Morocco renews attachment to UN Sahara plan
Morocco, Politics, 1/13/2000

Morocco on Thursday renewed attachment to the United Nations settlement plan for the Sahara, providing for the holding of a self-determination referendum in the Moroccan southern provinces.

This came in a 90-minute speech Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi made before the house of representatives, lower house of parliament.

The referendum seeks to determine whether the Sahara --a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975-- sets up on its own or remains part of Morocco.

Youssoufi insisted, however, that Morocco refuses that a single Moroccan Sahrawi be excluded from the referendum. The premier also denounced the stalling tactics adopted by the enemies of Morocco's territorial integrity (the Algerian-backed Polisario) who he said seek to torpedo the U.N. referendum process.

He also renewed Morocco's call to all Moroccan Sahrawis led astray by the Polisario to return to Morocco, and contribute to the ongoing democratic process carried out under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.

Youssoufi also praised the initiatives made recently by King Mohammed VI in favor of Morocco's national cause.

This royal will, Youssoufi said, is embodied in "the king's decision to boost the role of the Advisory Council in charge of Saharan Affairs and election of its members to help the body better express the opinion of the populations of the southern provinces regarding their affairs."

Youssoufi added that the government took the necessary measures for the implementation of development programs in the southern provinces in line with the king's directives.

Among these projects, the prime minister cited a project, dubbed Al-Aouda (the return) to build 10,000 houses. Some 3,000 lodgings will be ready next May.

He also announced that he will visit the southern provinces shortly.

Youssoufi added that the government is studying the unemployment problem in the southern provinces and that the administrations and enterprises are looking for means to generate more jobs.

Previous Stories:
  Personalities pay homage to the late King Hassan II in special report on Morocco   (1/7/2000)
  Final Sahara referendum voting list to be known mid-January   (1/6/2000)
  Morocco renews attachment to Sahara settlement plan   (1/5/2000)

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