Solving Sahara issue is in Algeria's interest, former UN representative
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 4/1/2005

Former special representative of the UN Secretary general for the Sahara, Erik Jensen, said Wednesday solving the Sahara issue is in the interest of Algeria, adding that if a large autonomy is given to Sahrawi provinces it would help solve this question.

Algeria is supporting the Polisario front in its claims for the separation of Morocco's southern provinces (known as the Sahara) from the rest of the country. The former Spanish colony was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords.

In an interview aired on "Al-jazeera" TV, Jensen explained that the Sahara problem occurred during the cold war at a time when "alliances were established" between different parties.

Jensen said he soon realized, after he was appointed UN representative for the Sahara, that the problem is not "a technical issue, but a political question, which is the beginning of a long road leading to the real and veiled problem." After he highlighted the various UN efforts for the settlement of the Sahara question, Jensen recalled the main obstacles that hindered these efforts.

He said one of the main differences between parties consists of the population census conducted by Spain during its presence in the Sahara.

UN efforts to solve this issue have not succeeded so far, he said, deeming that a large autonomy for Morocco's southern provinces will help end this question.

Jensen hoped to see a unified Arab Maghreb that creates a force capable of influencing different issues, including the Sahara dispute.

This dispute has long hampered the promotion of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) since it was set up in 1989. The north African regional grouping comprises Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

Previous Stories:
  Deportation of Sahrawi children to Cuba by 'Polisario' denounced   (3/30/2005)
  King Mohammed, President Bouteflika meetings prelude to political thaw, press   (3/25/2005)
  King voices pride at Moroccan-Algerian brotherly and immutable ties   (3/25/2005)

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