Settlement of Sahara dispute should be the 'fruit of negotiations' between the parties, Kofi Annan
Morocco-UN, Politics, 3/10/2005

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday insisted that the Sahara dispute opposing Morocco to the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario" should be settled through negotiations between the parties.

"The final settlement of the Sahara dispute should be the fruit of negotiations between the parties," said Kofi Annan at a press conference in Madrid where he is attending an international symposium on the fight against terrorism. "We cannot impose a solution to the parties."

He voiced hope to " see to the conflict of the Sahara resolved so that the Arab Maghreb Union be able to resume its activities." The UN chief was referring to the North African regional grouping, known by its French acronym UMA, and mustering Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania. UMA has been facing a stalemate because of political differences between member states, in particular the two most populated ones, Morocco and Algeria due to the latter's political, diplomatic, military and financial support to the Polisario that is claiming sovereignty over Morocco's Southern provinces, known as the Sahara. The former Spanish colony was retrieved by Morocco under the 1975 Madrid Accords.

Kofi Annan who was holding the press conference jointly with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Louis Rodriguez Zapatero said he had "excellent discussion" with the latter on the Sahara dispute.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco to level itself with European norms, PM   (3/5/2005)
  UN chief report on Sahara confirms persisting difficulties to settle the dispute, Minister   (2/10/2005)
  Sahara: Annan ready to help parties move towards mutually acceptable political solution   (1/31/2005)

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

Search