JPRS ID: 8748 NEAR EAST/NORTH AFRICA REPORT
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CIA-RDP82-00850R000200020003-4
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i' :~9T9 ~ 43i ~ i OF i
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JPR.S L/8748
~ 2 November 1979 ~
/ orth Africa Re ort
N ea r E ast N p
(FOUO 43/79)
~ FBIS~ FOREIGN BROADCAST iNFORMATION SERVICE
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NOTE
JPRS publications contain information primarily from foreign
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sources are translated; those from Engiish-language sources
are transcribed or reprinted, with the original phrasing and
other characteristics retain~d.
Headlines, editorial reports, and material enclosed in brackets _
are supplied by JPRS. Processing indicators such as [Text]
or [ExcerptJ in the first line of each item, or following the
last line of a brief, indicate how the original information was =
processed. Where no processing indicator is given, the infor-
mation was summarized or extracted.
Unfamiliar names rendered phonetical~y or transliterated are -
enclosed in parentheses. Words or names preceded by a ques-
tion mark and enclosed in parentheses were not clear in the -
original but have been supplied as appropriate in context.
Other unattributed parenthetical notes within the body of an
item originatE with the source. Times within items are as LL
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The contents of this publication in no way represent the poli-
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JPRS L/8748
2 November 1979
NEAR EAST/NORTH AFRI CA REPORT
(FOUO 43/79)
CONTEN7S P'AGE _
ALGERIA ~
~i.shing Industry Needs Overhauling 1 _
(MARCHES TROPICAUX Ei MEDITERRANEENS, 14 Sep 79)
Brief s
Kaolin Deposit Deyelopment 3 ~
Batna GoaernoratP Harvests 3
Algerian-Ivorian Talks 3 _
BAHRAIN ~
Unrest Recently Seen as Purely Economic
(THE I~DDI,E EAST, Oct 79) ~
~ EGYPT -
A1-~adat Enraged at Zeft, Censures Muslim Brotherhood,
Leader on Television _
(AI,-WATAN AZ-'ARABI, 6-12 Sep 79) ....o 6
IRAN
_ Khomeyni's Son Describes Father's Isolation _
(Liz Thurgood; THE GUARDIAN, 17 Oct 79) 14 `
LIBYA
Iron and Steel Complex Planned
(THE MZDDI.E EAST, Oc~ 79) 15
MOROCCO
USFP Official ]}iscusses Sahara Problem
_ (Faruq Abu-Zahr; AZ-WAT.~I~ .AL-'ARABI, 10-16 Sep 79) 17
- a- LIII -~E' & A- 121. FOUO]
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CO':~1TENT5 (Continued) Page ~
Forest Resources, Wood Industry Figures Presented
(MARC[iES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS, 21 Sep 79) 22 -
Grains Given Priority for 1979-1980 Agricultural Season
(MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS, 14 Sep 79) 23
Bri ef s
French-Morocca~l Agreernent ~ 25
Report on French Corrununity ~5
High Tangier Port Ra.tes 26
Fishing by Spanish Boats 26
Agreement With Japan 27
Marrakech Water Supply 27
. Cooperation With USS~R 27
Gooperation With FRG 27
Phosphates Statistics 27
. ~.greement With Sweden 28
- Arab Mining Cooperation 28
Arab Import Loan 28
EEC Food Aid 29
TUNISI~
Rural Development Policy Outlined
- (MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERR,ANELNS, 7 Sep 79) 3~
Agricultural Developments in 1978-1979 Reported
(MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRA.NEENS, 14 Sep 79) 32
Brief s
Priority to Employment 36
~ Cooperation With Iraq 36 '
- b -
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ALGERIA
FISHING INDUSTRY NEEDS OVERHAULING .
Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS in French 14 Sep 79 p 2501
[Text] Before independence, fishing experienced accelerated d~:velopment in
Algeriz, reaching 30,000 tons per year on the average from 1930 to 1940.
It tllen droppe.d tu 25,000 tons per year and by 1958, totaled only 19,000
tons. At that time, it was exclusively practiced by Spaniards, Maltese and
Ital:ians, since t~le French had lost interest and the Algerians were involved _
only as paid workers. The massive departure of upper-level European per-
sonnel and the 40-percent decline in the fishing fleet caused production to
drap to 26,000 tons in 1961 and 16,000 tons in 1963.
For / years, production remained stagnant at around 20,OOC tons per year.
With the establishment of a public sector in 1969 and at the price of costly _
investments and financial advanta~es and loans granted to s~all fishermen,
it r~~se to 35,000 tons in 1974 and leveled off at that figure, with the
excel~tion of 1977, when the total was 43,000 tons. Deap-sea fishing is
now dominated by the private sector, in which a multitude of small businesses
are ~:ontrolled by a few large producers, allied with the whalesale fishmongers
' and brokers. The pubLic sector is endeavoring to make.progress, but not
without difficulty. Its share has increased slightly since 1972, thanks to .
massive investments. -
At tlie present time, private vessels include 124 trawlers, 167 sardine boats
and 364 small fishermen. The Algerian Fishing Office (OAP) is far behind
in number: 41 seiner-trawlers, 5 simple trawlers and 4 small boats, but
this modern, steel fleet can remain at sea for several days.
The main reason for the stagnation of catches are the outdated natur.e of
private equipment and the failure to maintain the OAP fleet, a lack of
motivation on the part of deap-sea fishermen, who�receive few financial and
social advantages, the archaic methods of fishing with nets at the surface,
- the small businesses and fishing with trawlers. And yet, the Algerian
coast, which is not well enough knokm, seems to have good fishing resources.
A few statistics published by the Ministry of Commerce show the current
~ situation. Seasonal fish make up, in terms of tonnage, 80 percent of the
1
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price.s, the so-r_alled "blue" fish (tuna and sardines) 14 to 15 percent,
shelJ.fish 4 percent and sharks ~nd swordfish th2 remainder. In Greater -
Algiers the end of 1975, the ret~il sales price was on the order of 18
to 20 dinars per kilogras for wh~iting and red mullet, 12 to 14 dinars for
_ shrimp and 3 to 4 dinars for sardines.
In 1978, customs registered 174 tons of fish exported for a little over
1 mil.lion dinars, with salted or dried stockfish representing over half
the volume and value. Impo.rts were negligible, although they were si~able in
ottier years (frozen tuna, dried or salted salmon). France is the front-
ranking customer by far, followed by Italy, which buys considerable quantities.
1n one of his economic bulletins, the Algerian minister of commerce talked
about the OAP and its "unfinished business." Established by an order dated
24 November 1969, it had and still has the task of organiaing and supporting _
the Craditional private sector, promoting industr~al fishing and processing
,and organizing marketing. Thanks to considerable investments, it has turned
toward fishing for blue fish (sardines and tuna), deap-sea fishing in the
Atlantir_ and canr~ed f ish.
Since the Algerian potential was estimated at 64,000 tons a year, the 3-year
plan drawn up in 1966 provided for the modernization of ten plants, the
training of fishermen owning ~heir own boats and engineers, the purchase of
boat~'and equipment. A fleet of 80 units was to be built, equipped with
modern outfitting. However, strucr,ural obstacles are substantial: a ~ack
of spare parts, motors poorly auapted to thP condi.tions in Algeria and a
lack of proEessional personnel. According to the analysis of the Ministry
of Commerce, these diEficulties are joined by the excessive control over the
private sector by the brokers, approved inter~aediaries between fishermen and
sales wh~ take charge of everything. The study concludes that a structural
ref~rm is essential.
COPYRTGHT: Rene Moreux et Cie., Paris, 1979 ~
11,464
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ALGERIA
� BRIEFS
KAOLIN DEPOSIT DEVELOPMENT--Until the deadline of 15 October 197y, the
National Mining Exploration and Exploitation Company (SONAREM) will receive
bids for studies of the development of the Amazert kaolin deposit, to in-
clude: processing tests, technical-economic studies and the drawing up of
spe:~ifications for construction of the industrial camplex. Interested
parties should write to SONAREM, Engineering and Developnent Division, _
Le Nador Bu:ildi.^;, 127 Boulevard Salah-Bouakouir, Algiers. [Text] ~
[Parjs MARCHES ~ROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS in French 7 Sep 79 p 2437] 11,464
BATNA GOVERNORATE HARVE~TS--The harvesting-threshing season which st~rted in
June in the governorate of Batna is coming to a close somewhat behind the `
rest of the country because of the rugged terrain. Declared a disaster re-
gion 4 years ago because of the drought, the governorate expects to harvest
much less than the 650,000 to 700,000 quintals of a normal season this year.
By 2U August, 200,000 quintals had been harvested from 81,000 hectares.
Yield has been low: 3.35 quintals per hectare for trie socialist sector,
2.38 quintals per hectare for the agrarian revolution sector and 2.36 quintals
per hectare for the private sector. One should note that because of the
drought damage, a large part of the previously planted areas have be~:n turned
into pasture. [Text] [Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS in French
7 Sep 79 p 2437] 11,464
ALGERIAN-IVORIAN TALKS--Commercial relations between Algeria and the Ivory
Coast were examined in Algiers on 9 September at a meeting between Abdelghani
Akbi, Algerian minister of commerce, and his Ivorian counterpart;, Maurice
Seri-Gnoleba, who came to attend the 16th International Fair in Algiers.
"The Ivory Coast is Algeria's main partner in Africa," Akbi said. "Commer-
cial trade is diversified and its volume is satisfactory," he added. Algeria
_ imports cacao, wood and coffee from the Ivory Coast and expo.rts iron and steel
products and oil derivatives. [Text] [Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITER-
_ RANEENS in French 14 Sep 79 p 2501] 11,464 -
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BAHRAIN
UNREST RECENTLY SEEN AS ~URELY ECONO:SIC
London THF MTDDLE EAST in English Oct 79 p 18
[Text]
Arriving in the UAE from Bahrain, On the first dey of Id al-Fitr, some 5,000
Ayatollah Khomeini's representative deploring Shi a-Sunni strife and insisting
Hujjat-al-Islam Sayyed Hadi al-Modazresi 400 students deprived of their paseporta
gave the first independent account of the until they gave e pledge not to indulge in
recent unreat on the ieland. A petition political activity ebn~ad. (Bahrain had
dre�,+vn up after the demonstrstions euggeete earlier atated that about 400 atudents were
political and economic motives ae dietinct involved but that the pasaports had ]ater
from purely religioue priorities. been retumed on the orde~ of the Amir
The Bahraini Govemment at first denied without the pledges being exacted).
that demonatratione had occurred or that Modarresi now alleges that Shailth al-Akri
Mod~rresi hed been deported, eaying he had died in prison, snd tFiaf he feara the conse-
left of his own volition. quencea if this is true.
Sui~sequently, however, amid calla for a M~g~~ ~~ected for the magazine in-
regional security conference, Bahraini ~meW the five moet important of the
officials acknowledged that "unlawful petition's 12 demande, two of which are not
i~~archea" had taken place and that religious in character. They comprise the ~
Modarreai had been asked to leave "to have recognition of Bahrein ae an Islamic stete;
hisU.4Epaeaportrenewed". the prohibition of alcohol; the -
In an interview with the radical weekly reintroduction of religioua inetruction in
A! Azmena al-Arabia, shortly after he achools; a review of the etate security law;
arrived in Sharjah in mid-September, ~d measures to combat unemployment.
Modarresi accuaed the Bahraini Govem- It was the unpopularity of the etste
ment of trying to "throw a cordon" round ~~rity law which cauaed the Govemment
- the Iranian revolution by preventing reporta ~ dissolve Bahrein's elected parliament in ,
of events in Tian from being publiehed. 1975, and the Security Police still heve a
His chronology of the unreet in Bahrain reputation for toughneas, even brutality.
begins with the return to Bahrain of an Unemployment is the eecond major eource
lslamic delegation which had Uavelled to of grievance after security. Clearly, the for-
_ Iran to confer with Ayatollah Khomeini. muletora of the petition were concemed with
Members weie interrogated and aome had 8~der eection of the population than juat
their pasaporta confiecated, he said. the religioue fundamentaliets.
ShorP,ly aft,er, demonstrators took to the ~e official UAE prPes hes not reported
' streets on �Jerusalem day" and 900 were M~~~~e presence, which must be a
arreated. R.eligious leader Shaikh headache to the Govemment. So far hia
Muhammad al-Akri then tried to present a statementa have been moderate, however,
petition signed by 40 ulema to the Govem- deploring Shi'a-Sunni etrife and insisting
ment. The Prime Minieter refuseci to receive that Shia sectarianism playe no part in his
it� and the aignetories were placed under activities.
close surveillance. Al-Akri then went to Iran He called on the Bahreini Govemment to
and an his retum was arrested. He remains reapond "rationally" and not "conwlsively"
in custody. ta evente, dismisaing Ayetollah Rouhani's
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terri~oria] clCiims tu the island as
"unc~fficisl", "irreeponeible" and "not
aeriuuH
It would t~c ijnngeroua tu nttach ton much
Nignilirance tc~ the demnnytratiune, which
ore not unprered~nted in Hahrain, with ita =
politically eophieticated and articulate pop-
ulation. 'I'he salient point is that the unrest
was quelled with ease.
On the other hand, the Gulf has never
been so "conwlsed" by rumour an~.
counter-rumour es it is today. Plans are
under wey for a regional security conference
to cu-ordinate measurea, probably at foreign
minister level. The previous foreign
ministers' canference in MuSCat in
November 1976 achieved little because of _
ideolcgical ~ifferences but the need to
contain unrest lends urgency to the forthco-
ming one. ~
COPYRIGHT: 1979 IC Magazines Ltd.
CSO: 4820
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EGYPT
_ AL-SADAT ENRAGED AT LEFT, CENSURES MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, LEADER ON TELEVISION
Paris AT:=WATAN AL-'ARABI in Arabic 6-12 Sep 79 pp 32-33 _
_ /Articie: "A1-Sadat's Anger Extends From Left to Right; Head of Family holds
Televised Trial for Muslim Brotherhood's Grand Master; Ghali Appeals to U. S.
Ambassador to Persuade al-Sadat not to Cut Off Salaries of Soviets Killed in
Battle"~
/Text] Cairo--President al-Sadat finds himself these days in a battle with
the left and the right. While he is incarcerating a number of communists
and leftists, he is holding the s~aord of "legal" abolition over the neck. of
- the Muslim Brotherhood.
' In one of his fits of rage which have beccime so frequent as to attract the
attention of his family and his doctors, i'residetit al-Sadat almost rolled a
number of big heads in his Ministry of Toreign Affairs, accusing them of
being "agents of the Soviet Union." However, the intervention of Alfred
Ather~on, the U. S. ambassador in Cairo, at the rigbt t.ime "prevented the
, catastrophe," according to i3utrus Ghali, tlne minister of state for foreign
affairs, and saved the big hea.ds of the Egyptian diplomacy.
An idea cropped up suddenly in al-Sadat's head, making him believe that it
is possible to "punish" the Soviet Union and to retaliate for its "negative"
stance toward the continued presence of the U. N. peace-keeping forces in
the Sinai to supervise implementation of the Egyptian-Israeli treaty. Engi- `
- neer 'Uthma.n Ahmad 'Uthman, the president's adviser, has described this idea
as "ingenious and liable to create an endless international explosion -
/farqa'ah~ and to become the topic of the press, the television and the radio
stations of the world for at least a month." ,
A1-Sadat summoned Butrus Ghali and a number of the most prominent Egyptian
diplomats and not~.fied them that since 1967, the Egyptian government has been
pay~?ng from its treasury salaries'to the families of the Soviet officers and
troops killed during the operations to train the /Egyptian~ armed forces
after the June defeat and to build the walls of missiles all along the western
bank of the Suez Canal under the raids o.f the Israeli air force, as wel.l as _
those killed whiled taking part in the operations to defend a number of -
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strategic locations in the heartland of E~;ypt, such as the High Dam.
The late President Jamal 'Abd-al-Nasir had taken this initiative to c~mpen- _
sate the families of the Soviet off icers and troops. On assuming the
~ presidency, President al-Sadat continued to pay these monthly compensations
on the basis that this is "one of the aspects of loyalty to the friend."
A Total of 639 Officers and Troops =
The number uf Soviet officers and troops whose families in the Soviet Union
receive monthly salaries from the Egyptian Government amounted to 639 men by
October 197'i. The maximum compensation paid by the Egyptian Government does
not exceed 150 pounds per family.
President al-Sadat's mind had come up with the idea that the men of the _
Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs should summon the Soviet ambassador in
Cairo and notify him that the Egyptian government cannot continue to pay
these compensations and ~hat it has decided to terminate them.
The Egyptian diplomats were stunned and tried to postpone, the implementation
of this decision but the president decided that this was something that had
to be carried out. On returning to the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs, the _
diplomats deliberated over the matter and came to the conslusion that its
implementation, regardless of the Soviet Union's connection with the issue,
is a grave insult to Egypt that would gravely damage its international rep-
utation at a very sensitive time. _
Butrus Ghali expressed the view that disclosing this serious issue would _
create an invaluable positive impact in favor of tr,e Soviet Union in Egypt
and i.n the Arab world and that al-Sadat does not know where to turn with his -
ever-increasing aptitude for anger.
Butrt~s Ghali then hastened to contact the U.S. ambassador in Cairo who was
extr~mely appalled by the situation anc~ who cabled his government which asked
him to intervene quickly. In fact, the U. S. ambassador did meet with Presi- -
dent al-Sadat last weekend and informed him of President Carter's annogance
with the rumors concerning d~sclosure of the issue of the Soviet officers and
troops. The ambassador told the Egyptian president that the operation will -
- cause absolutely no harm to the Soviet Union because the compensations are
very minute and constitute a burden to nobody and that, on the contrary, the
- Sovi~ts will gain a lot from publicizing this serious issue.
A1-Sadat backed down on his decision and the big heads in the Egyptian Minis-
try af Foreign Affairs w~re saved from falling. However, "the secret of the
issue" is hecoming kr_~wn to more and more of the political circles in Egypt. ~
Perhaps this idea which cropped up in al-Sadat's head came simultaneously .
_ with or accompanied the police measures as a result of which a number of .
leftists and communists working withi.n the framework of the Coalition Party
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were arrested in an attempt to link these measures with the measure tiaken
3gainst the fami'lies of thz Soviets killed in battle and so as to insinuate _
that the Soviets are actually behind the latest communist and leftist "move- ~
- ment." �
A1-Sadat's Wrath at Brotherhood
But the leftist concern has not been the only concern keeping the Egyptian
- president sleepless these days. The rightist tide, represented by the
extraordinary activity of the Muslim Brotherhood, especially among the
students and in rural areas, has become the main preoccupation of the Egyp-
tian security agencies. Daily reports are received by President al-Sadat
on this aetivity anci on what takes place at the meetings of cells in the '
- various governorates.
PresidPnt aI-Sadat has been fuming with rage at the Muslim Brotherhood for
- two reasons, The first is the effort exerted among the circles opposed to
the regime to for.n a b~oad national front that includes the Muslim Brother- _
. hood and the leftist organizations. The second reason is the campaign that
is being waged by some of the Brotherhood's sectors and wings against the
- "peace with the Jews," the Camp David accords and the Egyptian-Israeli
treaty--a campaign that has reached at times the degree of declar3ng as
"infidels" those who have participated in and signed the peace, the accords
and the treaty.
President al-Sadat expressed his sweeping rage in the open television dis-
cussion that he held to bring to account Shaykh 'Umar al-Talmasani, the -
Grand Master of the Muslim Brotherhood and the chief editor of AL-DA'Wah,
the Brothernood's offical organ.
Perhaps it is useful to mention here what took place in that television
session for the sake of benefit on the one hand and to provide a clear pic-
ture of the way al-Sadat thinks and acts, as well as for pleasure, on the
other hand. The dialogiie between the two men is very interesting and re-
flects the degree o.f their ability to utilize the propaganda or television
~ podium to attract people and to influence their emotior?s. -
One night in the second half of last August, President al-Sadat met in
~a Ismailia witi~ the clergymen and with al-Azhar men within the framework of
his continuous meetings with the various organizations and forces in Egypt.
- Shaykh 'Umar al-Talmasani, th~ Grand Imam of the Muslim Brotherhood, was not
expected to attend the meeting. But President al-Sadat, who had decided
something in his heart, asked Mansur Hasan, the minister of information, to .
invite al-Talmasani to the meeting. _
In fact, the government cars which transported the invited guests from all
parts of the country to Ismailia also brought with them Shaykh al-Talmasani.
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A].-Talmasana.: Everything is Corrupt =
Tlte plan for the meeting had called for an address by Shaykh 'Umar as one
of the words delivered. It seems that al-Talmasani sensed what had been
planned for him thr.ough the insistence on his participation. So he stood
under the television lights and before the radio micro~hone to demand "re-
forming everything in this country." This means that everything in Egypt
is corrupt under al-Sadat's regime.
The Grand Inam of the Muslim Brotherhood then concluded his speech, address-
= ing his words to al-Sadat,by saying: "Follow God's book and you will see G
from us what pleases you and pleases God. We are loyal and we do not hate.
- Faith and hatred do not mee*_. I,ead your nation with God`s blessing and may ,
God protect you and watch over you." ~ -
When a number of ulema, including Shaykh 'Abd-al-Rahman a1-Eanna, the brother
of ttie late Shaykh Hasan al-Banna who founded the Brotherhood and who is one ~
of the prominent leaders of this Brotherhood, had delivered their addresses,
President al-Sadat started his speecY:.
- Precident al-Sadat talks a lot usually, especially in front of television -
cameras. He stammers and stutters. Those who saw his open meetings which
lasted throughout Ramadan considered his lengthy words some s~rt of "Ramadan
eneertainment" b~cause of his insistence on repretition which makes his
audience and his listeners bored and sleepy. -
Un that night, after a long prelude in which al-Sadat discussed in detail
his "up~ight" religious upbringing and the need to teach "the fundamental
ccrr,ponents of the national history --meaning the Phatonic history, especially
since he had considered in his previous meetings the Arab rule that brougt;t
Islan~ to Eg~~pt a foreign rule--after this lengthy resume, al-Sadat suddenl;~
_ laLnched his premeditated attack.
Al-Sadat initiated his attack by referring to his "annoyance" at his meeting -
with the University Students Federation in the wake of the catastrophic 18
and ].9 January events more than 2 years ago because a youth with a long _
beard" who was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood argued with hime Because
the youth was daring in his argument and criticism al-Sadat described him as
"uncouth and loathsome."
AI-Sadat then embarked directly on the issue to declare that the decree ~is-
solva.ng the Muslim Brotherhood issued by the Revolution Command Council in
~~i7e time of the late President Jamal 'Abd-al-Nasir is extant. A1-Sadat led
himsPlf into a(Tagonic) contradiction when he admitted that the Brotherhood
is registered in the Ministry of Social Affairs and then said: "However, the
decree to abolish it is extant."
A1-Sadat then censured 'Umar al-Talmasani because he had said in A1-Da'Wah
that the U.S. administration and intelligenc~ had sent dispatches to Maj Gen
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- Mamdu~l Salim, al-Sadat's former prime minister, warning him of the "Islamic
groups" and asking him to strike them and get rid of the:n. A1-Sadat con-
sidered this an act of sabatage against the youth who will believe such
state~ner.ts.
A1-Sadat than scolded al-Talmasani for the Muslim Brotherhood's support _
for Ahmad al-Khawajah, the opposition candidate in the elections for the
Lawyers Union, against 'Abd-al-�Aziz al'Shurabji, the government candidate. -
A1-Sadot was not content with censuring al-Talmasani and scolding the
Brotherhood for this position of theirs but went on to launch a personal
attacic against al-Khawa~ah, without mentioning him by name, and described ~
him as "loathsome" because he insulted the government. Despite all this,
al-Sadat did not forget to say that his heart does not know hatred and
~ that he is "a forgiving man" because he is one of those "who suppress their ,
= wrath," as the venerable Koran says. '
The Egyptian president exposed the scandal of his personal intervention and
the intervention of his agencies in the Lawyers Union election battle which
was won by al-Khawajah against the government candidate. He also reminded
the Grand Master of the Muslim Brotherhood that he had asked the minister of
the interior to censure the grand master for the Brotherhood's cooperation
with the communists and with the "old opportunistic" Wa~dists in supporting
the candidate "who insulted the state."
Al-Talmasani denied the charge and said that al-Khawajah's men included the
names of Brotherhood lawyers in the election lists.
_ A1-Sadat went on with his attack against the Brotherhood and al-Talmasani.
and reminded that Shukri Mustafa, the leader of the radical religious group ~
who was executed on the charge of assassinating Dr al-Dhahabi, a former
minister of awqaf, was "from the Muslim Brotherhood to start with. This is
shameful." He then ~ook the occasion to warn against the radical religious
groups that have started their activities and said that these groups mislead
the y~~uth who are "an inflammable substance." He also warned that the
Brotherhood uses mosque podiums "to attack the state," meaning his regime.
What drew attention was the fact that the Egyptian president intensified his
attack against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and warned the religious organi-
zations and establishments against using the Saudi donations and gifts for -
the religious call:
A1-Sad~:c also underlined his relations with the Muslim Brotherhood, with the
late Si`~aykh Hasan al-Banna and with the Brotherhood's secret organization
before the 23 July revolution. He also underlined that he released and "re- ~
1labilitated" the Muslim Brotherhood nembers at the outset of his rule. He
then resumed the attack against al-Talmasani, pointing out that the Grand
Master of the Musli.m Brotherhood had asked to meet him and that he had refused,
preferring to have the meeting held openly "before the people."
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= President al.-Sad~t then concluded by enumerating the "considerations" on
whose basis he will issue his sentence. He said that considering that he -
is "the president of the republic, that he "does not lived on hatred," that
he is "responsible for the farthest grain of sand in Egypt" and that he is
a"man who has memorized the Koran, who is tolerant, who suppresses his
wrath and who is the head of the family whom God has wanted to fill this
- seat," he considers that AL-DA'WAH is piiblished illegallys that the Brother-
hood has no legal foundation and that he, in his capacity as the man in
charge, must suspend the magazine and abolish the Brotherhood until it re-
registers itself.
But, ~nd with a shrewd maneuver, he also announced that aIl these measures
will not be carried out 2ven though the law "is on my side" and that he has -
not resorted to the martial laws until this moment "even though they are
extant."
While keeping the sword of suspension and abolition hanging over the head
of the Brotherhood, al-Sadat remembered that the "defendant has the right to
defend himself" and so permitted al-Talmasani to speak.
A1-Talmasani's Review
Al-Talmasani, who was wearing a sport shirt, contrary to the others who were
sweating hQavily in the presence of al-Sadat because of the stiflingly hot
atmosphere, proceeded to the microphone.
_ A1-Talmasani spoke with emotion, sayin~ that he refused a call from the
communists for a meeting "because I am aware of the antagonism between Islam
and communism. The Brotherhood and communism will never stand together."
He ther? further reassur~~d al-Sadat when he stressed that the Bratherhood will
no~ enter with the communists or with the other g~rties into a front opposed
to the regime. He also disclosed that the British Embassy had contacted him
to arrange for a meeting with a high-ranking official of the British Foreign
OfEice who visited Cairo last June and said that he would not discuss politics
with a"foreigner" unless he gets the government's permissioi: first.
Shaykh al-Talmasani then said in a voice quavering with emotion: "If someone
else :~ccused me, I would bring the case to you. But now, to whom can I take
my case? I will take it to God."
C~J.-Ta:lmasani proceede3 to shout. into tile microphone in staccato voice: "I am
irinocent, I am pure, I am clean and I am a loyal Muslim. I have beseeched
God to let al-Sadat's rule live for the longest time possible. It this is my
reward from Anwar al-Sadat, then God be thanked."
A1-Sadat felt that al-Talmasani stole from him the lights and the sentiments
of the audience and of the listeners and so he proceeded to say:
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- "I am afraic.l you want to show me as a man who has exploited his position and
addressed such words to you, 'Umar. No. How many times did the minister of
the interior summon you?
A1-Talmasani: In the elections period, I wa5 mak3ng my pilgrimage in Saudi
Arabia.
A1-Sadat: No, /I am talking about/ the union (Lawyers Union) elections.
A1-Talmasani: The socialist prosecutor summoned and interrogated me. May, _
June, July and August have passed since the interrogation and I don't know
what has happened. However, I believe that if a mistake or an abuse has been
committed, the socialist prosecutor would not have hesitated in suing me or
adopting measures against me.
A1-Talmasani's voice then quavered again while he shou~.ed and gestured with
- his hands, denying that he is "plotting" against al-Sadat.
He went on to say: I was under ar~est and was awakened at 2300 to be told that
so and so (meaning Jamal 'Abd-al-Nasir) had died. The first word that came
out of my mouth after spending 17 years in prison was: May God have mercy upon
his soul. I am not one to plot, hurt or insult. I have reached an age that
does not permit me to take this path.
A1-Talmasani almost broke down in tears from being so overcome with emotion -
and apology: Excuse me, Mr President, but you will now cause me Co stay in ~
bed fur months. I ask God to have mercy upon me at this age and I ask t?im
not to let me be bedridden but to let me depart from this world immediately,
rather than get bedridden. If I complain to God, then I am complaining to
the Just. If I have acted lowly, then God knows the truth. I will not
complain to the unjust. I will complain to the Just in Whose hand is the
judgement and Who is the final refuge.
Once again al-Sadat felt that Shaykh al-Talmasani, with a skillfull theatrical,
had pulled the rug from under his feet in front of the television. So he pro-
ceeded to declare, backing down and reassuring the Brotherhood:
"I will adopt no measure /against you~. Therefore, you have no right to com-
plain to God about me because I fear Him. I truly fear Him. No, I am talking
to you today as the head of the family. God knows I want to have rest--mean- _
ing that he wants to retire--from all this. This is the truth, by God.
Therefore, withdraw your complaint to God."
A1-Talmasani: Instead of my withdrawing my complaint, your excellency shoulrl
follow a path through which to deal with the suffering I have undergone. I
want a special session with your excellency. I have a lot that ? want to tell
~you and I cannot say it now.
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A1-Sadat: My aim was not to hurt 'Umar or the Brotherhood, They know that
one day my hand was in Shaykh al-Banna's Hand. -
At this point dawn broke and Shehrazad went si~ent. -
Copyright: A1-Watab al-'Arabi 1979 .
8494
CSO: 4802
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rux urr 1~11iL ua~ ~NLz
IRAN
KHOMEYNI`S SON DESCRIBES FATHER'S ISOLATION
London TH~ GUARDIAN in English 17 Oct 79 p 7 LD
[Article Uy Liz Thurgood: "Son Describes Khomeyni as 'Absolutely Alone
[Text] Tehran--Ayatollah Khomeyni's son has drawn a striking picture of
his father alone at the top of Iran's pinnacle of power, crying out for
help but ignored even by his own ministers.
In a remar.kably frank interview published yesterday, Hojjatoesia Ahmad ~
Khomeyni said .*.hat his father's past friends and close aides had "changed
their attitudes toward the Iranian people" on assuming positions of power.
He mentioned no names. "The Imam (leader) is absolutely alone; alone
_ among 35 million people," he said. "He lashes unsparingly the United
- States. He has recognised the enemy, but others behind have their hands
tied and thick chains around their ankles."
"Is there no one to help me?" said Mr Khomeyni, quoting his father.
The interview followed criticism in recent weeks of the "un-Islamic" -
direction of Iran's revolution and charges that Ayatollah Khomeyni was
allowing himself to become isolated by interest groups.
Mr Khomeyni's comments also came amid accusat~;ans leveled at the foreign
minister that during a recent trip to New York, he gave American business-
men assurances of continued trade ~n condition that America did not inter-
fere in Iran's internal affairs.
COPYRIGHT: Guardian Newspapers Limited, 17 October 1979
CSO: 4920
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LIBYA
IROT AND STEEL COMPLF.% PI~ANNED
London THE MIDDLE EAST Oct 79 p 109
[Text] I,ibya, with only two and a half km south of Misurata, will be comprised the Mitsui and
million inhabitants, seems en used. These deposits are being Marubeni trading companies
unlikely plece for one of the assessed by a F~ench firm. together with Kobe Steel,
world's largest steel plants. But Energy for the plant will come Nippon Kokan, Ishikawajima-
the top specialist industrial from natural gas piped from the Harima, Kawasaki and
firms of Japan and Europe are Meisa ~3rega oilfields some 400 Sumitomo; the second included
wailing for the Libyan General km to the east. C. Itoh, Mitsubishi Heavy In-
Corporation for Iron and Steel Phase I of t.he Miaurata dustries and Hitachi.
� Projects (GCISP) to rnake a complex will turn out 580,000 These new tenders have now
decision on tenders submitted tonnes of flat steel products - been received, and the Phase I
r for a prc~posed iron and steel which can be moulded into contract, thought to be worth
complex at Misurata, 205 km sheets and formed into car some $300mn, is likely to be _
from'1~ipoli. bodies and refrigerato~, for ex- awarded by the end of this year
GCISP has opted for an iron ample, - and 670,000 tonnes of or early in 1980.
and steel works which in its first long products, pipea and While the tenders are being -
phase - up to 1985 - will have a reinf~rcing bars for the con- appraised, GCISP chief ex-
capacity of 1.25mn tonnes, 8truction industry. ecntrve Dr Ali Sharri and his
rising to 7mn tonnes by the ~�ear 'I'here are to be two pro- C0�e8~~ in the Government
2005. The estimated ccr3t of the duction lines, each with ita own heve been selecting and training
project at today's prices is some direct reduction, electric arc Potentisl Libyan ateel
$lbn, with as much again to be ~teel making and casting, and technologists. Moat of these
- spent on the development of rolling mill proces.qes. The Y~~B L~byans are working with
housing and infrastructure in accent throughout has been on the British Steel Corporation,
Misurata. quelity and adaptability and ex- ~~'hO~ ~~mational Services
Preliminary work on the steel tension of the plant to increase Division is acting es a con-
side of the Misurata develop- ~utput will be a comparatively sultant for GCISP. But lebour
ment was carried out by Indian simple matter. remains e problem - 40% of
consulting engineers Dastur of 'I'he result is a very high ~bYg's work force is already
Calcutta. Plant specifications specification, one which only a made up of foreignere. -
were issued in October � 1977. few of the specialist constructors p~~~minary work on the site
~ Phase I calls for the making of in the world can meet. Yet by h~ Rtarted, with bullduzers
both long and flat steel products April 1978, six months after the heginninR tt~ teckle the
by a process route involving ;~ue of tender documents by eatima~ted ~nm cul~i~ metree of
- direct reduction, electric arc Dastur, GCISP had received cand thn' ^~ill hnve to he moved
steel making, continuous offera from companies in Japan, before a 1~. m site can be enqured
casting and a rolling mill. Weat Germany, Austria and for the new plant.
Initially imported iron pellets France. Misurnte's eteel complex will
- possibly commg from Brazil - ~e~ w,as then a deley while be at the heert of the Libyen
w~ll be used in the mill. Later, it the Japanese companies were ,Jamehiriya's plans to eatablish -
is hoped, Libya's own iron ore ~ked to retender their bids as a heavy industrial ba~. A new
from the Wadi Shatti, some 600 two consortia. The first of these g87mn tx~rt biR enough to
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handle the l~ulk ore carriers
brin~;ing iron pellets has been
built at Qasr Ahmad. Already
this is being extended; a$120mn
contract for the work was signed
with a Yugoslav can5artium in
mid-1978. `
The steel complex will need
people, of cou~se, end a ~Vest
German consultancy has won a
contract for the design of 10 new
_ residential quArters which will
permit the population ~~f _
Misurata to grow from its
= present 103,000 to about 180,000
by 2005. The first phase of the
project, which will include
municipal buildings, a 400-bed
hospital and all the necessary
infrastructure, is expected to go
out to tender early next year
~~th ~+~urk ~~~irtin~; in 1S)�~tl. .
'I'his cxpnn~ir~n is ~�irtually a
new t~~w~n. Power nnd w�ater for .
ihis town will cume from a
desn.lination nnd power
generation coml~lex attached to
t.he si.eel works. 'I'he tUwn will
heve n high-speed rnil link to the
CA~ILSII, Tripoli. .
- If all goes according to plan,
the complex will make I.ibya
the wurld's ninth steel prc~ducer. -
The I~~cal market is jus[ not '
big enough to justify the
estahlishment of economic
secondary and tertiary in- . .
dust,ries. Yet t.he currenl five- '
� year ~~lan call5 far lhe spending
of $4bn out of a total plan ~
allocation of $28 bn on in-
dustrial expension. Misurata
- will be pruducing 7mn tunnes of
sLeel prcx3ucts by 2005 for this
indus~ry to form, shape and
convert intc~ consumer prc~ducts.
Clearly the market will have
to be strongly accented towards
exporis, south into sub-Sahelian
Africa as well a5 east into Egypt
and west into Tunisia.
COPYRIGHT: 1979 IC Magazines Ltd.
CSO: 4820
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,
~
MOROCCO _
�
USFP ~FFICIt1L DISCUSSES SAHARA PROBLEM
_ Paris AL-WATAN AL-'ARABI in Arabic 10-16 Sep 79 p 36
_ [Article by Faruq Abu-Zahr: "Socialist Union of People~s Forces:
We Support the Goverrmient but We Demand a Clear Strategy"] ~
[Text] Following AL-WATAN AL-'ARABI's presentaCion of
the position of the Moroccan Government and the Istiqlal
Party on the Sahara issue through its interview with
Foreign Minister M'Hamed Boucetta, total objectivity
dictates that we present the opinion of the opposition
as repreaented by its main organization, Che Socialist
Union of Peop.le's Forces [USFP]. In so doing, AL-WATAN
AL-'ARABI completes its presentaCion of the various
positiona held by the primary Moroccan forces concerned
with the struggle in the Sahara.
Mohamed E1-Yazghi is the second man in the USFP after
_ Abderrahim Bouabid. Their group, which is the main
political organization in the Moroccan opposition,
embraces the socialist line and attracts segments of the.
student population.
The following interview was conducted with Mr E1-Yazghi to
clarify the opposition's position on the Sahara issue.
[Question] I asked Mr E1-Yazghi: Can you s~mm up the USFP's position
on the Sahara issue?
[Answer] As an opposition political movement, we have a fundamental
and clear position on the issue. We absolutely refuse to accept the
existence of any geographical division or hostile state between ua =
and Mauritania.~
We consider the recent developments which led to the recuperation of
~ Oued Eddahab (Rio de Oro) Province to constitute a new phase. The
decision taken by Morocco is one which we support and will not relinquish
in view of the fact that it was the Mauritanian position which forced us
to regain Dakhla in order to protect ourselves and the future of the area.
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Th~: Mauritanian ~~cisioz to withdraw fram Tiri~ E1-Gharbia means _
th:~t Polisario and Algeria will be able to take over the area and create
. an entity ,ahich would form a base fran which to attack Morocco:
[Question] Is there a difference of dissimilarity between your poaition
- and that of the Moroccan Gover~ent on the Sahara issue?
[Answer] With regard to the decision to recuperate Tiris, E1 Gharbia,
there are no differences. We all agree on that. BuC there are differences
when it comes to dealing with matters. The situation which the problem
- has reached in the military, political or diplomaCic spheres is, in our view,
a result of,the lack of a complete and clear strategy, as well,as the lack
of initiatives which are up to the lEVel of events.
jQuestion] Would this difference of opinion prevent you from participating
_ in a government ot,national unity if the criticalness of the situation
required the formation of such a government?
[Answer] We are not against entering the government. Every political
parCy strives above all to govern and hold responsibility, bu~t entering
a specific government for the sake of continuing a specific policy is
something we reject. However, if there were a clear political plan and
a 5trategy capable of confronting Algeria's expansionist design, then
the matter would becane subject to debate and dialog.
[Question] But in what areas is the "deficiency" of the gover~ent
renresented, in your opinion?
[Ans~~er] First of all, in putting the issue before internaCional
- conferences, in Morocco's lack of presence in Africa, in the failure
to move within a clear position--especially in the military arena, and
in the face of the Algerian diplomatic move, on the other hand. Actually,
there has been indecision and the adoption of positions that have not
been understood by the officials.
Solution in Unity of NorCh Africa
[Question] What, then, is the best solution to the Sahara problem in
your view?
[Answer] The way events have developed, the solution must be a political
one. As far as we have been concerned from the beginning, the solution
lies in joint action on the part of all the sides.and all the states
bordering on the Sahara--including Mauritania, of course, and Algeria,
and even Tunisia and Libya. The Sahara is the starttng point and
nucleus for the building of a great Arab North Africa through total
Arab unity instea3 of slogan-raising. There are practical poasibi13.t3ea .
for cooperation.
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[Question] Iiut why d~es Algeria take its well-known position? And why
dicl Mauritania change its position? Is there a potential for negotiation
with Algeria, for example?
[Answer] In our view, the main reason concealed behind Algeria's support
of Polisario in calling for adoptian of the right t~ ~alf-rule is
economic, strategic and geopolitical. If there were cooperation w~thin
a framework of unity, these motives would cease to ~xist. If Algeria were ~
given incentives and guarantees within a framework of unity, this would .
contribute to a solution of the problem, because Morocco has absolutely
no ambitions and does not constitute a danger to Algeria.
However, it must be emphasized that the existence of a Saharan entity
in the area would h ave many effects not only on Morocco but on all area
states.
[Question] Could I say that all Moroccan political forces have simil.ar
positions on the Sahara issue?
[Answer] Certainly. All the forces have the same position. There ~
arc differences in p oints of view, but ae far as the protection of our
territorial unity is concerned, our position remains the only one.
We Are Beside the King
[Question] Returning to the idea of fonning a goverrnnent of national
unity, does a unity, does a unified position apply in the case of this
issue as well?
[Answer] The position has not been propcased seriously. There are rumors ~
in the foreign press, but there has n~t been any dialog in this direction,
and everyone is sti 11 concerned with the Sahara issue. We previously
decreed the establishment of a National Security Council, ar~d this council
was actually fornied. We are members of this council side by side with all
- the other political forces. Practically, we are in the field beside the
king. The council was established immediately after his speech in ParliamenC
last March, and we pursue our activities within this framework.
[Quest~on] Wha~ has the National Security Council done tor the sake of
the Sahara?
[Answer] We hope that the council will carry out more extensive activities
and that it will be given the means to establish a clear strategy.
Let me say again emphatically that no solution is possible unYess an
Arab North Africa is built and Algeria accepts it. Our party has had
definite proposals since the 1960's concerning joint utilizaCion of all
the Sahara's resources.
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~
L' Vl\ VL'1 lU.ll'?L UJ1S Vl'IL1 ' , `
~
As of yet, hcwever, we have not received a reply from Algeria. The
A].gerian~ have not had discussions with us even during the period when
their relatians with Morocco were good. and they have not offered
alternative suggestions. They raise the slogan of unity of the
peoples. How can unity of the peoples be built if they refuse to acc~pt
the opinion of the Morrocan people on the Sahara issue? _
[Question] But havc: you attempted to make direct contact with the Algerian _
Liberation Front on your own initiative?
[Answer] We have not held a general conference or national seminar without
inviting the Algerian Liberation Front, but they have not answered either
negatively or positively.
Several efforts at mediation were made by our brothers in the PLO and members
of the Egyptian [National Progressive] Unionist Grouping Unitary Assembly
Party as we11 as by Spanish political parties and the Arab-Italian Friendship -
- League. All these mediation efforts failed t?ecause of the Algerians'
refusal to accept any meeting, even on the popular level.
, Moreover, the Algerians tried to precent us from attending any Arab
- party c~nference or any pan-Mediterranean or pan-.4frican conference,
although most parties resisted these efforts.
llimensions of the Algerian Agreement
[Question] What are the dimensions of Algeria's agreement between ~
Ma~ritania and Polisario?
fAnsw~] I believe that the a~reement is actually linked to other issues.
� 'Tlie Polisario Front said several weeks ago that the current phase had
reached a military solution, and the latest operation was given the �-~ame
of the late Algerian presid ent, Boumediene. It is clear that preparations
had been made prior to the signing of the agreement, and the battalions
wh9_ch were to have entered Tiris E1-Gharbia were prepared and extremely
~~~ell equipped. The purpose of this was to translate the Algerian agreemQnt
and put it into practical application in the field. The Tiris E1-Gharbia
area was living under Mauritanian administration and a cease-fire had
prevailed there for a year, meaning that Algerian elements had the capability
to move easily by taking advantage of the truce.
I~ spite of tizis, and despite all the possibilities which existed for
the Algeriansito infiltrate and mobilize their supporters, not one
demonstration by even 10 people was held in support of Algeria at the
time of oui recuperation of Dakhla. In fact, what happened was that
the population rose in welcome at the return of Moroccan administration.
[O~~esti!~^; ;c~~_~clieve that there is a conflict between Algeria and
Polisario as is rumored?
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[Answer] I do not believe these suggest~ons. Algeria is a strong state,
and I do not think that Polisario would be capable of moving in defiance -
_ of the will of the Algerianss .
[Question] How great a potential for success is anticipated for Arab _
- media ti ort?
[Answer] They have refused to accept an Arab framework for the problem,
although this is the only framework capabl~ of having an affect with
regard to Algeria, in relative terms. They have always preferred an
- African framework.
[Question] How do you view the positions of the Arab states in the east?
[Answer] Unfortunately, the wavering relations in the Arab east ~ause
these positions to be characterized neither by love for Algeria nor hatred
for Morocco. The positions of most states there have beer. characterized
by caution as have those of most states in the world, while Africa has
generally been in favor of keeping the inheriCed borders as drawn by
colonialism.
With regard to Europe, the issue which concerns general opinion is the
_ problem of providing energy. Algeria has gained new standing on the
international level, especially after the event~ witnessed in Iran.
COPYRIQiT: 1979 AL-WATAN AL-'ARABI
8591
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- MOROCCO
FOREST RESOURCES, WOOD INDUSTRY FIGURES PRESENTED �
Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS in French 21 Sep 79 p 2562
[Text] The Mproccan forest covers an area totaling 8 million hectares
(including 3.2 million hectares o~ esparto) and is broken down as follows:
thujl, 1.9 million hectares; cork oak, 25,000 hectares; ar.gan~er, 740,000
hectares; oak, 425,000 hectares; cedar, 140,000 hectares; Aleppo pine,
80,000 hectares; secondary species, 285,000 hectares, according to
official statistics.
The national Moroc~can agency, Magrhreb-Arab Press Agency jMAP], emphasizes
_ that the Moroccan forest meets the country's needs, except for cabinetmaking _
quality wood of which Morocco imports 85 percent of its requ3rements.
However, Morocco exports: esparto, cork and paper pulp to offset certain
imports. The Water and Forest Administration has undertaken reforestation ~
' operati~ns in an area of 329,300 hectares.
Three million inhabitants live in the forest areas or near them and profit
directly or indirectly from exploitatiori of the forests. Some 6.3 million
head of livestock (sheep and cattle) graze in the forest areas. ~
Nearly 2,650 hectares of forest are destroyed annually by fire (particularly
in the regions of Taza, Tetouan, Oujda, Kenitra and Chaouen). Moreover, �
the forest areas decrease from year to year (fires, uprooting, felling).
- The MAP~also reports that investments in the wood industry rose to 127
million dirhams during the last 5-year period, including 117 million in- -
vested by the subsector which covers esparto, brush and panels, according
to a recent study by the Off~.ce of Industrial Development (ODI).
It is stated that this investment has accelerated wood industrial activity ~
and resulted in the creation of 700 new jobs.
~renty-two enterprises work in this sector, including 11 in the manufacture
of oak products, seven in the production of wood panels and four specializ- ~
ing in brush products.
COPYRIGHT: Rene Moreux et Cie., Paris, 1979
22
8143
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MiOROCCO
GRAINS GIVEN PRIORITY k'OR 1979-1980 AGRICULTURAL SEASON
Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDTTERRANEENS in ~'rench 14 Sep 79 p 2503
[Text] Abdellatif Ghisassi, minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Re~orm,
presented the plan for the 1979-1980 agricultural season to LE MATIN DU
SAHARAo Rec:alling first that agricultur.e occupies three persons out of
_ five in Morocco, provides a livelihood for 60 percent of the population
- and represents 20 to 25 percent of the gross domestic product, the minister
emphasized that agricultur.al products were 35 percent of exports in 1978
- (2.22 billion dirhams) but also 21 percent of imports (2.26 bi111on
dirhams). Grains, in particular, cost 860 m3.llion dirhams ~n 1978, while
their impoxt this year will total 21 million quintals; i.e., 58 percent of
national production.
Doubtless, some sectors experienced remarkable development: sugar, milk,
poultry and citrus fruits; however, for other sectors, notably oil and
graj.ns, the deficit is growing because the population is increasing and
' improving its standard of living. The goal of agricultural policy, through
the placing in production of irrigated areas, is to assure se1P-sufficiency
in several products, including sugar, mi1k, citrus fruits and fruit; through
systematic exploitation of arable or grazing lands, particularly "tiour
regions," to develop production of grains, oils, meat and milk products.
Priority for the Z979-1980 sease*! is being given to the growing o~ grains
(soft wheat alone will be grown on 800,000 hectarea), without, however,
neglecti.ng fodder, fruits and vegetables and the other foodstuffs mentioned
above. Various specific programs, such as olives and fruits and vegetables,
have been defined. The balance shaet of the previous season reveals that,
although there was a good effort on the part of the farmers, supplies and
distribution of seed, fertilizers and pesticides experienced some de-
ficiencies whjch public powers will attempt to correct.
Mechanization is making progress but is still inadequate: of the 70,000
tractors necessary for the totality of the arable lands, only 20,000 are
~ on hand; and the inventory is growing slowly. A mechanization plan is,
therefore, underway: collective and individual equipment, agricultural
credit and maintenance are the principal sectors. The same can be said
o� fertilizers: the 634,000 tons planned for 1979 represent a net
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incr~:ase over 1978 but are barely enough for 20 percent of the land. The
mini;;try has drtlwn up a plan for manufacture and distribution as a function
of d~~mand and is attempting to improve the distribution networks. A 5-year
"fertilizer plan" will be prepared. As for selected seeds, which have been
well received, these meet only 37 percent o~ last year's requirements.
Their price will be raised to encourage production. _
Finally, emphasis should be placed on m easures suited to thEl alleviation
of tile numbers and health s~.tuation of the livestock sector, wh3ch was
treated harshly by last yeaL's prolonged drought. In the disaster-stricken
areas, livestock growers have received barley at a 50 percent subsidy and -
_ beet pulp; installations set up in 13.vestock areas have created 3obs; state
companies have purchased a great number of sheep from unsuitable areas to
fatten theII~ elsewhere. However, the long-term solution rests upon the
opening of new lands for grazing jparcours]: 15 of them have been planned
.for 240,000 hectares; and their exploitatior~ is underway.
COPYRIGHT: Rene Moreux et Cie., Paris 1979
sia3
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MOROCCO
BRIEFS
FRENCH-MOROCCAN AGREF.I~IENT--The ELF-Aquitaine-Morocco Corporation, a _
100-percent-owned aubsidiary of the National ELF-AquiCaine Corporation .
[SNL;A], and the Cherifian Petroleum C anpany, of which SNEA holds 36 percent
of the stock, signed an oil research agreement with the Office of Research
and Minin~ Support [BRPM] in Rab~t on 6 August. The agreement was signed
b~_Abderrafih Guessous, managing director of BRPM; Yves Debiesse, chairman
of ELF-Aquitaine-Morocco; and Dr Zarbi Chraibi, deputy president of the ~
Cherifian Petroleum Com~any. Moussa Saadi, Morocco's minister of ere rgy
and mines, presided over the signing. G~.lbert Portal, SNEA's director =
in Eastern Morocco and representing Albin Chalandon, was present. Under
this agreement, the BRPM will provide ELF-Aquitafne-Morocco and the
Cherifian Petroleum C anpany, ~~~~th respectively, 45 percent and 10 percent
of their financial support o~, f~ve lots totaling 22,000 square kms, of
which 4,000 square kms are at sr::a. These lots cover the southern Rif
mountains and are located in the provinces of Kenitra, Sidi, Kacem, Meknes,
Fes, Taza, and Guercif. The ELF-Aquitaine-Morocco Corpuration and the
Cherifian Petroleum C anpany have agreed to finance in its antirety a
255-million-dirham exploration program (approximately 280 million FF) over
4 years in these areas, ELF-Aquitaine-Morocco being the one to carry it out.
This research agreement follows a memorandum of understanding that was
signed on `l2 February 1979 between ~he ELF-Aquitaine-Morocco group
and the Goverr?ment of Morocco. Other agreements currently being negotiated r
could be signed in the upcoming months with other associates interested in
Morocco's oi1 research. [Text] [Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET I~DITERRANEENS
in French 17 Aug 79 p 2267] 9064
REPORT ON FRENCH C~IUNITY--At the end of the French protectorate (in 1956),
appraximately 360,000 Frenchmen were living in Morocco. Today they number
approximately 50,000: above the number in Algeria, where there are not
more than 40,000. Forty percent of them, with their �amilies, are "fellow
citizens," as well as another 40 percent in the private sector. The
remainder cansists of civil servants of the Erench Republic or retired persons
who have become completely assimilated. "Fellow citizens " number 7,000,
one of the highest figures in the world: teachers for ttie most part, but
also doctors, engineers, and various kinds of technicians. Close to 6,000
work in Moroccan organizations and a little over 1,000 work in French
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teaching or cultural establishments. In the private secCor, besides very
acti.ve divisions like research bureaus and PME [Small and Medium-Size
- Busi.nesses], one sees the reversion of residuary divisions and, in
partiicular, retail dealers. Retired people, numbering several hundred,
have sometimea becrnne entirely Moroccanized. At the end of 1978, a _
phartnacieC retired from navy tx~oopa who,had been converted to Islam
unde:r the name Abdallah Samir and founded a family died in Marrakech at the
age of 86. In 1973, the Moroccan authorities decreed the "nationalitation" -
- of J.ands belonging to foreign colonists (almost all French) and the
"Moroccanization" of businesses and industries. Five to six thousand
Frer~chmen involved in agriculture and approximately 15,000 in other
sectors left Morocco at that time. The current figure is fairly permanent -
with circumstantial fluctuations: the decline in teachers and the economic
rece~ssion resulted, in 1978, in a slight decrease. These two reasons,
however, are not transitory. In its elementar~ schools, Morocco is self-
supporti.ng and 3,000 French teachers have ].eft the kingd an in 3 years.
Because France cannot fulfill the massive requests of the secondary schools,
Morocco has turned to Belgium, Canada, and even Romania and Bulgaria.
As f`ar as businesses are concerned, they continue to be victims of the economic
crisis. A good number of engineers recruited by major Moroccan services
(electricity, railroads, mines, and agriculture), as well as research and
business offices, have had to pack up their bags. However on the whole,
the French community in Morocco "is holding steady," proof of a propitious
envirornnent and a measure of similarity in thinking. [Text] [Paris
MAR~HES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS in French 17 ~ug 79 p 2267] 9064
~iIGH TANGIER PORT RATES--On one of its recent editions, the TANGIER JOURNAL
commented on a summary report gresented to the Chamber of Commerce and
' Modern Industry in Tangier by some of the agzncies using the port. It appears
from the report that Tangier is very disadvantaged in comparison to
Casablanca, in the accommodations if offers, the rates it uses, and even
in i.ts ad valorem tax, unique among Moroccan ports, on articlea worth more
than 15U DH a kilo. The authors of the report suggest several steps to
reme~dy the situation; declaring themselves unable to implement them by
themselves, they suggest furthermore either the appointment of a commission
cf the Chamber of Commerce, ~�rhich supervise~ ~iie p~rc aucnority�s activity,
or ~ven Che transfer to the Chamber of Commerc e of the functions of the
authority, which cannot make any decisions without Casablanca's agreement. _
[Text] [Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET I~DITERR~NEENS in French 17 Aug 79
p 2267] 9064
FISHING BY SPANISH BOA~S--In i.mplementation of the memorandum of understanding
si.gned on 29 June between Morocco and Spain (r'!TM of 6 July, p 1920), the
Spanish press announces that 632 boats will obtain a license to fish to the
north of Cap Noun (Ifni). This is the first time since 1972 that the
almost total southern Spanish fishing fleet can legally work off the
Moroccan coast. The memorandum of understanding goes into effect on
1 July for a 3-month geriod, renewable just one time, and accompanied by .
a fishing levy limited to less than 10 percent of the total tonnage of the
fleet fishing under the Spanish flag. [Text] [Paris MARCHES TROPIC~iUX
ET MEDITERRANEENS in French 17 Aug 79 p 2267] 9064
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AGREF~IENT WITH JAPAN--M'Hamed Douiri, Morocco~s miniater of equipment and
_ national development, held with the Japanese ambassador to Rabat a working
session on several development projects that the ministry proposes to
~ implement and possibilities for the Japanese Government's financial support
in conjunction with bilateral economic and technical cooperation. Japan
might, among other things, contribute in financing the port of Sidi Ifni. ~
[Text] [Paris MARCHES TROPICAUR ET I~DITE~RANEENS in French 17 Aug 79
p 2267] 9064
MARRAKECH WATER SUPPLY--In 1976-77 Marrakech was still experiencing up
- to 6-hour-a-day water cuts. As a result of the ONEP's [National Office of
~ Drinlcing Water] efforts, the city now has 100,000 cubic meters of drinking
water. a day at iCs disposal, in third place behind Casablanca and Rabat.
A 55,000-cubic-meter reservcir supplied by 40 collection points will soon
be supplied by three new wells furnishing 145 liters a second. In 1980
a parallel channel will be put into operation, on which ONEP will build
a 1,200-liter-a-second supply. Thus the needs of the city will be met
untit 1990. The project also provides for an intermediary treatment
~ station. ONEP's work in other cities of the province is performed in
variuus ways: drilling, restoration of old pumping stations, pipeline
- networks, and treatment stations. As a result, breaks are prevented in
- the major centers. [Text] [Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANELNS
in E'rench 17 Aug 79 p 2267] 9064 =
COOPERATION WITH USSR--In a meeting in Rabat between Moussa Saadi, minister .
of energy and mines, and the ambassador of the USSR in Morocco, the project -
to construct an electrical power station using oil shale from Timakdit was
discussed, as well as the possibility of building new hydroelectric units.
Soviet-Moroccan cooperation in this sector has already appeared in the
construction of several energy units, including the power station at Jerada.
At the same time, Dr Rahhali Rahal, minister of public health, discussed
with the Soviet ambassador setting up a cobalt bomb, bringing Soviet
surgeons to Morocco, and sending Moroccan students to the USSR. Moreover
a committee of representatives from both sides, in October, will sign a
. memor.andum of understanding on the expansion of technical medical assistance
and the exchange of doctors between the two countriea. [Text] [Paris
MARC}~S TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS in French 17 Aug 79 p 2325] 9064
COOPFRATION WITH FRG--The West Ge~nan deputy minister of food, agriculture,
and forest resources recently received the charge d'affaires of riorocco~s
Embassy in Bonn. Together they discussed possibilities f or technical and
financial cooperaCion in the areas of forests and the protection of the -
environment and of migratory animal species. The possibility of financing
a nationwide project to expand truck farming in Morocco was also considered.
[Text] [Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERR~iNEENS in French 17 Aug 79
p 2325] 9064
PHOSPHATES STATISTICS--With 32.5 percent of the world's total production,
Morocco ranks in first place in phosphate exports. Its 20-million-ton
output, which puts it in third place in the world behind the U.S. and
the USSR, could double and even triple between now and the year ~000. "
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r'ux ur~r~lu.uiL u~r. VLVLI
The only l:i.mitation, the Ministry of Energy and Mines points out, is the
10-year time period required to open and put a mine into operation. With -
the establishment of industrial payment units, derivative prodncts are
assuming an increasing share, to the detrimen*_ of natural phosphates:
currently 5.5 million tons, or 25 percent of 1980's anticipated production.
The goal is to convert one third on the premises, whir_h requires the establish-
ment, planned 5 years from now, of a supplementary, 500,000-ton unit. We
should not forget that, in value, phosphates represent 80 percent of
mining production and 20 percent of inetal and other output, in order: lead, _
coal, cobalt, tnanganese, barite, copper, etc. In comparison to world ,
production, Morocco produces 15 percent of the phosphates, 8.7 percent
of the manganese, 6.7 percent of the cobalt, 4.2 percent of the barite,
3 percent of the lead, and 2.25 percent of the fluorite, the report
- indicates. [TextJ [Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS in French
� 17 Aug 79 p 2325] 9064
AGREEr1Et;T WITH SWEDEN--Upon his return from Stockholm, where he had ~ust
signed an agreement on road transportation with Sweden, Mohand Naceur,
Mfl rrocan minister of transportatien, stated at the beginning of September
that similar agzeements will be signed with several countries, notably
Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Romania and Great Britain~ These agree-
ments are in addition to those signed with France and Spain. jText]
[Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET ME~TTERRANEENS in French 21 Sep 79 p 2562]
8143
ARAB MINING COOPERATION--1~ao mining agreements dealing wi*h joint exploita-
tion of the~oroccan silver-bearing deposits at Sidi Lahcen (Eastern) and
- Zgno�nder (near Ouarzazate) were signed in Rabat on 17 September between
the I~RPM (Mineral Exploration and Investment Office) ar.d the Arab Mining
Complny. The latter was established last year in Rabat to step up Arab
cooperation in the mining sector. The company's capital is shared by
sevei~al member countries of the Arab League, including notably Morocco,
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, thz Sudan, Libya and Iraq. Under the terms of the
- signed agreements, the Arab Mining Company will share in the capital of _
both of the companies set up to exploit the Sidi Lahcen and Zgnounder
deposits. The amount of this capital share was not divuiged. [Text] [Paris _
MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS in French 28 Sep 79 p 2628] 8143
ARAB IMPORT LOAN--A loan of $250 million was granted to Morocco on 21
September by a group of Arab banking institutions frc,m Europe and Asia. .
This loan which is earmarked for the financing of Moroccan imports of
materiel was granted "at the current market rate" and is for 10 years with
a grace period of 4 ana 1/2 years. At the time he signed the loan agree-
ment in Rabat, the Moroccan minister of finance, Abdelkamel Reghaye,
placed particular emphasis on the efforts exerted by tt~e kingdom to de-
crease its balance of payments deficit which, he stressed, w3.11 be reduced
- by about 20 percent this yt~ar, after having 31 percent in 1978. The
Moroccan balance of payments deficit decreased from 8.2 billion dirhams
in 1977 to 5,65 billion dirhams in 1978. [Text] [Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX
ET MEDITERRANEENS in French 28 Sep 79 p 2628] 8143
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EEC FOOD AID--The European Economic Community has decided to grant Morocco
a gift of 1,235 tons of powdered skimmed milk enriched with vitamin A.
Delivery will be made in October in Casablanca ~~825 tons) and Tangier
(410 tons). This giEt of food products whoae worth is estimated at 8.4
milllon dirhama is in addition Co the 200 tona of powdered milk and the
12,500 tons of wheat (worth estimated at 13 million dirhams) which the EEC
offered Morocco in the first quarter of 1979. The EEC food aid was set up
by tlie Z~iFP [World Food Program] for development pro~ects selected by the
Moroccan government. [Text] [Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEES in
French 28 Sep 79 p 2629] 8143
CSO: 4400
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TUNISIA
RURA]. DEVELOPMENT POLICY OUTLINED
Pari:; MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS in French 7 Sep 79 p 2439
[Text] Tunisian rural development policy, which involves most of the popula-
tion, is based on three principles: stopping the rural exodus, creating the
maximum number of jobs, involving rural dwellers,in drawing up and executing
regional plans. Consequently, substantial credits are provided for vocational
education and improving living conditions. ~
~ For the fourth plan (1973-1976), the total amount reached 63.4 IrID [million
dinars] for training 46,000 young people, securing of the jobs and income
of 93,000 families, improving housing for 65,000 and acquiring housing for
16,000 others. Moreover, most of the rural population has benefited from -
the very r~umerous community facilities established: dispensaries, reservoirs,
street lighting, etc. One figure allows us to declare that social differences
have been reduced considerably: from 1966 to 1975, the pexcentage of persons
sgending less than 50 dinars per year has dropped from 27 percent to 16 percent.
The plan involves a regular program and special programs. The first, which
finances small projects, used 47.4 1rID, spent as follows: vocational training,
6.2; creation and consolidation of jobs, 11.1; improvement of living conditions,
18.2; grojects to combat underdevelopment, 9.2; management of project execu-
tion, 2.6. Vocational education involved 29,000 craftsmen, 6;500 farmers and
fishermen, 9,000 owners of small businesses. It was often supplemented with
a grant or assistance with working facilities. Improvement of living condi-
tions, the most important item in the regular program, consisted for about
half in�local roads and drinking water, but also in rural housing (16 percent)
rural lighting (12 percent) health, education and sports, sanitation and _
miscellaneous.
The special programs involve particularly the enclosed governorates. Out of
the 15.5 pID allocated, 70.percent have improved community facilities con-
sidered inadequate, the largest amounts going, as in the regular program, -
for local roads and drinking water. The other items are similar to those
in the regular program, which they supplement in these areas.
During the fifth plan (1977-1981), the total credits w311 exceed 100 MD;
~ five frontier governorate's (Kasserine, Le Kel, Gafsa,Jendouba and Medenine)
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will enjoy besides 25 MD. Agriculture and fishing, which have priority, will
absorb half of the credits for creating and consolidating jobs. Equipment
of ne~w irri~ated area~, development of fishing, simplified credit acc{ess for
:~m~1.lJ Farming, are so m~ny means to move towards income stabil.izfltion.
Sr.hool5 and medicAl c~nters will benefit from the new rural development
- plan and the results for 1977 and 1978 (74,000 persons involved in 2 years)
justify supporting these estimates.
COPYRIGHT: Rene Moreux et Cie., Paris 1979
8940
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_ TIINISTA
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS IN 1978-1979 ~PORTED
Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS in French 14 Sep 79 pp 2502, 2503
[Text] Dependent on the available water resources and modern operational ~
methods, Tunisian agriculture fluctuates considerably from year to year.
All the more so since the Tunisian farmer; with few facilities for storage -
and processing, very often selects his crops on the basis of local con-
sumption and the prevailing pr~~es on the Tunisian market.
~ In 1977 and 1978, agriculture was severely affected by unfavorable weather
condi.tions. It should ordinarily catch its breath again in the 1978-1979
and 1979-1980 seasons to achieve satisfactory results.
Large-Scale Crops
The grain crop amounted to 9 MQ [million quintals] in 1978, made up of
5.7 riQ of hard wheat and 1.3 MQ of soft wheat and 2 MQ of barley.
Ztao consecutive short crops led to increased purchases of grains. In 1977
and ].978 imports were respectively 7.2 and 7.8 MQ for amounts of 35.2 and
45.1 MD. Consequently, exports dropped and amounted for the same years to
28 MQ (0.9 NID) and 2 MQ (0.5 NID). The trade deficit in grain products rose, ~
from one year to the other, from 34.3 to 44.6 IrID.
This situation is explained, on one hand, by the lack of production and, on
the other hand, by the high production costs (7.6 dinars a quintal for har~d
wheat in 1978, 7 dinars for soft wheat and 2.5 dinars for ba'rley). The
1979 season reports a good crop (10.5 MQ). Moreover the yields should pro-
gressively increase as a result of using selected seed, fertilizers and
herbicides.
Market Garden Crops
These crops were seriously affected by the heat waves in the summer of 1978
and lack of irrigation. Crops were below estimates. -
The 1979 potato harvest should amount to 120,000 tons (105,000 tons in 1978).
However, production is insufficient since imports reached 2&,700 tons in 1978,
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including 12,200 tons of seed potatoes. The increase expected for 1979 is
due mainly to increased areas (11,400 hectares) and to certain encouraging
expei�iments connected with end of season seed potatoes, quality and yields.
For t.omatoes, a production of over 300,000 tons is expected in 1979 (260,000
tons in 1978). For cucurbits (cucumbers, melons, squashes and pumpkins)
production increased to 234,000 tons, or 20,000 tons more than in the
previous harvest. Onion and pepper production should be short, dropping
respectively from 95,Q00 tons and 130,000 tons (1978) to 87,000 tons and -
120,000 tons (1979).
It should be pointed out that the hot house cultivation of peppers is
expanding remarkably, since it occupies more than half of the total surface
(104 out of 200 hectares). The other half is distributed between tomato
cultivation (64 hectares), melons (23 hectares) and cucumbers (3 hectares).
' Orchards
Olives
The 1979 harvest reportedly only produced 75,000 tons of olive oil. The
drop was caused by the seasonal nature of the olive tree, to which should
be added the lack of rain and poor maintenance of olive groves.
Exports of olive oil (until June 1979) reached 45,800 tons (10,000 tons more
~ compared with 1977-78). This development is due mainly to increased ship- �
ments to Italy, with sales having made up for the drop in Libyan purchases.
_ But, considering the local demand, the amounts exported have been counter-
balanced by the consumption of about 40,000 tons of mixed oi'1 (first 6 months
of 1979).
Citrus Fruit
According to the GIAF [Interprofessional Citrus Fruit and Fruit Association],
the citrus Fruit harvest should produce 183,000 tons (220,000 tons during
the previous harvest). The decline was felt in connection with lemons and -
clementines. The dro~ in production led to higher prices on the local ~
- market (38 percent for. clementines, 58 percent for Maltese and 64 percent
for tangerines).
- Estimates for citrus fruit exports have turned out to be too optimistic: _
they had counted on 45,000 tons, while the expected figure will not exceed
35,000 tons (33,000 tons until July 1979).
The 1978-79 harvest allowed the export of 52,800 tons, compared with 31,000
tons the previous year. We observe the Saudi Arabian market has been won ~
for the first time (50 tons of clementines).
Apricots
Estimated at 21,500 tons, apricot production dropped 23 percent with respect
to the previous harvest (26,000 tons).33 Hail and frost damaged the Amor Leuch
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and Canino varieties. It was planned to export 2,500 to 3;0~0 tons, but
the exports during the first 6 months of 1979 have only amounted to about
1,500 tons (2,650 tons in 1978).
Grapes
With. heat waues having dried up part of the ripening grapes of last year's
crop (424,~00 hectoliters of wine), the grape harvests this year should
produce 650,000 hectoliters of caine and 20,000 tons of table grapes (15,000
tons in 1978).
Dates -
According to the latest estimates of GID [Interprofessional Date Association],
the 1978-79 harvest produced 45,300 tons, compared with 33,200 in 1977-78,
of which 19,200 tons were "Deglet Noir." The preceding year's harvest was
d3maged considerably.
As of. 15 April 1979, more than 5,500 tons of dates were exported for a value
of over 3 MD. Exports went especially to France (3,008 tons), Italy (1,230
tons), Spain (471 tons), and Switzerland (83 tons). Zfao Arab countries
were among Tunisia's customers, Saudi Arabia (443.5 tons) and Libya (80 tons). -
Main Agricultural Products
(in 1,000 tons)
Variation
~ 1978 1979 Percent
Graitis 907 1,050 + 15.7
Potatoes 105 120 + 14.3
Tomatoes 260 303 + 16.5
Cucurbits 214 234 + ~~.g.3
Onions 87 95 + 9.2
Peppers 130 120 - 7.7
Olive oil 136 75 - 44.9
Citrus fruit 220 183 - 16.8
Apricots 26 21.5 - 17.3
Wines (1,000 hectoliters) 424 650 + 53.3
Dates 33.2 45.3 + 36.4
Almonds 35 30 - 14.3
Beets 80 60 - 25
Eggs (millions) 330 400 + 21.1
Note: For grains, wine and dates, the harvest was brought in completely
during the first year of the season.
Industrial Crops
The sugar beet harvest reportedly will amount to 55,000 to 60,000 tons,
compared with 80,000 obtained in 1978. The decline of cultivated areas,
which shrunk from 2,635 to 2,180 hectares 17 percent) explains this
drop. 34
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For tobacco, the estimates were 3,500 hectares (3,000 tons) of smoking -
tobacco and 1,200 hectares (2,500 tons) of snuff. The cultivated area
Eor snuf.f will increase by 300 hectares, in view of new export prospects
(to Algeria). -
The esparto grass harvest amounted to 95,000 tons.
. Cattle Raising -
Rains made it possible to improve pasturage considerably, after the de- _
terioration experienced in recent years, as a result of weather and the
decrease of pasture lands.
Poultry R~ising
Thriving gruwth is expected for poultry raising. The Fifth Development Plan
(1981 goal) sets the average Tunisian consumption at 105 eggs and 6 kg.of
chicken meat. The branch is now suffering from overpopulation, aggravated
by a lack of storage capacity and a very low annual consumption (70 units
, per person). .
Tunisia has 10 incubators, with a total capacity of 280 million hatching -
eggs. Tunisia's total incubation capacity will be increased to 33 million
eggs, making it possible to produce 25 million newly hatched meat an egg -
laying chicks. A Tunisian-Canadian complex is being completed. The cost
of the first unit, which will be operational beginning in 1980, will exceed
2,000 dinars. Production for 1979 is estimated at 400 million units (300
mi.llion in 1978).
COPYRIGHT: Rene Moreux et Cie., Paris, 1979 -
8490 -
CSO: 4400 '
_ 35
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TUNISIA
BRIEFS
PRIOI;ITY TO EMPLOYMENT--President Bourguiba already declared on 1 May 1966 _
"the Tunisian state has made w~rk not only a right granted to every citizen,
but a duty in our society." The prime minister said before the Ninth PSD
[Destourian Socialist Party] Conference, "employment and income will continue
- to be the keynote of our activity." Consequently, it can be expected that
the coming lOth congress will confirm this priority. Here and now, the
fourth plan (1973-1976) has created more than 146,000 jobs and the fifth
plan (1977-1981) aims at creating 280,000 more: at its conclusion, the
additional demand for labor should be essentially satisfied. The progression
is very clear, since the average for.~ob creation was 15,000 from 1962 to
1971, and 40,000 beginning in 1970. Emigration is a temporary solution,
whicYi, moreover, is in the process of liquidation and the government is
encouraging resettlement in Tunisia. Since the ninth.congress (1974) until
the end of 1978, about 216,000 jobs have been created, or an average of
43,OU0 per year, with a maximum of 46,140 in 1976. Their distribution by
branch, as indicated by public services, has been (round figures): fishing, _
S,OOCI; manufacturing industry, 89,000; building and public works, 40,000;
mines and energy, 5,000; administration and other public services, 81,000.
EfFOrts have been made at the same time to reduce regional imbalance and
incrE~ase wages. [Text] [Paris MARCHES TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS in French
7 Sep 79 p 2439] 8940
COOPFRATION WITH IRAQ--Rachid Sfar, Tunisian minister of industry mines and
energy, received on 1 September the Iraqi m~nister of trade, who arrived to
take parC in the joint Tunisian-Iraqi committee. Iraq wants to increase its
_ trade and its industrial cooperation with all the Arab countries and Tunisia
wants to diversify its export lines. Trade between the two countries has
increased in the last decade and the two ministers have agreed to begin an
inventory of the needs and potentialities of the two parties, with a view
to improving their relations in all economic fields. [Text] [Paris MARCHFS
TROPICAUX ET MEDITERRANEENS iri French 7 Sep 79 p 2439] 8940
CSO: 4400 END
- 36
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