King wishes Spain help Morocco by adopting a policy of positive neutrality on the Sahara issue
Morocco-Spain, Politics, 1/17/2005

King Mohammed VI of Morocco wished Spain help Morocco "in a constructive manner by adopting a policy of positive neutrality" regarding the Moroccan Sahara, "like other friendly countries."

In an interview to the Spanish " El Pais" daily, on the eve of the state visit of King Juan Carlos Morocco due on Monday, King Mohammed VI said he asked successive Spanish governments to make of Spain a partner of Morocco to seek "a solution to the Sahara problem taking into account that the territory is Moroccan." One should not forget that "for Sahrawis there is no doubt about the Moroccanity of the Sahara," the sovereign stressed. "Neither me, nor the Moroccan people will ever accept to renounce the Moroccan sovereignty on these provinces" which were retrieved " in a legal and peaceful way," King Mohammed VI said.

The sovereign highlighted the need to reach " a political solution to the Sahara issue," recalling that since 1996, several countries invited Morocco and other parties involved in the conflict " to seek an alternative way to the conventional referendum projected by the 1991 plan, and which already proved inapplicable."

The Kingdom "accepted the political solution, also known as the third path, that allows the concerned populations to run their own affairs in the framework of Morocco's sovereignty. At present, we are seeking well-intentionally, with the UN, to move towards this negotiated political solution," the sovereign said.

On the Algerian attitude on this subject, King Mohammed VI noted "there is a big difference between what Algeria says and what it does," explaining "One cannot affirm, on the one hand, as a mere member of the UNO attachment to a position of principle, like self-determination, and on the other hand, conduct a virulent campaign against Morocco while being party to the conflict" of the Sahara.

The sovereign went on to say "the first stance is normal, but I cannot understand the second one," adding it is up to the heads of state of Morocco and Algeria to work together to iron out divergences and smooth the relations between the two sides. But, at large, the two countries maintain "good relations," the sovereign said describing as "excellent" his personal relation with president Bouteflika.

King Mohammed VI stressed in this respect that "the security of Algeria is primordial for Morocco." Concerning borders surveillance, for instance, the two countries have "always worked together to prevent Algerian armed groups from seeking refuge in Morocco," he said.

On The solution Morocco is ready to implement in the Sahara, King Mohammed VI said Morocco is discussing the issue with the United nations, recalling he received, to this end, Alvaro de Soto, special representative of the UN secretary general.

The sovereign underscored that the efforts made for the defence of the Moroccan Sahara are "a responsibility, but not a burden." The Moroccan King said that for economic and political reasons, " a particular effort was to be made È in favour of the Saharan provinces which did not have infrastructures at the time of their retrieval. All the Moroccan economy made a big effort for the development of this region. An effort that Morocco does not regret, " it was necessary to do it," the sovereign said.

Previous Stories:
  Illegal migrants number reaching Spain dropped in 2004   (1/8/2005)
  Spanish FM : difficult to conciliate stances of parties to Sahara issue   (1/6/2005)
  Moroccan FM: Spain observes neutrality in Sahara issue   (12/30/2004)

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