Moroccan PM deplores Algerian stance on Sahara issue
Morocco-Algeria, Politics, 5/24/2005

Morocco's Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, deplored Monday the latest official statements of Algeria about the issue of the Moroccan Sahara.

Algeria, which recently called for the "sovereignty and independence of the Sahrawi people over its territory," have been backing the Polisario Front in its claims for the separation of the Moroccan Sahara from the rest of the country since 1976. Morocco had retrieved the Sahara from Spain under the Madrid Accords, concluded between Rabat, Madrid and Nouakchott in 1975.

Presenting the government actions before the House of Representatives (lower house), the Moroccan Premier deplored "strongly the latest declarations of the Algerian administration on the issue of our national cause," expressing astonishment as to the Algerian "systematic and hostile" stance against the supreme interest of Morocco, which is against international legality and UN efforts.

This "hostile position" comes at a time when "Morocco and Algeria have started the normalization of their relations following the historical visit of HM King Mohammed VI to Algeria last March and on the eve of the Maghreban Summit due to take place in Libya," he deplored.

Driss Jettou reaffirmed Morocco's will to subscribe to the efforts deployed for the creation of an atmosphere encouraging the implementation of a political, final and mutually accepted solution for the Sahara issue in way that preserves the territorial unity of the North African Kingdom and its sovereignty over the integrity of its territories.

Touching on the issue of the Moroccans detained in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria), Jettou affirmed that Morocco spares no efforts at the level of the UN, as well as the level of bilateral relations with brotherly countries, to put an end to the tragic situation of the detainees, that is in blatant breach of international conventions, international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.

He also recalled Morocco's perseverance in developing the southern provinces with a view to lifting these provinces to a higher level of economic development and ensuring a descent life for its inhabitants. He pointed out that the Southern Provinces Economic and Social Development Agency has launched a strategic development program for which MAD 7b (Euro 630m) were earmarked.

This program focuses on the improvement of social indicators and the encouragement of investments, as well as the creation of richness and job opportunities.

Tackling the issue of the Maghreb Arab Union (UMA), the Moroccan official said Morocco will always back the option of the construction of this Union on solid bases, to give way to the creation of a regional axis able to integrate in the new international economic order.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco deplores Algerian statements on Sahara issue, foreign ministry   (5/23/2005)
  Algerian statements on Sahara issue do not encourage UMA activation, FM   (5/23/2005)
  Robbery and lynching by 'Polisario' separatists   (5/7/2005)

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