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New U.N. Sahara envoy meets Moroccan officials
Morocco, Politics, 6/4/1999
New Special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for the Sahara, William Eagleton, conferred on Thursday in Rabat with Moroccan Minister of the Interior Driss Basri on the ongoing preparations for holding a self-determination referendum in the Sahara.
During the talks, Basri renewed Morocco's will to fully cooperate with Eagleton to ensure the success of his mission.
Eagleton, who replaces fellow American Charles Dunbar, had represented the United States in several diplomatic missions in the Middle-East. He will supervise the upcoming stages of the self-determination referendum, scheduled to be held in the Sahara in July 2000.
Basri also reaffirmed Morocco's will to see the referendum held the soonest possible in the Moroccan southern provinces.
The referendum, delayed by the Polisario's stalling tactics, is to determine whether the Sahara, a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975, sets up on its own, as claimed by the Polisario, or remains part of Morocco.
The Moroccan minister insisted that the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (HCR) should conduct, in the best conditions, the repatriation of Sahrawis living in the refugee camps so that they can join their families in the Sahara and vote in the referendum.
Morocco hopes that the consultation will be free, transparent and honest, Basri said.
Eagleton also conferred on Thursday with Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa.
Eagleton was accompanied by Robin Kinloch, Assistant special representative of the U.N. Secretary General for the Sahara.
Previous Stories:
Speaker of Moroccan house of representatives meets Poland's president
(6/3/1999)
Gabon backs Morocco's efforts to hold referendum in Sahara
(6/3/1999)
Senegal, Guinea renew backing to Morocco in Sahara issue
(5/31/1999)
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