Moroccan diplomat says negotiations with UN would end by March 22
Morocco, Politics, 3/18/1999

Negotiations between Morocco and the secretary general of the United Nations organization, Kofi Annan, on activating the referendum process in the Sahara will end in "the coming days, i.e. before March 22," said Morocco's delegate to the U.N Ahmed Snoussi.

The Moroccan diplomat told Arab daily "Asharq Al Awsat" that negotiations on latest proposals made by the secretary general would be over before March 22, date when Annan is supposed to submit a new report to the security council.

Snoussi said Morocco has presented to the world body amendments that it deems necessary to the proposals made by Annan during his trip to North Africa, so that the proposals remain conform to the U.N settlement plan.

Morocco's proposals are based on the need to enable 25,000 persons of Sahrawi descent to enjoy the right to be identified as potential voters in the U.N-sponsored referendum, he said.

The referendum would determine whether the Sahara, a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975, would remain within Morocco or stand on its own, as requested by the Algeria-backed Polisario.

The Moroccan diplomat added that Morocco also required that Sahrawi applicants be granted the right to file appeals in case their eligibility to be registered in the voters list is rejected.

Regarding the possibility of postponing the referendum to next March, Snoussi said Annan had openly alluded to this option.

He further denied any link between last week's visit to Morocco by US assistant secretary of state, Martin Indyk, and the delay of the referendum date. (MAP)SH

Previous Stories:
  Morocco and Tunisia for revival of Arab Maghreb Union   (3/17/1999)
  US official denies visit to US State Department by president of self-proclaimed Sahrawi republic   (3/12/1999)
  Morocco does not want referendum delay, says government spokesman   (3/12/1999)
  Morocco's diplomacy was not active enough to explain Morocco's position on Sahara, minister says   (3/10/1999)

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