The world is now aware the Sahara issue is a Moroccan-Algerian dispute, party leader
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 2/8/2005

The world is now aware the Sahara issue is a Moroccan-Algerian dispute and that the balance of power is in favor of Morocco, said Abbas El Fassi, secretary general of the Istiqlal party (PI).

El Fassi told the Moroccan TVM channel, on Sunday, the situation is now favourable for Morocco for the process went through UN resolutions on the referendum and independence in the Sahara into resolutions calling for the seeking of a just, lasting solution negotiated by all parties.

The Sahara issue opposes since 1975 Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario movement, that has been claiming the separation of the Southern provinces of Morocco, retrieved at the time in line to the Madrid accords signed by Rabat, Madrid and Nouakchott.

He added several elements helped reinforce the Moroccan position, namely the withdrawal of recognition to the so-called Sahrawi republic (SADR) by 36 countries and the initiatives made by King Mohammed VI in Africa, Latin America and in other important countries in Asia. "National public opinion regards the Sahara is irreversibly Moroccan È, said El Fassi adding that for international public opinion Ç the issue evolves in a positive way and in favour of Morocco È. "The official position expressed by HM the King before the UN General Assembly last September has been clear È, El Fassi said adding the sovereign affirmed Moroccan sovereignty over the sahara Ç is non negotiable È and that the inhabitants of the Southern provinces can run their affairs themselves.

Face to this situation favourable to Morocco, El Fassi said some people expressed opposition, including journalist Ali Lemrabet, whose stance against Moroccan territorial integrity can only favour Algeria.

But all Moroccans oppose the statements of journalist Ali Lemrabet, who inter alia said Sahrawis in the Tindouf camps, South-East Algeria, are not sequestrated hurting thus the feelings of Moroccans and Sahrawis, as well, said the PI secretary general stressing that demonstrations staged lately to protest Lemrabet's statements are legitimate, for world civil society condemns the continuation of the sequestration of Moroccan citizens. At a meeting in Tangiers, El Fassi denounced the ill will of "a certain independent press that aims to harm the sacred values of the nation," including Moroccan territorial integrity. As to Mohamed Larbi Messari, member of the PI executive bureau, he said the party expressed solidarity with the protests of Sahrawi associations that have been protesting the statements of Ali Lemrabet on the situation in the Tindouf camps.

Previous Stories:
  New association to sensitize public opinion on question of Moroccans sequestered in Tindouf   (1/31/2005)
  Morocco urges for immediate release of Moroccans sequestered in Tindouf   (1/28/2005)
  Former Algerian president vows to militate for reopening of Moroccan-Algerian borders   (1/26/2005)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search