King Mohammed renews attachment to UN Sahara plan
Morocco, Politics, 11/8/1999

King Mohammed VI on Saturday renewed Morocco's attachment to the United Nations settlement for the Sahara on condition that all people of Sahrawi origin be registered on voters' lists.

"We (..) remain committed to the United Nations plan on condition that all people of Sahrawi descent be registered on the voters' lists," the king said in a televised speech on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the Green March, celebrated on November 6.

The vote will decide whether the Sahara --a former Spanish colony, retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords-- sets up on its own or remains part of Morocco.

"While the referendum continues to stumble over artificial reasons that are independent of Morocco's determination, the vote's popular and spontaneous aspects are being materialized at every moment, consolidated by the continuous developments in the Sahara," he said.

King Mohammed VI also touched on the recent acts of vandalism in Laayoune (southern Morocco). "The events were exploited to circulate false rumors and harm Morocco's reputation, while the acts were committed in blatant violation of the law and harmed public order, leading to the destruction of public property and the breach of private property.

"Democracy is also a responsibility," the king underlined, adding that democracy has been misused. Any violation or abuse that can jeopardize public order will be sanctioned in accordance with legal provisions in force, he warned.

King Mohammed VI, who highlighted Morocco's efforts to usher in reform and change and ensure promotion and development, recalled that he gave instructions to earmark a budget to settle joblessness problems in the southern provinces, extend transport facilities to students and see to the social integration of the disabled.

He also stressed the enlarging of local affairs management to the inhabitants of the southern provinces as part of the regionalization policy and of the decentralization strategy which correspond to Morocco's peculiarities.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco holds polisario responsible for referendum delay   (11/6/1999)
  France calls for positive settlement to Sahara issue   (11/6/1999)
  Morocco marks Green March anniversary   (11/6/1999)

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