L'Opinion: Sahara issue is 'a conflict between Morocco and Algeria'
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 8/6/2003

The Moroccan "L'Opinion" daily said Tuesday Algeria is "directly involved" in the Sahara conflict against Morocco, underscoring that the Sahara question is a "Conflict between Rabat and Algiers."

The paper deplored that Algeria is "responsible for the artificial tension in the region and for the standstill in the construction of the Arab Maghreb. The editorial noted the existence of "interest groups, people who are nostalgic to the cold war era and lobbies that consider the normalization of relations with Morocco likely to harm their political, economic and strategic interests."

The paper added that the establishment of good relations between the two neighboring states, a mutually advantageous cooperation and the settlement of the Sahara conflict would compromise these lobbies' egoistic interests.

The numerous statements on good intentions and the exchange of visits between the two states' officials did not stop the Algerian diplomacy from leading campaigns that are hostile to Morocco's right to perfect its territorial integrity and the Algerian officials from dedicating US $2 billion to purchase sophisticated arms.

The "L'Opinion" said that Algeria which faces serious socio-economic problems, could have devoted this amount of money to carry out development projects and address problems in agriculture, housing and labor. It further underlined that Algiers should understand that the Moroccan identity of the Sahara is irrevocable and that Morocco, which is still disposed to engage in a sincere dialogue to halt the artificial tension in the region, hopes to resolve this issue to construct the Arab Maghreb (UMA).

UMA is a regional grouping set up in Marrakesh in 1989 by Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania. However, the bloc failed to take off mainly due to Algeria's direct involvement in the Moroccan Sahara issue through extending political and logistic backing to the Polisario separatists, who claim the independence of the Moroccan southern provinces.

Previous Stories:
  Al Bayane: Baker's plan to increase tension and instability in the region, Moroccan party   (8/5/2003)
  Polisario, a front serving Algerian interests, former polisario officials   (8/4/2003)
  Rabat calls Sahara issue a Moroccan-Algerian geopolitical problem   (8/2/2003)

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