Several African parties pledge again to endeavor to restore international legality about sahara
The African parties gathered in the conference of nationalist organizations of former Portuguese colonies pledged anew to endeavor so that international legality about the Sahara be restored and so that the Organization of African Unity (OAU) reconsider its stand on the issue.
In a statement published at the end of a consultation meeting-held on the sidelines of the Africa committee of the International Socialist, in Praia (Cape Verde)-- the delegates of the Movement for the independence of Angola (MPLA), the African party for the independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), and the FRELIMO of Mozambique renewed "their commitment to carry on coordination and cooperation" in the frame of the conference, in line with the final declaration adopted in May 1998 in Morocco and that calls the OAU to reconsider its stand regarding Morocco's territorial integrity.
The participants renewed the pledge to endeavor to implement the resolutions included in the 1998 declaration, as a contribution on their part to the consolidation of relations between Morocco and their respective countries, at the bilateral as well as at the regional and international scales.
The reaffirmation of this position of principle by the participants to the Praia meeting translates their determination to urge their respective governments to withdraw recognition of the so-called Sahrawi republic as several other countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America did before.
Morocco quitted the pan-African organization in 1984 following the illegal admission of the Sahrawi republic, self-proclaimed by the so-called Polisario, which is claiming sovereignty over the Moroccan southern provinces that were formerly under Spanish rule and that were retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accords.
The consultation meeting in Praia was held at the initiative of Abdeslam Debbagh, in charge of international relations within the Moroccan socialist union of popular forces (USFP).
The conference of nationalist organizations of former Portuguese colonies had held in May 1998 in Morocco the commemorating meeting of its creation under the topic "Moroccan-African solidarity for a stronger and prosperous Africa." Besides the MPLA, the PAICV, and the FRELIMO, the African party for the independence of Guinea (PAIG-Guinea Bissau) had also attended the 1998 meeting that was chaired by USFP first secretary Abderrahmane Youssoufi.
The Africa committee of the International Socialist is debating several topics related to ways to secure peace, stability, democracy, and development in Africa. The committee will adopt a final declaration that it will submit to the International Socialist council to convene in November in Maputo, Mozambique.
Portuguese Premier Antonio Guterres is c=chairman of the IS and Youssoufi is vice-chairman.
