Sahrawi notables meet UK officials
Morocco-UK, Politics, 9/22/2003

A delegation of Sahrawi notables met Friday in London with British officials to express their refusal of the latest proposal on the Sahara issue mooted by James Baker, UN secretary general's personal envoy for the Sahara.

The delegation, that represents populations and heads of tribes of southern Moroccan provinces, was received at the UK foreign office by the head of North Africa and Mideast department, and head of the Maghreb department.

The meeting is part of the delegation's tour in Europe to raise the awareness of the international public opinion of dangers and risks of inter-tribe strife and instability in the region belying the plan and expose Sahrawi tribes' view regarding the solutions proposed to settle the issue of the Moroccan Sahara.

Member of the Consultative Council of Sahrawi Affairs, El Ghailani Dlimi, told the Moroccan TV channel "TVM" at the end of the encounter that the UK foreign office backs a final, fair and lasting settlement of the Sahara issue in conformity with international law.

Previously, the delegation had met several UK deputies and chairman of the Moroccan-British Friendship Association, Derrick Koutouli, who said the visit of the Sahrawi dignitaries allowed giving to British officials an insight of the Sahrawi populations viewpoint, voicing resolve to double efforts to back Morocco's position with the British government and the European Union.

"I am disappointed about the things I learnt today concerning the suffering of Moroccan prisoners in Tindouf (southern Algeria). I do not care much about political theses in face of a deplorable humanitarian situation," Koutouni said.

For her part, Jenny Tang, member of the House of Commons, noted she knew only a few things about this matter and that she was misled by the theses of the Polisario secessionist group, underlining that she will carefully and seriously study all aspects related to this question.

The delegation handed to British officials a memorandum that warns the international opinion of the consequences of implementing the plan of the personal envoy of the United Nations' Secretary General, notably as regards the so-called four-year transition period that might create tensions amongst tribes and jeopardize the security and stability of Sahrawi populations.

Earlier this week, the delegation was in France on a similar mission with French officials.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan premier holds talks with UK foreign office minister   (9/18/2003)
  UK foreign office minister meets Moroccan official   (9/17/2003)
  King Mohammed holds phone talks with British prime minister   (7/18/2003)

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