Morocco criticizes Polisario for procrastination in Sahara settlement process
Morocco, Politics, 9/26/1998

Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Abdellatif Filali castigated Thursday the Polisario for continually stalling the Saharan identification operation by refusing to take part in the identification of a large number of candidates.

Talking at the UN's 53rd General Assembly, Moroccan foreign minister said the process is once again faced with the "refusal of the other party to participate in the identification of the same candidates who presented themselves, in accordance with provisions of the Houston agreements that the other party has accepted."

Filali expressed Morocco's "deep concerns over these developments that will delay the referendum operation," adding that this attitude casts doubts on the will of the Polisario to bring about the necessary conditions for the organization of a fair and equitable referendum.

Filali also expressed Morocco's concern over the continuing status of the Moroccan cities Sebta and Melilia and the neighboring islands, which are still under Spanish occupation, at a time when colonization has been definitely ended in most regions of the world. In this regard, he recalled a call made by the king of Morocco to set up a Moroccan-Spanish reflection cell to find a solution to this abnormal situation, in a way that would guarantee Morocco's sovereignty over its territory while taking into account Spain's economic interests.

Dealing with Morocco's internal policy, he stated, "Ever since independence, Morocco has firmly believed in the need to base its economic policy on the principle of free enterprise and on opening onto the external world." He cites Morocco's effective contribution to multilateral trade negotiations, which were crowned with the inception of the World Trade Organization in Marrakesh.

For Morocco, the Middle East is one of the most important political trouble spots in the world and one of the most complex problems threatening world peace and security, said the foreign minister.

He also deplored Israel's continuous violations of peace agreements reached with Palestine, which he said is obvious in Israel's provocative policy of Judaizing Jerusalem through changing its cultural and demographic characteristics and surrounding it with settlement colonies. He added that the entire Islamic world denounces and condemns these practices, which affect the status of the city as part and parcel of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 and considers these measures null and void. This was confirmed by the meeting of the Jerusalem Committee, under the chairmanship of King Hassan II, which was held in Casablanca end of last July, he stressed.

For Morocco, he went on, "this problem can only be solved through respecting the letter and spirit of the agreements signed and through the implementation of international resolutions, especially relevant security council resolutions, in a way that would guarantee the right of Palestinian people to self-determination, the establishment of their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, and the return of the occupied Arab territories to their legitimate owners.

Dealing with the situation in Africa, the Moroccan foreign minister deplored the persisting political, economic and social crises. He stated that some of these crises are clearly reflected in a deterioration of the employment situation, the drop in prices of commodities exported by African countries, the inadequacy of foreign investment and the decline of foreign assistance which barely stands at 0.22 percent of the GDP of developed countries, whereas the agreed share is 0.7 percent.

He further expressed Morocco's support for efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to find a solution to the crises in Liberia and Sierra Leone and hoped that efforts to settle the crisis in Guinea-Bissau will soon be crowned with success.

Filali renewed a proposal made by King Hassan II during the 1994 GATT conference in Marrakesh for an international plan, similar to the Marshall plan, with a view to ensuring Africa's revival.

On the Arab scene, Morocco expressed deep concern over the Libyan and Iraqi peoples' sufferings as a result of international sanctions.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco starts preparations for new stage in referendum process   (9/25/1998)
  Rabat and Abidjan voice will to foster cooperation   (9/22/1998)
  Moroccan PM says debt is strangling government action   (9/21/1998)

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