Italian legislators call for settling Sahara issue
Morocco-Italy, Politics, 2/19/2002

A group of Italian lawmakers underscored in Laayoun on Monday the importance of settling the Sahara issue to establish peace and stability in the Mediterranean basin.

For chairman of the Italian senate's commission for foreign affairs and cooperation, Fiorello Provera, the visit is meant to get in touch with the MINURSO in order to have first hand information on latest developments in the Sahara issue, a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975. This will enable the delegation to have a clear vision on the issue and take a stance.

Another member of the delegation, senator Giulio Andreotti said dialogue is important to reach a political settlement that will secure stability in the region.

The members of the Italian house of representatives and senate held meetings with Hamid Chabar, governor in charge of coordinating with the MINURSO (U.N. mission supervising preparations for a referendum in the Sahara) and with the region wali (senior governor) in the presence of several heads of local tribes, observers of the identification operation, local elected officials, representatives of persons who were tortured in the Tindouf camps, mothers of persons and children sequestered in the Lahmada camps.

The Moroccan official surveyed the development of the issue and the various obstacles erected by the separatists to foil the whole UN settlement plan. He also underscored how Morocco has positively reacted to the United Nations request to seek alternatives to the settlement plan and has mulled during the Berlin meeting in September 2000 proposals reflecting its readiness to start a frank and transparent dialogue with the other party, in the respect of Morocco's sovereignty over the territory.

He went on that the Moroccan authorities have accepted proposals by the UN secretary general's personal envoy, James Baker, as a basis of negotiations and has expressed permanent support to efforts by the secretary general and his personal envoy to bring all sides to reach a final solution to the artificial conflict.

During the meeting, one of the region inhabitants who had participated in the 1974 census conducted by the Spanish colonial authorities noted the various irregularities that marred the process, mainly the exclusion of thousands of inhabitants who had fled drought or colonial repression towards northern provinces.

The Italian delegation also heard the testimony of a person who had succeeded in fleeing the Polisario jails and told them of inhumane conditions in which those sequestered in Tindouf camps (south-western Algeria) are living and on the torture and daily human rights violations they face.

Previous Stories:
  Europe can intervene in Sahara solution within Morocco's kingty, European official   (2/16/2002)
  Morocco-Italy forum set up   (6/19/2001)
  Italy swaps $ 55 mln of Moroccan debt   (6/16/2001)
  Italian official hails excellent relations with Morocco   (12/8/2000)

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