Physical Map Of Algeria

Most diplomatic missions mark national days with large receptions that typically include officers of the Defense Attache's Office and Office of  Defense Cooperation. American military officers assigned here tend to find themselves quite busy with official functions.  Mission employees at all levels and from all departments are periodically called upon to help the Ambassador and senior officers with official entertainment responsibilities.  Of course, officers in the Public Affairs Section host and attend functions as a matter of routine.  ... [Read More]

Morocco

The Constitution provides for a monarchy with a Parliament and an independent judiciary; however, ultimate authority rests with the King, Mohammed VI, who presides over the Council of Ministers, appoints or approves members of the Government, and may, at his discretion, terminate the tenure of any minister, dissolve the Parliament, call for new elections, and rule by decree. Since the constitutional reform of 1996, the bicameral legislature consists of a lower house, the Chamber of Representatives, which is elected through universal suffrage, and an upper house, the Chamber of Counselors, whose members are elected by various regional, local, and professional councils (members of whom are elected directly). The Lower House of Parliament also may dissolve the Government through a vote of no confidence. In September the country held parliamentary elections for the lower chamber that were widely regarded as the first free, fair, and transparent elections in its ... [Read More]

Morocco

The Constitution provides for a monarchy with a Parliament and an independent judiciary; however, ultimate authority rests with the King, Mohammed VI, who presides over the Council of Ministers, appoints or approves many members of the Government, and may, at his discretion, terminate the tenure of any minister, dissolve the Parliament, call for new elections, and rule by decree. Since the constitutional reform of 1996, the bicameral legislature consists of a lower house, the Chamber of Representatives, which is elected through universal suffrage, and an upper house, the Chamber of Counselors, whose members are elected by various regional, local, and professional councils (members of whom are elected directly). The lower house of Parliament also may dissolve the Government through a vote of no confidence. In March 1998, King Hassan named a coalition government headed by opposition socialist leader Abderrahmane Youssoufi and composed largely of ministers drawn from opposition parties. P ... [Read More]

African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (The Treaty of Pelindaba)

2. The Commission shall have a Bureau consisting of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman and the Executive Secretary. it shall elect its Chairman and Vice-Chairman. The Secretary-General of the organization of African Unity, at the request of Parties to the Treaty and in consultation with the chairman, shall designate the Executive Secretary of the Commission. For the first meeting a quorum shall be constituted by representatives of two thirds of the Members of the Commission. For that meeting decisions of the Commission shall be taken as far as possible by consensus or otherwise by a two-thirds majority of the Members of the commission. The Commission shall adopt its rules of procedure at that meeting. ... [Read More]

Morocco

In October 1998, in response to a directive issued by then-King Hassan II that all human rights cases be resolved "within 6 months," the Royal Consultative Council on Human Rights (CCDH) announced the release of information on 112 cases of disappearances.  According to the Council, 56 of the 112 who disappeared were deceased; family members of 33 of the deceased received death certificates from the Government.  The Council added that eight persons believed to have disappeared were alive and living abroad, and that four were alive and in Morocco.  Of the remaining 44, the Council stated that it had no further information.  Human rights groups and families pointed out discrepancies between their lists and those of the Government, asked the Government for more data regarding these cases, and demanded full explanations of the causes and circumstances of these deaths and disclosure of the identities of those responsible.  Some family groups claim that the Government ... [Read More]

First scenario: The continuation of the siege of Iraq or ofregional anomaly. Long-term Gulf stability will remain hostageto this scenario. An increased erosion of the central authority inIraq -- Iraq's physical/geographic erosion -- could lead to asecond scenario, one that is very prominent in the literaturetoday, something called the "failed state." We see it mostly inAfrica and so we are talking about a Somalization of Iraq, butit's a five star Somalization because of Iraq's geographiclocation and because of the military and economic capabilitiesof Iraq. It is not the Somalization like Somalia. This is anotherscenario. ... [Read More]