Morocco welcomes release of 115 nationals detained in Algeria
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 1/4/2002

The Moroccan government welcomed this Friday with relief the announcement of the return of 115 Moroccan nationals who were detained in Algeria, a statement by the Moroccan ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation said.

The Moroccan government welcomes with relief the announcement of the return of 115 Moroccan nationals who were detained in Algeria, in view of the conflict imposed to Morocco following the recovery of its Saharan provinces, the foreign department said in response to the announced release of the Moroccan nationals.

Morocco has been following with keen interest the European Union's sustained efforts to obtain the release of all Moroccan nationals detained on Algerian soil in the jails of the Polisario (an Algerian-backed movement claiming the independence of the Moroccan southern provinces that were formerly under Spanish rule and that were retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords), the statement went on.

Moroccan authorities deeply deplore the fact that despite the international community clear stands on the matter, only 115 detainees, out of the 1,477 still detained in Algeria, were concerned by the recently announced release, the statement said recalling that 1,028 detainees have been in captivity for more than 20 years.

The Moroccan government condemns the recurrent political and media exploitation of the situation of the persons detained in Algeria, as in previous release operations, according to evident political circumstances and opportunities and for propaganda ends, with no relation whatsoever with the humanitarian nature of the issue.

Taking into account the relevant standards of humanitarian international law, the age of the detainees, their state of health and long duration of captivity, Morocco calls the international community, and especially the UN Security Council and all concerned bodies, to exercise all relevant prerogatives to secure their liberation, without any condition, nor further delay, the statement went on.

The Moroccan government reminds that it remains fully committed to cooperate with the International Red Cross Committee and to back its mission meant to obtain the freeing and repatriation of all the Moroccans detained in Algeria, without any further delay, the statement said.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan party calls for release of persons sequestered in Tindouf   (12/24/2001)
  ICRC renews call for immediate release of Moroccans detained in Tindouf camps   (12/15/2001)
  Algerian interior minister hails solidarity surges towards flood-affected algeria   (12/14/2001)

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