Chilean parliamentary delegation visit Laayoune, meets officials in Rabat
Morocco-Chile, Politics, 3/1/2000

A delegation from the Chilean chamber of representatives on Monday made a trip to the southern city of Laayoune.

After the delegation met local officials, elected representatives, delegates of various associations in Laayoune, and Mohamed Loulichki, ambassador coordinator with the MINURSO (French acronym for UN mission for the referendum in the Sahara), Chilean MP Carlos Olivares said the visit enabled his delegation to be better informed on the Sahara issue.

He expressed hope that the issue will be settled as soon as possible. "As peace-loving MPs, we hope that a peaceful solution will be reached and we pledge to back all efforts geared towards this goal," he said.

Another member of the delegation, Arturo Longthon, denounced in a statement to reporters attempts to partition states as a threat. States need unity and peace, he said.

He added that his delegation realized the progress and development achieved in the southern province, that the province is an integral part of Morocco, and that its inhabitants enjoy the same rights as other Moroccans in other cities.

Touching on the obstacles hindering the implementation of the UN settlement plan on the Sahara, he expressed hope that the proposals leading to the establishment of peace will be implemented soon. What is important is that peace prevails because people aspire to peace to tackle the development battle.

The delegation-- made up of representatives of all the political parties represented in the Chilean Parliament-- started last Thursday a working visit to Morocco and conferred with several officials including Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi and Mps on means to upgrade cooperation relations.

All the Moroccan interlocutors have renewed Morocco's attachment to the UN settlement plan on the Sahara that provides for the holding of a referendum in the territory -- a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accord-- and stressed the absolute necessity for all the Moroccans of Sahrawi origin to participate in the vote.

The delegation is to wind up its visit to Morocco today.

The speaker of the Chilean Senate is equally expected in Morocco on March 19 to explore means of establishing a permanent dialogue between the Chilean and Moroccan legislative institutions.

Previous Stories:
  Chilean speaker meets officials in Rabat   (2/28/2000)
  Members of Chilean chamber of representatives in Morocco   (2/24/2000)
  Chilean senate speaker in Morocco in March   (2/19/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search