Morocco underlines positive tone of UN secretary general's latest report on Sahara
Morocco, Politics, 3/26/1999

Morocco has underlined that the tone of the latest report on the Sahara submitted by the U.N secretary general to the Security Council was "positive."

The Moroccan government's spokesman, Khalid Alioua, who underlined the "positive tone" of the report at a press briefing in Rabat on Thursday expressed hope that the protocols the U.N secretary general will submit to the Moroccan government will provide for the conditions that are likely to enable all Moroccans of Sahrawi descent to be covered by the identification operation of would-be voters in the referendum that the U.N is projecting to organize in the southern Moroccan provinces.

He also expressed hope that the protocols will guarantee the right to lodge appeals by the persons who consider that they were denied the right to be included in the voter lists.

The issue of identification and appeals has been a major obstacle to the holding of a much-delayed referendum in the Sahara, engendering disputes between Morocco and the Polisario over voter eligibility.

In the report he submitted last Tuesday to the Security Council, Kofi Annan stated that "the identification and appeals protocol would be adjusted," while "operational directives are also being prepared by the (MINURSO's) identification commission to ensure the transparency and common understanding of its work and of the identification and appeals procedures." Annan added that he will submit another report to the Security Council on March 31, 1999.

Alioua also told reporters after the weekly meeting of the Cabinet council that the Moroccan government is "closely following" the activities of the High Commissioner for Refugees and is providing it with all "the necessary assistance" to help it fulfill its mission.

He said Morocco remains attached to international legality and hopes that the HCR will fulfil its task in the best conditions possible to enable the population sequestered in the Tindouf camps (in southwestern Algeria) to freely return to their motherland.

The HCR is supervising the repatriation of the Sahrawis who will participate in the referendum that would take place in March 2000, in line with the provisions of the U.N settlement plan on the Sahara.

Meanwhile, Morocco indicated that the UN settlement plan in the Sahara has been too protracted and in a sign of goodwill, it has suggested that the process be completed by March 2000, said Morocco's delegate to the UN, Ahmed Snoussi.

In an interview with the French service of the "BBC," Snoussi noted that since the settlement plan was adopted over 18 years ago at the initiative of Morocco, there were thousands and thousands of actions, Security Council resolutions and arbitrations of the secretary general.

He further explained that it was not Morocco which asked for the delay, arguing that the issue is a sensitive one as it is about the fate of 65,000 persons of Sahrawi descent. The secessionist Polisario is denying to this group of persons the right to be included in the voter lists.

Snoussi hoped that after five arbitrations by the UN secretary general, these people will be allowed to express their will by being identified, in a neutral and fair way, as potential voters.

Previous Stories:
  Gabonese FM deems referring self-proclaimed Sahrawi republic issue to African summit positive   (3/25/1999)
  OAU ministerial council debates status of self-proclaimed Sahrawi republic   (3/24/1999)
  UN Secretary General recommends one-month extension of MINURSO mandate   (3/24/1999)

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