Extended regionalization may be solution to Sahara dispute, Seminar
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 3/10/2005

Participants in a seminar pointed out, in Rabat Wednesday, that the Sahara issue may be resolved through an "extended regionalization," while other participants called for withdrawing this question from the United Nations Security Council to submit it to the General Assembly.

The Sahara dispute is opposing Morocco to the Algeria-backed Polisario Front that lays claims on the former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Nouakchott.

After attempts failed to hold a referendum in the Southern Provinces as proposed by the late King Hassan II (father of King Mohammed VI) and the rejection, by one party or another, of peace plans proposed by former envoy of the UN chief to the Sahara, James Baker, participants in the seminar considered that extended regionalization that would engulf those provinces may be the final solution to the conflict.

The three-day encounter, themed "the Moroccan Sahara and national principles," was attended by government members, political parties leaders, thinkers and academicians.

Secretary General of the Party of Justice and Development (PJD- Islamic party), Saadeddine Othmani, deemed that the Sahara issue has long lingered at the Security Council, calling for the withdrawal of this issue from the Council to submit it to the General Assembly.

He said the best means to reach a consensus-based solution to this conflict is to accelerate the broadened regionalization process in all its dimensions whether geographic, economic, social or political so that the moral autonomy of regions be institutionalised and recognized by the Constitution.

On his part, Secretary General of the National Democratic Party (PND), Abdellah Kadiri, believes that the idea of referendum is not applicable in the current context given the latest developments in the Sahara question. He said efforts should be focused on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Morocco.

Secretary General of the National Popular Movement (MNP), Mahjoubi Aherdane, held Algerian authorities responsible for the persistence of the Sahara dispute, saying Algiers is a main party in the conflict.

In a final communique, participants called on Algeria to "look beyond narrow calculations" in order to build a common future through the adoption of a prospective strategic vision.

They also called for the mobilization of political parties, associations and all the society to defend the foundations of Morocco's territorial integrity.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan civil society calls for ending the tragedy of sequestrated Moroccans   (3/7/2005)
  Gigantic march voices outrage over continued sequestration of Moroccans in polisario camps   (3/7/2005)
  Sit-ins abroad for release of Moroccan detainees in southern Algeria   (3/7/2005)

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