Moroccan paper criticizes US, Spain positions in security council over sahara
Morocco-USA, Politics, 8/6/2003

The "Economist" newspaper strongly criticized Tuesday US and Spain for their positions during the debate in United Nations the Security Council over the Sahara, underlining that "our population is not scared of the United States of Bush, or his representative, Baker, nor of UN resolutions."

"The public opinion is disappointed. US popularity in Morocco is at its lowest level after 50 years of US unfair support to Israel and the invasion of Iraq," said the newspaper's editorialist.

"Washington is ungrateful today: it turns a blind eye to 40 years of commitment with the Western bloc at the time of the cold war and the first Gulf war, and on our efforts for peace in the Middle East. all this cost Morocco morally and financially," he went on.

As a reward, the paper deplored, the US prepared a solution to the Sahara that pleases Algeria, a country that was pro-soviet for 40 years and the base of all anti-American movements, and which is today a large hub for terrorism and has an oppressive regime. If there is an autonomy that Baker should defend in the region, it is that of the Algerian people whose latest concern is the Moroccan Sahara, the paper said.

Contrarily, "this territory is of a high value for Morocco where the people paid the price in money and blood. A Moroccan would fight for this territory but never will an Algerian," "Economist" said.

In the same vein, "Al Bayane" newspaper raised a question on the reasons for the presentation of "Baker Plan II" in the form of an optimal solution, wondering if it has to do with US aspirations for the privatization of the Algerian oil company Sonatrach.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted last week 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:
  US Congress announces creation of congressional morocco caucus   (7/24/2003)
  Morocco denies news on security council decision over Sahara issue   (7/15/2003)
  King Mohammed holds phone talks with US president   (7/15/2003)

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