LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Morocco: United States
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Morocco was the first Arab state to condemn Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and sent troops to help defend Saudi Arabia. Morocco maintains close relations with Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states, which have provided Morocco with substantial amounts of financial assistance. Morocco has supported efforts to stabilize Iraq following the downfall of Saddam Hussein.
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Normalization of relations between Morocco and Algeria in 1988 cut off Algerian support for the rebels, and in 1991 the Polisario and Morocco agreed to a cease-fire. A UN-sponsored referendum to decide the territory's permanent status was ordered for the early 1990s. Disputes regarding who would be permitted to vote delayed any referendum into the 21st cent., during which time the region was integrated administratively into Morocco. Constitutional amendments in 1996 established a bicameral legislature, and elections the following year led to the first government (1998) in which opposition parties were dominant.
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Morocco is undergoing a fast-paced reform process leading toward a stronger system of transparency, good governance and rule of law. The government's reform agenda includes various sectors and organs of the state. Particular attention is being paid to the Judicial Branch of government as one independent and empowered arm for Justice. The reforms include the need for faster and more efficient legal proceedings and a resilient court system equipped and able to handle the increasing number of civil cases each year. [more]
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Noting that Morocco and the United States have moved "from a traditional assistance relationship to one based on mutual benefit and interdependence," Ambassador Tobias ... observed that the relationship considerably exceeds 50 years. "In fact, 230 years ago Morocco was one of the first states in the world to acknowledge publicly the independence of the American Republic in 1777," he said.
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Successful Portuguese efforts to invade and control the Atlantic coast in the fifteenth century did not profoundly affect the Mediterranean heart of Morocco. After the Napoleonic Wars, Egypt and the North African maghreb became increasingly ungovernable from Istanbul, the resort of pirates under local beys, and as Europe industrialized, an increasingly prized potential for colonization. The Maghreb had far greater proven wealth than the unknown rest of Africa and a location of strategic importance affecting the exit from the Mediterranean. For the first time, Morocco became a state of some interest in itself to the European Powers. France showed a strong interest in Morocco as early as 1830.[9] Recognition by the United Kingdom in 1904 of France's sphere of influence in Morocco provoked a German reaction; the crisis of June 1905 was resolved at the Algeciras Conference, Spain in 1906, which formalized France's "special position" and entrusted policing of Morocco to France and Spain jointly. A second Moroccan crisis provoked by Berlin, increased tensions between European powers.
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Arab forces began occupying Morocco in the 7th century A.D. bringing with them Arab civilization and Islam. The Alaouite dynasty, which has ruled Morocco since 1649, claims descent from the Prophet Muhammad. Morocco's location and resources led to early competition among European powers in Africa, beginning with Portuguese efforts to control the Atlantic coast in the 15th century. France showed a strong interest in Morocco as early as 1830. Following recognition by the United Kingdom in 1904 of France's sphere of influence in Morocco the Algeciras Conference (1906) forMalized France's special position and entrusted policing of Morocco to France and Spain jointly. The first nationalist political parties based their demands for Moroccan independence on such World War II declarations as the Atlantic Charter.
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