Catalonia supreme court annuls an act recognizing puppet Sahrawi republic
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 4/18/2002

The Supreme Court of Catalonia (north eastern Spain) has annulled an act whereby the Vallromanes municipality had recognized the puppet Sahrawi republic, deeming the act as liable to compromise Spain's international relations, reported the Spanish news agency EFE Wednesday.

In June 2001, the municipal council of this locality had adopted the act recognizing the so-called entity as a sovereign state and the polisario as its representative.

The Catalonia supreme court, which cancelled the act following the appeal lodged by the autonomous government of Catalonia, argued that such an act cannot be considered as a mere rhetorical declaration but implies a series of consequences that may impact on the international law environment and affect or even compromise the Spanish State in its international relations.

Consequently, the court, after it noted that international relations do not fall within the prerogatives of local communities, annulled the act as a preventive measure so that the general interest and the respect of prerogatives prevail.

The Sahrawi republic was self-proclaimed by the polisario, an Algerian-backed guerilla movement claiming the independence of the Sahara, a southern Moroccan territory that was formerly under Spanish rule and that was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords.

Previous Stories:
  Government briefed on developments in Morocco-Spain ties   (4/13/2002)
  Morocco says it is premature to envision its ambassador's return to Madrid   (4/6/2002)
  Sahara issue not the only divergence between Morocco and Spain, official   (3/22/2002)

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