South Africa's paper says Pretoria's decision to recognize SADR is 'precipitous'
Morocco-South Africa, Politics, 9/20/2004

South Africa has surprised the world Wednesday by officially recognising the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), wrote the South African daily The Star, deeming the decision precipitous and against the mediation policy adopted by the country.

In an editorial titled "Diplomatic SA provokes an African tug-of-war," Peter Fabricius said Pretoria's move "was a surprise even though the ANC government had announced its intention to do this nine years ago. Since then it has been engaged in agonising soul-searching." "The decision, was - despite, or perhaps because of the nine-year incubation period - rather precipitous," he said, deploring that such an act "contradicts South Africa's own policy of seeking accommodation between rivals." "For a major African and international player like South Africa to have recognised the SADR seems to have closed out that option," he went on.

For The Star, the decision to establish diplomatic relations with "SADR" "might prove to be a costly decision" because "outside Sub-Saharan Africa, the SADR is not recognised much and Morocco would be a substantial ally to lose, if indeed the break proves to be permanent."

The author of the article deplored the "clumsy handling" of this question, and the "not entirely persuasive" cause evoked by Pretoria, namely the participation of delegates of the alleged "SADR" in the Pan African Parliament (PAP) hosted by South Africa.

Morocco has decided to recall its ambassador in Pretoria for consultation, describing South Africa's decision as "disappointing" and "inopportune."

The Kingdom has been disputing for three decades "SADR"'s Polisario separatists who are claiming the secession of the Moroccan Sahara.

Previous Stories:
  By recognizing SADR, South Africa 'excludes itself' of rapprochement with parties, official   (9/18/2004)
  Moroccan political parties call Pretoria to withdraw 'SADR' recognition   (9/18/2004)
  South African decision regarding so-called SADR contrary to friendship spirit   (9/18/2004)

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