Decentralization, best option to overcome artificial difference on Sahara, king Mohammed
Morocco, Politics, 4/21/2001

Decentralization is the best option to overcome the artificial difference over the Moroccan identity of Sahara, King Mohammed VI said on Friday.

"We are convinced that regionalization and decentralization, in its largest democratic sense part of consensus and of the Kingdom's sovereignty and national and territorial unity, is the best option and the fairest way to overcome the artificial difference over the Moroccan identity of the Sahara," King Mohammed VI said in a message to a colloquy in Tetouan, northern Morocco, on "the Moroccan Identity of the Sahara in the Historical and Literary Heritage."

Morocco had proposed to open an earnest dialogue with the other party to reach a final solution taking into account Morocco's supreme interests, its national territorial integrity and sovereignty as well as the region characteristics, in the frame of the respect of the principles of democracy and decentralization.

The proposal was made when the UN came to the conclusion that divergences in the parties' standpoints made it impossible to score any progress for holding a referendum in the Sahara - a Moroccan southern territory that was formerly under Spanish rule and that was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords, but whose sovereignty is claimed by a gang of separatists.

The king underlined in the message that was read out by advisor to the King, Abbas Jirari, that Morocco's "regional democratic process, that we broker firmly and with determination," will allow all Moroccan citizens, especially those of the Sahara, to handle their own issues and manage their own affairs according to their needs.

He noted, in this connection, that regional decentralization is a national requirement and a democratic request aimed at harmonizing all human competencies and resources at local, regional and provincial levels.

The king also stressed that democracy is not only the consecration of legality part of the rule of law, but it also requires a cultural dimension embodied in the respect of regional peculiarities and the need to ensure their continuity and their creativity and consecrate their identity.

King Mohammed VI also underlined that the Moroccan identity of the Sahara "is a historical reality translated in the intellectual and literary heritage, the Cherifian Dahirs (laws), and royal letters sent to Shioukh (notables) of tribes related to their appointment."

The king recalled Morocco's firm will to preserve its unity, sealed by a centuries-old history, pointing out that this unity was exposed during the colonial era to partition attempts, but these attempts were aborted by the Jihad (holy war) waged by all Moroccans during the resistance period, under the leadership of the Late King Mohammed V and of the Late King Hassan II.

King Mohammed VI stated further that this forum will shed light on Morocco's history and produce cogent proof and unquestionable documents evidencing the Moroccan identity of the Sahara. The Moroccan national unity, including the Moroccan identity of the Sahara, is not a mere political issue, but rather a fabric encompassing genealogy, language, doctrine, religion, sophism and institutions. No unity political discourse can be credible unless it takes into account these constant data that are the foundations of the Moroccan nation and the Alaouite Throne, King Mohammed VI said.

The two-day meeting is debating several axes relating to the Moroccan identity of the Sahara: "Moroccan identity of the Sahara in History documents," "Algeria and the Moroccan Sahara," "the image of the Sahara in Moroccan literature since the beginning of the 20th century," and others. It features an exhibition of books and historical documents on the Sahara.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco to start dialogue with UN on fair, comprehensive settlement to Sahara issue, official says   (4/19/2001)
  Moroccan-Pakistani relations shall progress, prime minister   (4/18/2001)
  Pakistan renews backing to any initiative meant to settle the Sahara issue   (4/17/2001)

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

Search