Morocco accepts fair solution to Sahara issue in the frame of Moroccan kingty
Morocco, Politics, 9/5/2001

Morocco accepts that a fair solution to the Sahara issue be reached in the frame of Moroccan sovereignty, King Mohammed VI said on Tuesday in an interview with French daily Le Figaro.

He said "I have settled the Sahara issue that has been poisoning us for twenty five years." and "we have worked hard and in strictest confidentiality for eighteen months to get that the eleven members of the UN Security Council recognize the legitimacy of the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara."

"We are entering a new phase of the negotiation, but we are entering it far more comfortably," King Mohammed VI said adding that the compromise is clear.

Asked on Algeria's stand, the sovereign said "Algeria is refusing (the solution) today. It may not refuse it tomorrow. The solution requires time. Let it ripen."

As to his relations with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, King Mohammed VI denied that these relations deteriorated. "Relations between the Algerian President and myself are excellent. But, well, relations between our two countries are fluctuating, according to the hazards imposed by the realities of our two countries," king Mohammed VI said.

About a possible Moroccan-Algerian summit next fall to normalize relations, the King said that nothing has been set, but that he is not opposed to the idea. "All contingencies to reach an arrangement are worth considering," King Mohammed VI said.

He added that on the international scale, President Bouteflika enabled Algeria to gain back a certain halo, a certain credibility. Algeria does have internal problems, but they have nothing to do with the person of President Bouteflika. The current situation in Algeria is the result of problems going further back in the past, king Mohammed VI explained.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco seeks to institute a democracy of greater welfare, king   (9/4/2001)
  Bouteflika's reference to Sahara at Durban conference impertinent, Benaissa   (9/1/2001)
  Human rights violations in Tindouf camps to be denounced before Durban conference   (8/31/2001)

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

Search