London meeting on Sahara ends
Morocco, Politics, 6/29/2000

Delegates of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the separatist Polisario movement held in London on Wednesday a five-hour meeting under the aegis of UN secretary general's personal envoy for the Sahara, James Baker.

No announcement was made following the session destined to salvage the UN settlement plan that provides for the holding of referendum in this former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975. Technical meetings will be held next July and August in Geneva and Baker, former US secretary of state, might convene a similar meeting in September or another date.

The Moroccan delegation was led by minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, and interior minister, Ahmed El Midaoui.

The meeting is the second of the kind held this year in London. The first meeting was held last May 14.

The world body is trying to hold a referendum in which populations of the Sahara would say whether they want the Sahara to remain Moroccan territory or stand up on its own as claimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists.

Previous Stories:
  London hosts meeting over sahara issue   (6/28/2000)
  Morocco lauds as wise India's decision to withdraw recognition of polisario republic   (6/27/2000)
  Budget of UN mission for Sahara amounts to $ 50 million for coming fiscal year   (6/17/2000)

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