Madrid cancels twinning acts between Spanish localities and Polisario-controlled camps in tindouf
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 3/15/2001

The Spanish government delegate to the autonomous community of Madrid has cancelled for unconstitutionality the twinning acts between three localities and polisario-controlled camps in Tindouf (in south-western Algeria).

The delegate explained the decision to cancel the twinning acts between the localities of Torrejon de Ardoz, Rivas-Vaciamadrid and Tres Cantos and sequestration camps in Tindouf by the fact that Spain does not recognize the so-called Sahrawi Republic (SADR/self-proclaimed by the polisario) as an independent and sovereign state, reported Spanish El Pais daily Wednesday.

The delegate said as the Spanish state does not recognize the so-called SADR, no municipality is authorized to sign twinning acts with villages of the so-called republic of Tindouf, the daily added.

The government delegate referred to article 149 of the Spanish constitution which confers to the central government an exclusive prerogative regarding the state's external relations. He also referred to article 66 of the fundamental local regime law empowering the state to lodge appeals to cancel accords passed by local entities.

The municipal councils of the three Spanish localities will have to hold plenary meetings to announce the cancellation of the twinning acts otherwise they will be sued before the Supreme Court for "interference in the Spanish (central) state's external policy," the daily said.

The twinning acts are generally exploited by the polisario mercenaries-claiming sovereignty over the Moroccan southern provinces that were formerly under Spanish rule--to collect assistance and donations from Spanish institutions that are used to finance the mercenaries' services and apparatus to the detriment of the populations sequestered in the Tindouf camps.

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