PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC
[Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Mohammed
El-YAZGHI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General
Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan
Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union
of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or
UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]

International organization participation:
ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718
telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61
consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag description:
red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as
Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green
are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is
more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf;
design dates to 1912

Economy Morocco

Economy - overview:
Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the
country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to
reduce unemployment that nears 20% in urban areas. Poverty has
increased due to the volatile nature of GDP, Morocco's continued
dependence on foreign energy, and its inability to promote the
growth of small and medium size enterprises. However, GDP growth
rebounded to 6.7% in 2006 due to high rainfall, which resulted in a
strong second harvest. Despite structural adjustment programs
supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham
is only fully convertible for current account transactions and
Morocco's f