Burkina Faso Hopes that Morocco will Return to African Fold
Morocco-OAU, Politics, 6/3/1998

Burkina Faso's Prime Minister, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, voiced hope Tuesday that Morocco would return to the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

"We wholeheartedly hope that Morocco will return to the family of the Organization of African Unity," Ouedraogo said at a press conference held in Washington at the end of a 4-day visit to the USA, MAP reported.

Morocco withdrew from the OAU in 1984 following the admission of the Sahrawi republic, proclaimed by the Polisario. The Polisario, backed by neighboring Algeria, claims sovereignty over Morocco's southern provinces.

Burkina Faso's Prime Minister said that there is an initiative underway for a peaceful settlement to the Sahara issue through a referendum that will be held by the end of the year.

"We believe that this will open the way for Morocco's return to the OAU," he said.

A protracted U.N. plan to settle the Sahara issue through a self-determination referendum was put back on track last year, following the conclusion of the Houston accords between Morocco and the Polisario.

Ouedraogo lauded the "special ties of friendship" binding Morocco and Burkina Faso and recalled the recent visit that President Blaise Compaore paid to Morocco, where he was received by King Hassan II.

The Prime Minister also hailed the "very fruitful cooperation" between Morocco and Burkina Faso, citing the presence in his country of a Moroccan expert team to help Burkina Faso's peers master rain-making techniques.

Touching on the agenda of the upcoming OAU summit, Ouedraogo said that African leaders will attempt to settle the major problems facing the continent and that conflict prevention, conflict management and peace keeping will top the agenda of the Ouagadougou summit. The prime minister, who recalled the recent crises that hit Africa, stressed that, "There will be no development without peace and stability."

He further underlined the African leaders' determination to set up genuine democracies in their countries, based on respect for human rights. He also announced an OAU plan to set up an African Human Rights Court.

Previous Stories:
  South African president postpones Algeria visit   (6/2/1998)
  Amnesty International delegation visits Morocco, will meet with King Hassan   (6/1/1998)
  King Hassan leaves Cairo after signing 13 agreements with President Mubarak   (5/29/1998)

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