Moroccan MPs expound Sahara issue to Indian peers
Morocco-India, Politics, 2/24/2000

Moroccan MPs accompanying Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi on his official visit to India, on Wednesday expounded to Indian peers the issue of Moroccan Sahara.

The MPs, who noted a lack of knowledge among Indian peers regarding Morocco's national cause, told the representatives of the sub-continent that the logic of the referendum the United Nations tries to hold in the Sahara, wants it that all countries observe neutrality pending the results of the vote.

The consultation 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.

The vote is stumbling over the composition of the voters' lists.

The Moroccan MPs renewed to their Indian peers Morocco's firm attachment to the right of all Sahara-born people to participate in the referendum.

Morocco, which adheres to the United Nations settlement plan, actively contributes to its materialization through providing the U.N with the necessary logistics.

The Moroccan MPs said their contacts had an obvious impact on the representatives of the Indian people, which will pave the way for the reconsideration of India's position regarding the issue through freezing or withdrawing New Delhi's recognition of the so-called Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR/self-proclaimed by the Polisario).

Relatedly, Youssoufi said Tuesday India now fully understands the issue of the Moroccan Sahara after its political class was given full explanations on the issue.

"The problem is now well-explained and fully-grasped by the Indian political class, in government and in the opposition," Youssoufi told the press.

"Our role is to explain and convince, and the Indian officials carefully listened to us," he said.

The Moroccan MPs said they convened with their Indian peers to set up a friendship group to foster rapprochement and mutual understanding.

The leaders of a number of Indian political parties agreed to visit Morocco.

Previous Stories:
  India fully grasps Sahara issue, youssoufi   (2/23/2000)
  Algerian president receives Moroccan speaker   (2/22/2000)
  Moroccan MPs urge European Parliament to address issue of sequestered Sahrawis   (2/21/2000)

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