Moroccan memo To UN SG aims to cast light on Algeria direct responsibility in Sahara dossier, official
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 9/30/2004

The Moroccan memorandum addressed last week to UN Secretary General aims mainly to cast light on "the direct responsibility of Algeria" in the Sahara dossier since 1973, said Moroccan communication minister Nabil Benabdellah.

Benabdellah, also governement spokesman, told Tuesday, the Moroccan TVM channel, the letter addressed to the UN by Algerian president contains "odd and serious" elements as it describes Morocco, for the first time, as an occupying power" in the Moroccan Southern provinces.

He added that Algiers "went too far" with this attitude, which justified the Kingdom's initiative to send the memo to the UN to emphasize historical realities as they are.

Contrary to Algerian allegations, the Kingdom did accept the referendum solution when the UN opted for it as a means to settle the Sahara dispute, Benabdellah said, adding that it is the United Nations that saw this method was unpractical.

The Organisation also acknowledged the need to seek a "political negotiated solution," he said, recalling Morocco's decision to accept a political solution.

The kingdom, he pointed out, retrieved its Southern provinces in line with the tripartite Madrid accord, signed by Mauritania, Spain and Morocco, and validated by the UNO. The efforts made by King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan diplomacy enabled the country to consolidate its position as evidenced by the fact that several important powers understand better the political solution to which Morocco has opted, he went on.

Benabdellah added that Pretoria, like few other capitals, has entangled itself into "a flagrant contradiction" in recognizing (two weeks ago) the alleged Sahrawi republic "SADR," because "one cannot back the right to self-determination and recognize the phoney republic" at the same time.

Previous Stories:
  Sahara issue: Algerian General calls for settlement through large autonomy   (9/29/2004)
  Bonds of allegiance between Sahrawi tribes and Moroccan monarchy flawless, NGO   (9/29/2004)
  Morocco's Memorandum to UN unveils Algiers' responsibility in Sahara conflict, political parties   (9/29/2004)

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