UN secretary general hopeful that political settlement will end sahara conflict
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/13/2002

The UN secretary general said in his annual report to the general assembly he keeps hope that a political settlement will be reached to settle the protracted Sahara issue.

In his report on the work of the United Nations Organization published Wednesday, the UN chief notes that over the past year, "very limited progress was achieved" and that his personal envoy (James Baker) continues to pursue intensive consultations with all relevant parties on possible options." "I welcome the support and encouragement that the security council has extended to him."

"I am hopeful that an early political resolution, providing for self-determination, will bring an end to this long-standing issue," Annan added.

The United Nations has sponsored a cease-fire in the Sahara in 1991 and deployed a mission there known by its French acronym "MINURSO" (UN mission for the holding of a referendum in the Sahara). Multiple obstacles erected by the Algeria-backed Polisario have frustrated endeavors to hold a referendum where the local populations would say whether they want this former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords to remain within Moroccan fold or set up on its own as claimed by the Polisario guerilla group.

Last April, Annan, put forward four options to settle the Sahara issue: the first is to implement the settlement plan, the second will be to revise the framework agreement which gives the Sahara population wide prerogatives under Moroccan sovereignty, the third deals with partitioning the territory and the fourth proposes the end of the MINURSO mission.

In his observations and recommendations, Annan noted that the territory partitioning is supported by Algeria and the separatists, but it would be useless to carry on for the moment such discussions (É) since Morocco refuses to discuss this approach.

Previous Stories:
  Le Nouvel Afrique-Asie: Moroccan fm ascribes deadlock in sahara settlement to Algeria   (9/11/2002)
  Butaflika congratulates King Mohammed on anniversary date   (8/31/2002)
  Morocco extends assistance to flood-stricken Algeria   (8/29/2002)

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