Morocco, Polesario delegations left Berlin before the arrival of Baker

The delegations of Morocco and the Polesario front on Friday exchanged accusations over the responsibility of the collapse of their negotiations which lasted for one day in the German capital, Berlin over determining the fate of the under conflict western Sahara district.

A spokesman for the Moroccan embassy in Berlin said that no meetings were held on Friday and that the two delegations left leaving the negotiations which were due to be joined by former US secretary of State James Baker.

The spokesman added that the Moroccan delegation expressed its regret on that the organizational plan approved by the UN cannot be implemented to decide whether this former Spanish colony will merge with Morocco or become independent.

He explained that Morocco will continue its efforts in seeking to find out a just and durable solution that takes into account the sublime interests of Morocco, its national unity and territorial integrity in the framework of honoring the principles of democracy and decentralization that should be developed in al-Sahara district.

The referendum over the fate of the Western Sahara of January 1992 has been postponed repeatedly because of the differences between the two sides to decide the identity of those who are eligible to voting.

The Sahara News Agency which is broadcast in Algiers quoted the Polisario (so-called Sahara ministry of information) as saying that " Morocco is the only side responsible for the deadlock in the negotiations concerning the Western Sahara with the Polesario front and that only Morocco is responsible for the not achieving peace and stability in the district."

The new round of negotiations was decided under the patronage of the special representative of the UN James Baker to find out the possibility of resuming the peace negotiations and to agree on a date to carry out the referendum.