Morocco denies news on security council decision over Sahara issue
Morocco-USA, Politics, 7/15/2003

Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohammed Benaissa, denied new reports that the UN Security Council took a decision over the Sahara issue, stressing that consultations are still ongoing.

"The Security Council has not yet made any decision concerning the Sahara question. Consultations that started Friday and lasted for one hour and a half are still underway, Benaissa told MAP underlining that the Security Council members decided to carry on consultations on Wednesday.

The minister recalled that Morocco has contacts with all the UN security council member-countries, and insisted that "any political solution of the Sahara issue should not undermine the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Morocco."

Benaissa added that Morocco has repeatedly expressed readiness for a sincere, frank and democratic dialogue to reach a political solution that preserves Morocco's sovereignty on its territories and territorial integrity and that guarantees to the inhabitants of its southern provinces the prerogatives stipulated in the agreement reached with the United Nations."

The UN security council that held on Friday a closed doors session to examine the Sahara issue will resume on Wednesday debates at the level of experts.

Morocco had officially notified to the United Nations secretary general its refusal of the latest plan proposed by the UN secretary general's personal envoy for the Sahara, James Baker.

Morocco also said it remains ready to start dialogue to reach a fair and realistic settlement to the issue.

Previous Stories:
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