Morocco lauds as wise India's decision to withdraw recognition of polisario republic
Morocco-India, Politics, 6/27/2000

Morocco on Monday described as "wise" India's decision to withdraw recognition of the so-called Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR/self-proclaimed by the Polisario).

"This wise and pondered decision --made by the government of a major country, founding-father of the Non-Aligned Movement and outstanding actor in international relations-- crowns similar decisions made by several other governments, especially in Africa and Latin America," Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa told MAP news agency.

India has officially announced the withdrawal of its recognition of the so-called Sahrawi Republic (SADR).

"Keeping in mind all aspects of the evolving situation in the region and discussion currently on between the parties concerned, it has been decided to withdraw recognition of the SADR with immediate effect," said Monday Rakech kumar, director general of Western Asia and North Africa department at the Indian foreign ministry.

New Delhi recognized in 1985 the "SADR," self-proclaimed by the separatist Polisario group, which claims sovereignty over the Moroccan southern provinces.

The Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister underlined that India's initiative consecrates the efforts of the Moroccan diplomacy.

"The Indian government's initiative is a gain to the Moroccan diplomacy, inspired and oriented by H.M King Mohammed VI and consecrates the tireless efforts exerted by Morocco over years for the triumph of international law and legality," he said, adding that this decision incites the Moroccan diplomacy "to double efforts and actions to consolidate its gains and win more support to our national cause."

"The new position of the Indian government shows the rational evolution in the international community's perception of the Sahara issue," said Benaissa, who paid tribute on behalf of the Moroccan government to the Indian government "for this decision, that is conform to the logic and to the objectives of the (United Nations) settlement plan."

The foreign affairs and cooperation minister also called on other countries that had recognized the so-called SADR "to take into account the new international realities and to adopt a similar position that do not harm the outcome of the implementation of the settlement plan, to which Morocco remains attached."

Under the settlement plan, the United Nations has been trying to hold a self-determination referendum in the Sahara to determine whether this former Spanish colony --retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under tripartite accords with Spain and Mauritania-- sets up on its own or remains part of Morocco.

The vote is bogging down in obstacles erected by the Polisario, which tries to shrink the voters' rolls through denying the right to thousands of genuine Sahrawis to be identified as eligible voters.

Previous Stories:
  Indian Communist Party ready to reconsider Polisario recognition, Moroccan MP   (2/26/2000)
  Moroccan MPs expound Sahara issue to Indian peers   (2/24/2000)
  India fully grasps Sahara issue, youssoufi   (2/23/2000)

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