King Mohammed: No bargaining over Moroccan Sahara
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 8/21/2003

Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Wednesday voiced outright rejection of any bargaining over the Moroccan Sahara and stressed that Morocco remains open to constructive and open dialogue.

"Morocco remains open to any constructive and frank dialogue for a settlement within the framework of our territorial integrity and national sovereignty, over which we will never, I repeat never, accept any bargaining," said the king in a speech aired on the Moroccan TV and Radio stations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People.

The anniversary marks the revolution sparked by a decision of the French occupiers to exile the Late King Mohammed V, Grand Father of King Mohammed VI, and the Royal Family. The move marked a decisive turning point in the struggle of the Moroccan people, under the leadership of the Late king, for Independence, a noble and cherished goal attained in 1956 after 44 years of French occupation.

To the opponents of Morocco's territorial integrity, King Mohammed VI said democracy is the best way to take to settle the artificial problem created around the Kingdom's southern provinces.

"Democracy, which we have chosen as a civilized way to run the nation's affairs, is a great asset which strengthens the domestic front and consolidates the country's unity," he said, adding democracy "is the best avenue to follow if we are to end this artificial problem once and for all."

King Mohammed VI further underlined that defending Morocco's territorial integrity is a decisive battle and called for a general mobilization to win this battle.

"I must stress again to my loyal subjects that the real battle ahead is not a mere fight between individuals, groups, parties or associations, and that differences of opinion over the running of public affairs should not make us forget that the decisive battle for us consists in defending tenaciously our territorial integrity, to ward off any threats or dangers and to foil any plot against it," he said.

King Mohammed VI voiced pride over the backing Morocco enjoys in the sahara issue. "We are also proud of the backing we have received from friendly and sister nations who have realized that ours is a just cause," he said, adding this unanimous support Morocco enjoys for this sacred cause constitutes a source of strength to us.

Uttering Morocco's infallible and indefectible attachment to the Moroccan identity of the Sahara, the king stressed that "in the Sahara, Morocco is in its own territory."

The king stressed unshakable readiness to defend Morocco's territorial integrity whatever the sacrifice and regardless of the plots.

"Morocco, through the First Servant of this nation, Grandson of the Hero of the Liberation, King Mohammed V, and the Successor to the Architect of the Green March, King Hassan II, wishes to reaffirm this: stimulated by the symbiosis between the Throne and the people, as embodied by this memorable day, we all stand ready to defend the country's territorial integrity, whatever the sacrifices and regardless of the plots and conspiracies that need to be foiled," he said.

"Preserving our territorial integrity is a pressing duty which warrants all-out mobilization, constant vigilance and efficient action, in order to close, once and for all, the dispute that has been created artificially by those who adamantly and aggressively challenge the fact that the Sahara is Moroccan territory," said King Mohammed VI.

The king slammed the enemies of Morocco's territorial integrity and their attempts to balkanize the Maghreb.

"They (the enemies of Morocco's territorial integrity) eventually unmasked themselves as the real opponent and are eager to impose, through separatist pawns, total domination over our southern provinces," he said, adding "Instead of contributing sincerely to building a strong Maghreb Union on sound foundations, this opponent has gone as far as to raise the question of partition, which is bound to end in the whole region being balkanized."

The partition of the Moroccan Sahara is a proposal made previously to the United Nations by Algeria, Morocco's neighbor which hosts and backs the Polisario separatists.

"Such a hostile attitude has constantly thwarted all attempts to reach an equitable settlement through negotiation and by consensus, and offered only insidious solutions instead," King Mohammed VI said.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco denounces hideous exploitation of situation of Moroccan POWs in southern Algeria   (8/19/2003)
  Liberation of detained in Tindouf is a priority for ICRC   (8/18/2003)
  Aujourd'hui le Maroc: Algerian central sahara could have witnessed same situation as Moroccan sahara, Moroccan jurist   (8/16/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search