Spain, working with France and U.S. for resolution on Sahara, Moratinos
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 10/14/2004

Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, announced, on Wednesday, that his country is working in "consultation" with France and the United States for a resolution on the Sahara question, a resolution, he said, that is due to be adopted by the Security Council at the end of the month.

Speaking at a press briefing at the end of his visit to Morocco, Moratinos hoped this resolution "will be positive" and will give a greater room for manoeuvre to the representative of the UN secretary general "to work and advance" in the rapprochement of parties' political viewpoints and create a "new dynamic" in the search of a solution to the conflict.

"This is the goal of the Spanish government," said Moratinos, voicing hope the resolution will be approved at the end of the month.

"We want it to be a resolution that enjoys the greater possible consensus and that allows the United Nations to act, because, ultimately, it is the UN that should re-launch the process" aiming to settle this question.

The Spanish official also voiced hope Morocco and Algeria will re-establish dialogue.

Morocco and Algeria are at loggerheads because of Algeria's support of the Polisario separatists that are claiming the secession of the Moroccan Sahara.

The Sahara conflict "does not only affect the concerned parties but also Maghrebans and Europeans," stressed Moratinos.

On a question about "tensions" between Morocco and Algeria over the Sahara, Moratinos said Morocco has expressed resolve to establish dialogue with Algeria. "I believe there should be no exaggeration of tensions between the two countries. True, there is an exchange of viewpoints and a divergence on the way to advance towards a solution, but what I saw from the two parties is resolve to re-establish dialogue and cooperation."

"Spain, a friend of Morocco and Algeria, is helping both parties re-establish relations and dialogue," he went on.

On question of a Spanish journalist on Morocco's "rejection" of Baker plan, Moratinos said "I would like to point out that, on other occasions, the other party rejected the first Baker plan (É). We should not look toward the past but towards the future."

The Spanish Foreign Minister, who arrived Tuesday in Tangier, said earlier in an interview with MAP "the solution to the Sahara issue should be final and acceptable to all parties."

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