Algeria, Morocco, Washington back Baker's efforts on Sahara referendum
Algeria-Morocco-USA, Politics, 9/29/1998

Algerian informed sources in Cairo confirmed the existence of intensive communications to pave the way for convening a new meeting among Moroccan officials and representatives of the separatist Polisario front under the sponsorship of the envoy of the United Nations secretary-general on the Sahara file, James Baker.

The sources said that United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan proposed that the meeting be convened in the American city, Houston, where the two sides signed an agreement in September 1997, restarting the process of determining the identities of the Saharan people qualified to participate in the self-determination referendum, but the concerned parties prefer to convene in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.

Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf, renewed Monday before the UN General Assembly his country's constant support for a fair and definitive solution to the conflict in Western Sahara.

Algeria also expressed firm support for the UN settlement plan, with the cooperation of the Organization of African Unity, for the holding of a free, regular and impartial self-determination referendum, Algerian new agency APS quoted the Algerian official as saying.

The Algerian foreign minister also praised the Houston agreements. The agency recalled that the two opposing parties, Morocco and the Polisario, formally agreed, under the UN aegis, to practical arrangements for the implementation of the settlement plan. However, APS went on, one year after the agreement was concluded and despite genuine and important progress, serious obstacles are again hindering the implementation of the plan.

APS further quoted Attaf as saying that if these obstacles the UN chief clearly identified in his reports are not overcome, chances for holding the long-awaited referendum will be seriously endangered."

Algeria called for strictly abiding by commitments made and affirmed the responsibility of the world body and the Security Council in particular in the scrupulous and entire implementation of the settlement plan and the Houston agreement, Map reported.

Annan's special envoy is expected to hold talks with the two parties to settle the issue of contested tribes.

Following his mission, "Baker will assess the implementability of the plan in its present form and examine whether there are any adjustments to the plan, acceptable to both parties, which would significantly improve the chances of implementing it," Annan's report said.

Morocco's minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Abdellatif Filali, expressed Morocco's hopes that the Lisbon meeting (projected mid October between Morocco and the Polisario) will lead to some progress in the holding of a referendum as soon as possible in Morocco's southern provinces.

In an interview with Assharq Al Awsat daily, the head of the Moroccan diplomacy said Baker will attempt in the meeting to reach a consensus on arrangements included in the Houston accords.

Filali stated that the "other side has not facilitated the implementation of this provision" and Morocco, he went on, hopes that the Lisbon meeting will lead to "something that will lead to the holding of a referendum the soonest possible, in the beginning of next year."

He ruled out any negotiation with Algeria over the Sahara issue, stating that Morocco's stance is crystal clear. "Algeria's borders are known and in Morocco we believe that there is no reason for Moroccan-Algerian negotiations on the Sahara that Moroccans unanimously consider as Moroccan territory," he said, adding that consequently Morocco will "never negotiate with Algeria on areas that are Moroccan."

The United States also expressed its backing for Baker's efforts to implement the United Nations' settlement plan for the Sahara.

"President Bill Clinton supports the initiative of James Baker, personal envoy of the U.N. Secretary-General for the Sahara, who will broker shortly in Lisbon (Portugal) a meeting between Morocco and the Polisario," U.S Defense Secretary, William Cohen told the press in Rabat on Tuesday.

The number of eligible voters in the projected consultation is the major obstacle still hindering the referendum process, as the Polisario seeks to exclude certain tribes that Morocco believes should be included on the voter lists.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a recent report that the identification process was completed with the registration of 147,000 applicants except for the members of three contested tribal groupings, H41, H61 and J51/52.

Cohen underlined that James Baker is trusted by President Bill Clinton and has good relations with King Hassan II.

Previous Stories:
  On eve of US envoy-sponsored Sahara talks, US officials talk of decisive stage   (9/28/1998)
  Morocco's renews adherence to referendum process   (9/28/1998)
  Morocco starts preparations for new stage in referendum process   (9/25/1998)

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