Morocco renews backing to UN secretary general's moves to settle sahara issue

Morocco has renewed backing to all moves by the UN Secretary General and his personal envoy to definitively settle the Sahara issue.

Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, renewed the kingdom's backing in a speech he delivered Wednesday before the 55th session of the UN general assembly.

Benaissa said Morocco will continue to cooperate with the Secretary General and his special representative who are making efforts to overcome the difficulties hampering the implementation of the UN settlement plan on the Sahara

The United Nations is trying to hold a referendum in the Sahara --a Moroccan southern territory that was formerly under Spanish rule and that was retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords.

The vote, which will give the people of the Sahara a choice between independence or integration with Morocco, has been repeatedly delayed because of the maneuvers of the separatist polisario which seeks to shrink the voters list.

Morocco has contributed to these efforts and made several suggestions that are worth promoting to secure a democratic and fair referendum, Benaissa said, adding that such a democratic and fair referendum must obey some rules that no one can transgress to please such or such side.

He insisted that it is "essential to ensure without any partiality or complacency that the whole Sahrawi population, as it has always been agreed upon, expresses its will."

Benaissa stated further that Morocco, which remains attached to the holding of the referendum, is convinced that at the end, the referendum, while ensuring the respect of self-determination, will confirm the kingdom's rights to its territorial integrity.

Benaissa also drew attention to the situation of thousands of refugees who have been forcibly displaced and who live in dire conditions, calling the international community to put an end to the sufferings of these persons.