Morocco proved a good will in Western Sahara
negotiations
While Polisario remains negative and stubborn
BY : TAOUFIQ GAZOULIT
Morocco proved good will during the recent negotiations on the Sahara
dispute with Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario" in
Manhasset near New York city, while the Polisario delegation sup****ted
mainly by its strategic ally ALGERIA remains negative , and did not
make any effort to contribute in any way to reach a political
settlement to the Sahara dispute.
The international community should know by now that the polisario
front sup****ted by Algeria has no intention whatsoever to search for a
peaceful solution to the three decade disputer over Western Sahara
it is worth saying that the international community is sup****ting the
Kingdom of Morocco in terms of its initiative for negotiating an
autonomy statute for the Sahara region, , it is well known that since
2004, the security council has been regularly calling upon the parties
and states of the region to carry on cooperating fully with the united
nations to end the current impasse and to achieve progress towards a
political solution, in this context the kingdom of Morocco set a
positive, and constructive process in motion, and pledged to submit an
autonomy proposal for the Sahara, within the framework of the
kingdom's sovereignty and national unity, .
The Moroccan initiative, aims ton set the stage for dialogue and a
negotiation process that would lead to an acceptable solution agreed
by al parties concerned
Unfortunately, after three rounds of negotiations the polisario front
which is directly supervised by the Algerian authorithies claims it
respects the UN recommendations, but at the same time its practices
prove otherwise, particularly when the leader****p of the latter keeps
throwing out war threats
Morocco is serene and satisfied, because it is in tune with the
orientations of the United Nations that called the different parties
to prove openness and good will There is no doubt that the Kingdom of
Morocco is dealing with negotiators who don't believe in the necessity
to reach a solution to this issue, and keep repeating a 32-old and
obsolete mantra by threatening to go back to war.
In this respect the chairman of CORCAS Mr Ould Errachid called upon
Algeria, which provides full sup****t to the Polisario separatists, to
play a more positive role, and to grant some freedom of action to the
Polisario, which should be able to negotiate freely the autonomy
proposal, because "the Polisario is settled on the Algerian soil, and
Algeria provides it with funds, and as such, Algeria has always the
last say."
The Chairman of the Royal Council for Sahara Affairs (CORCAS),
Khalihenna Ould Errachid made it clear at the end of the third round
that the Algerian-backed Polisario separatists have only two choices:
to accept Morocco's autonomy proposal for the Sahara, or to stay in
the Tindouf camps, south-western Algeria ,
He added:"We have asked the Polisario the following objective
question: Do you want a solution, or do you want to stay in Tindouf?
and the Polisario failed to answer,"Corcas chairman said.*
The CORCAS chairman voiced hope the Algeria-backed Polisario would
be able to help push forward the situation towards a solution, and
that Algeria would adopt a more coherent position that takes into
account what is agreed upon at the international level, and what it
does on the field.
He also deplored the Polisario threat to return to arms, adding
that: "we have warned the Polisario that Morocco will not accept,
under whatever conditions, the threats against its security and
territorial integrity."
As to the forthcoming tour of the UN Secretary General's Personal
Envoy for the Sahara, Peter Van Walsum, in the region, the chairman of
the CORCAS said this visit would enable Mr. Walsum to take note of the
positions of the other parties, particularly Algeria and the
Polisario, whom we hope would change their attitude and engage in
serious negotiations with a view to settling this conflict. *
Morocco and the Polisario have so far held three rounds of UN-
sponsored talks to discuss the future of the Sahara. A fourth round is
scheduled for March 11-13 also in Manhasset.. .
The dispute over Morocco's Southern provinces -the Sahara- dates
back to 1976 when the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, started
laying claims to the Sahara. The former Spanish colony was ceded to
Morocco a year earlier under the Madrid Accords.
Morocco, believes that its autonomy proposal constitutes a
consensus-based solution given has been favourably welcomed by the
international community which has described it as serious and
credible.
Despite all the Polisario provocations and threats to return to arms,
thus flouting the United Nations resolutions, Morocco agreed to pursue
the negotiations process on the basis of its autonomy proposal under
its national sovereignty.
The Moroccan proposal for a substantial autonomy has created a fresh
momentum in the hope of moving forward and enabling to get to the
heart of the matter during the upcoming round, due on March 11-13, in
which Morocco has agreed to participate.
The future tour of the United Nations chief's Personal Envoy for the
Sahara, Peter Van Walsum, in the region will be in nodoubt an
op****tunity to discuss and explore with the parties concerned other
ideas to move forward in anticipation of the fourth round of
negotiations.
in this respect, the neighbouring countries, particularly Algeria
( which, along with Mauritania, attended the talks as observers ) is
to play a more positive role and contribute to finding a final
solution to this dispute for the benefit of the whole region.
Sources: The political site of Western Sahara: www.corcas.com
The Western Sahara ****tail :
www.sahara-online.net
The site of culture :
www.sahara-culture.com
The site of towns of Western Sahara:
www.sahara-villes.com
The site of economic development :www.sahara-
developpement.com
Of W Sahara
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