Security Council resolution on Sahara matches Morocco's request (minister)
Morocco-UN, Politics, 8/4/2003

Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, said UN Security Council's resolution lives up to Morocco's request, underlining that the Kingdom is satisfied with the resolution.

We are working hard to frankly express our viewpoint on each article in Baker's plan. We will accept certain things and in case we reject other things, our refusal will be justified in accordance with the law, logic and reason, Benaissa told Moroccan TV channel "TVM" on Friday.

The minister noted that the Security Council's unanimous adoption of Resolution 1495 related to the Sahara "reflects the vanguard role of King Mohammed VI and the efforts that managed to modify the initial version of the draft resolution.

He reiterated Morocco's reject of any imposed settlement the kingdom did not have the opportunity to discuss, highlighting Morocco's attachment to its rights and sovereignty over its national territory. The minister insisted, however, on the Kingdom's resolve to reach a solution to the Sahara question the soonest "because we want to devote our energies to the construction of the Arab Maghreb and the consolidation of Maghreban relations, notably between Morocco and Algeria."

The future of this issue depends in the first place on the other parties' disposal to deal with this question in the same spirit as the Kingdom does, Benaissa said, recalling that Morocco was the first to call for a frank, constructive and democratic dialogue in September 2000 to reach a political solution to this question.

He added that this question remains "an issue between Morocco and Algeria" and that Morocco's objective is to preserve the unity of the Maghreb.

In the same connection, Benaissa hailed the change of the United States' previous position vis-?-vis the latest plan presented by UN secretary general's personal envoy for the Sahara, James Baker, and the support of several countries member in the Security Council, notably France, Russia, Guinea, Cameroon and Bulgaria.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted on Thursday resolution 1495 on the Sahara, whereby the Council continues to support the efforts of the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and his Personal Envoy, James Baker, on the basis of agreement between the two parties.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco ready for dialogue on final settlement to Sahara issue   (8/2/2003)
  Morocco satisfied over principle of negotiated solution, as consecrated by recent U.N. resolution   (8/2/2003)
  Moroccan Sahara issue: Morocco takes good note of lack of reference to settlement plan in new U.N. resolution   (8/1/2003)

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