Identification operation would be meaningless if Moroccan Sahrawis deprived of right to be identified, house speaker says
Morocco, Politics, 8/10/1998

Speaker of the chamber of representatives (lower house of the Moroccan bi-cameral parliament), Abdelouahed Radi, said that to deprive Moroccan Sahrawis from their right to be identified as would-be voters in the referendum the United Nations is planning to hold in the Moroccan southern provinces would render the operation meaningless.

In an interview with London-based daily Asharq Al-Awsat published on Sunday, Radi said everyone knows the Sahara dossier and its data and the identification process is facing problems that are no mystery. Things will get even more clarified about these problems when the process winds up, and if it appears at the end of the identification operation that a large number of Sahrawis have been excluded, then the operation will be meaningless, he said.

The identification operation resumed last December 3 after almost a two-year suspension, due to the refusal of the independence-seeking Polisario to participate in the identification of some tribal groups residing outside the Sahara.

The referendum is designed to determine whether the Sahara sets up on its own or incorporates with Morocco.

Initially set for next December 7, the referendum risks being postponed by two months, due to delays in the identification of would-be voters in the consultation.

To a question on Moroccan-Algerian relations, Radi said he was optimistic as to the response of Algeria to the call launched by Moroccan premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi to initiate dialogue between the two countries and to open their common borders.

"Since dialogue and discussions have started on the issue of relations between the two countries, I am optimistic," Radi said, adding, "I think that the response of the Algerian brothers to Youssoufi's call for dialogue, the opening of borders, the settlement of problems and the reactivation of relations, was positive."

As to the kingdom's relations with Europe since the appointment of the Moroccan socialist-led coalition government last March, Radi said there is a noteworthy improvement of relations between Morocco and a number of European countries. There is on the part of Europe a great interest, a positive attitude and a will to back the new experience in Morocco.

There is undoubtedly a new climate between Morocco and the European Union. However, if Morocco can settle a number of problems with Europe, the fundamental solution lies in the activation of the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA). We shall then have balanced Morocco- European and Euro-Maghreban relations, Radi said.

The UMA that was set up in Marrakesh in 1989 and that includes Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, is paralyzed because of strained relations between Morocco and Algeria over Algiers' direct involvement in the Sahara issue and because of Libya's criticism of the attitude adopted by the other UMA members in the Lockerbie crisis opposing Tripoli to western countries.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco denounces NGO's allegations on Sahara   (8/6/1998)
  Sahrawi state seems only alternative for Algeria   (8/5/1998)
  U.N. chief recommends extension of U.N. Sahara Mission   (7/14/1998)

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