Morocco, UN endeavor for resumption of identification operation in Sahara
Morocco, Politics, 4/17/1999

Morocco and the United Nations are working together for the resumption of the identification operation of contested tribes by June 1, Moroccan Interior Minister Driss Basri told the BBC.

To a question on the return of refugees and particularly those of Moroccan origin who are sequestered in the Tindouf camps (South-Western Algeria), the Moroccan minister said the repatriation operation will start by next June 1st.

He said the United Nations has asked the Polisario (an Algerian-backed secessionist guerrilla) to allow the U.N high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) to resume its work in the camps to enable all sahrawis to express freely their views.

Morocco has signed all necessary accords with the MINURSO (UN mission in charge of the referendum in the Sahara) and has allowed the UNHCR to install in Morocco and conduct its activities, Basri said, renewing Morocco's attachment to the UN settlement plan and stressing the need for the MINURSO to remain objective in the identification operation.

The Moroccan minister who underlined Morocco's attachment to the holding of the referendum by March 2000, said the Kingdom might however accept the postponement of the referendum if the reasons behind the postponement are valid material reasons. If it appears that the postponement was dictated by mere maneuvers meant to gain time, Morocco will then ask the U.N to fully shoulder its responsibilities, Basri said.

Earlier this week, Morocco and the United Nations held two meetings in New York on amendments proposed by the UN secretary general Kofi Annan to speed up the referendum process in the Sahara.

Another meeting was held in Rabat between the Moroccan interior minister and delegates from the UNHCR.

Basri voiced Morocco's resolve to conclude an agreement with the UNHCR on various measures to enable all persons from the southern provinces to participate in the referendum.

The referendum will determine whether the Sahara provinces, that were formerly under Spanish rule and that were retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords will be integrated within Morocco or set up on their own as claimed by the polisario.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan-UN talks on referendum preparations   (4/16/1999)
  Morocco will not reintegrate OAU as long as legitimacy is violated   (4/15/1999)
  Polisario is doomed to disappear, former Polisario leader says   (4/13/1999)

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