Malagasy president pleads for 'freezing' recognition of self-proclaimed Sahrawi republic
Morocco-Madagascar, Politics, 4/6/2005

President of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, pleaded in Rabat Tuesday, for "freezing" the diplomatic recognition of the Sahrawi republic "SADR" proclaimed by the Algeria-backed separatist movement "Polisario."

At an Exchange of Toasts on the first day of his three-day official visit to Morocco, President Ravalomanana wished to see peace consolidated by the "peaceful settlement of the Sahara dispute" opposing Morocco to the Polisario. The latter has been laying claims on the Moroccan Southern Provinces, known as the Sahara, since 1976, a year after Morocco was handed back the territory by colonial power, Spain.

"Madagascar, just like several countries of the (African) continent side with the United Nations process" said the Malagasy leader in an allusion to UN efforts to settle this issue. "Such a position, he went on, cannot be reached unless it is negotiated by all concerned parties in the framework of the international legality."

During the Exchange of Toasts, King Mohammed VI reiterated his country's resolve to reach a political solution to the Sahara dispute, and insisted that Morocco is determined to contribute effectively to lifting all obstacles to the construction of the Maghreb." "To this end, it has been cooperating in good faith with the United Nations and all the parties concerned in order to reach a final, consensual and negotiated political solution to the Sahara question, within the framework of Morocco's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Speaking about his visit, the first since he took office in 2002, President Rovalomanana said it would "promote an efficient cooperation" in different fields including Agriculture, communication, fisheries, education and health.

He noted however that bilateral trade is far below the "real potentials" of the two countries, and recalled by the way Morocco's assistance to his country mainly in Merchant Marine, and the granting of scholarships to Malagasy students.

President Rovalomanana also paid homage to late King Mohammed V and late King Hassan II (respectively grandfather and father of current King Mohammed VI) for having "laid the foundations of an inalterable relation between Morocco and Madagascar."

Few hours after his arrival Tuesday in Rabat, the Malagasy president, who is leading a large delegation, had talks with his host King Mohammed VI.

He also received the Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives (parliament lower Chamber) Abdelouahed Radi who announced the creation of Moroccan-Malagasy friendship group.

Previous Stories:
  NGOs hand missing people list from polisario camps to Spanish official   (4/2/2005)
  Solving Sahara issue is in Algeria's interest, former UN representative   (4/1/2005)
  Deportation of Sahrawi children to Cuba by 'Polisario' denounced   (3/30/2005)

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