very comparable to a Negro gang in America.These refugees should have went East instead of West. Why Europe? Because they know they can take avantage of the European man's resources. All Semites are is about greed.
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