American congress staffers get informed on Sahara issue in Laayoune
Morocco-USA, Politics, 1/28/2005

A delegation of staffers of the American congress held a series of talks with deputies and civil society representatives of the Moroccan Southern town of Laayoune as part of a visit meant to garner information on the real situation in the Southern provinces of Morocco.

The American delegation, which started the visit on Tuesday night, heard of the will of the deputies, officials and members of the civil society to enhance an integrated development of the Moroccan Southern provinces.

Members of the delegation also were informed on the background of the territory retrieved by Morocco in 1975 from Spanish rule, in line with the Madrid accords signed by Morocco, Spain and Mauritania.

Moroccan representatives in Laayoune told the delegation of the creation of the so-called Polisario, backed by Algeria and claiming the separation of the provinces from the motherland and the attitude of Algeria that opposes Moroccan territorial integrity entailing hindrances for the building of the Arab Maghreb.

The efforts and measures made by Morocco to ensure the advancement and development of the economic, human rights, the rule of law and political issues in the Sahara were also expounded to the American delegation.

In Rabat, before heading to Laayoune, the delegation met with Speaker of the Moroccan house of representatives, Abdelouahed Radi, who reviewed developments in the Moroccan Sahara issue, reiterating Morocco's readiness to reach a solution that caters for Morocco's sovereignty over these southern provinces. Radi stressed the southern provinces' population attachment to their Moroccan identity as evidenced by their broad participation in all elections held in Morocco. He also surveyed the progress scored by Morocco in human rights protection and the creation of a package of mechanisms to protect democracy and freedom. The same topics were debated at a session with vice-speaker of the upper chamber, Abderrahmane Labdak, who also hoped that the Morocco-USA free trade agreement, signed last June, would upgrade economic cooperation between the two countries and consolidate the Moroccan economy's capacities to face globalisation challenges.

Previous Stories:
  Magazine notes shift in US attitude in Sahara issue   (1/3/2005)
  Washington strongly supports Morocco's reforms and initiatives, Snow   (12/11/2004)
  'Polisaro' currently isolated worldwide, former US official   (12/7/2004)

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