Moroccan press says Annan's proposals in Sahara issues unacceptable
The new proposals made on Monday by United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, are "unacceptable and contain seeds of obstacles and freezing of the referendum process," two Moroccan papers write this Friday.
In a report submitted on Monday to the security council, Annan recommends a two-month extension of MINURSO, UN mission deployed in the Sahara since 1991 to supervise cease-fire and preparations for the holding of a referendum.
In an editorial titled "unacceptable proposals," "Al Bayane" refutes the reference to Morocco as "administrative power " of the territory. The author recalls that Morocco recovered its provinces, supported by the sweeping majority of inhabitants who have always proclaimed their Moroccan citizenship and their attachment to the homeland.
The story, which warns against dangers of engaging in tortuous paths, recalls that it was Morocco which proposed the holding of a referendum so as to gain international recognition to its sovereignty over the territory.
UNO has to guarantee the referendum operation all chances of success and see to it that no entitled person is denied the right to vote, the daily insists, urging the world body to endeavor for the freeing of all the population sequestered in the Tindouf camps.
On the same topic, "Assahra Al-Maghribya" daily notes it is contradictory to ask Morocco to make new alternative proposals at a time it has become evident that the other side will refuse them. The daily also says it is abnormal to consider that the referendum is dead, all the more as Morocco has been collaborating with the UNO for the implementation of all the voting operations.
The paper also says Annan's report which brings new important data notes "the other side has violated the cease-fire in force and that the situation has deteriorated as a result of threats by the Polisario against the Paris-Dakar race."
The daily also notes that the report deplores lack of progress in measures meant to secure the return of populations after the lifting of the siege imposed on them, adding those are evidences to the other side's refusal to collaborate with the UNO.
The UN secretary general recommended a two-month extension, until 30 April, of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), which was deployed in April 1991 to prepare for a consultation in which people would choose to remain within Morocco, or set up their own independent state, as claimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario.
The Security Council is expected to discuss the Secretary-General's report during consultations later this week. MINURSO's mandate expires on 28 February.
