A state in Sahara is not viable, ex-U.N. chief says
Morocco, Politics, 3/31/2000

Ex-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Perez De Cuellar, said he has always been skeptical as to the viability of a state in the Sahara.

"I have never been convinced that independence would be the future of the inhabitants of Western Sahara," De Cuellar said in his book "Pilgrimage for Peace," presented on March 15 in Lima, capital of Peru.

The inhabitants of the territory do not exceed 150,000 souls and except from phosphates reserves, the area is poor and offers only weak economic prospects, De Cuellar said.

The ex-U.N. chief described the leadership of the Polisario front --which claims sovereignty over this Moroccan territory-- as being "below the level" and having no Sahrawi origin.

"The political leadership of the Polisario is far below the level and some of its elements do not have a Sahrawi origin," he said.

For De Cuellar, granting the territory an autonomous status within the Moroccan state would be the most reasonable political solution to the Sahara issue.

The Peruvian diplomat recalled Morocco's firm position not to accept any kind of negotiation with the Sahrawis, whom Rabat deems as its own nationals. He cited the late King Hassan II as saying it is inconvenient that a government negotiates and signs an accord with its own nationals.

De Cuellar also underlined that the Polisario "largely depended on Algeria for its financial, diplomatic and military backing and for keeping its headquarters on the Algerian territory" (in Tindouf/southwestern Algeria).

The diplomat also spoke of the self-proclaimed leader of the Polisario, Mohamed Abdelaziz. This man, who pretends to be the leader of Spanish Sahara, De Cuellar said, does not know a single word in Spanish. "When I uttered a sentence in Spanish during our talks, he was completely lost."

The ex-U.N. secretary-general said he was convinced that the late King Hassan II was sincere when he bet on the referendum as a unique settlement to the Sahara issue.

He concluded his chapter on the Sahara saying, "I believe that King Hassan II was convinced that if we end up holding a referendum, there will be a majority backing to integration within Morocco."

Previous Stories:
  Sahrawi republic's admission within OAU arbitrary, former OAU secretary general says   (3/29/2000)
  No referendum without all Sahrawis, Morocco says   (3/25/2000)
  Polisario jails survivors decry torturers   (3/23/2000)

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