'Polisaro' currently isolated worldwide, former US official
Morocco-USA, Politics, 12/7/2004

The separatist movement "Polisario" is currently isolated and enjoys little support worldwide, according to former US assistant secretary of state, Robert Pelletreau.

In an interview published Sunday by the "Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki" daily, Pelletreau said: "we don't want the Sahara dispute to become a source of destabilization in the region, this is why we have been working to find a solution that is acceptable to all parties."

The three-decade long Sahara dispute opposes Morocco to the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists that are claiming the separation of Morocco's southern provinces, known as the Sahara. In the latest years, several states have withdrawn their recognition of the Polisario self-proclaimed "SADR" republic.

The former US assistant secretary of state, who took part in the 3rd congress of the Arab Thought Foundation (Marrakech on Dec. 01-04), underscored the huge development realized in the Sahara owing to the enormous efforts exerted by Morocco to promote the region.

On the Great Middle East project, Pelletreu said this change should come from within Arab regimes and not from the outside.

Several projects of reforms are under way in the Arab world, he said, citing as an example the Moroccan experience that is backed by king Mohammed VI.

Nonetheless, he added, some countries are facing difficulties to carry out reforms, but there is still a will to institute reforms.

Previous Stories:
  US State secretary hails economic and political reforms in Morocco   (11/12/2004)
  Forum for the Future Focus of talks between Morocco and US officials   (10/23/2004)
  Burns: Washington committed to political solution for Sahara conflict   (10/22/2004)

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