Moroccan papers criticize Algeria's refusal of UN new proposals to settle Sahara issue
The Moroccan newspapers criticized this Thursday Algeria's refusal of the new proposals made by the UN secretary general, Kofi Annan, to settle the Sahara issue, saying that this attitude clearly shows that the "Polisario" is only a card played by Algeria, which is the actual impediment to settlement efforts.
For "Le Matin Du Sahara et Du Maghreb," Algeria, which has accused the UN secretary general of taking sides, is trying to torpedo the UN latest initiative in the Sahara. By taking anti-Moroccan positions and brandishing the threat of separatism and creation of puppet entities, Algeria is kindling tension, delaying the Arab Maghreb unification process and diverting the Algerian people attention from the situation they are experiencing, writes the paper.
"Al Mithaq Al Watani" sees that Algeria's attitude is actually motivated by "internal settlement of scores and illusions that have become obsolete." The paper insists that Morocco, which is convinced of the solidity of its stance has always fully cooperated with the United Nations, unlike Algeria and the Polisario which have been undertaking to delay the referendum process until it reached a deadlock. Today, they are trying to abort political solution despite all the peace and stability promises it bears, says the editorialist who calls the world body to be firm with those who sow obstacles.
Meanwhile, "Al Haraka" calls Algeria is producing additional evidence that its leaders are enemies of Morocco's territorial integrity and are using the Polisario to harm Morocco. It also recalls that in the past, the International Court of Justice had ruled that the territory was not a terra nullus and that the population was actually linked to Morocco by allegiance to the throne. These elements have led several countries to renounce recognition of the self-proclaimed republic, the paper went.
On its part, "L'opinion" writes that settling the Sahara issue is not priority nor a concern for Algeria which remains hostage to outdated considerations and clings to an old dream of expansionism. At this stage, Algeria should rather think of a face-saving outlet and has only one choice left: avoid being a looser, the editorialist recommends.
For "Rissalat Al Oumma," the Algerian attitude towards the new UN plan only confirms that this country refuses any proposal that runs counter to the separatism thesis. The author notes that Algeria is the only country that objects any political solutions and by choosing to tell the international community and people of the world that it wants the Sahara to be severed from Morocco has produced evidence that the conflict is actually between Morocco and Algeria.
"Al Mounaataf" sees in Algeria's stance an endeavor to take hold of the issue and deviate all United Nations initiatives.
Although this has been a traditional Algerian behavior, it has always been foiled by the fairness of the Moroccan cause which enjoys national unanimity, says the paper, underscoring that the Algerian government has lost a card it has been using as the international community has grown aware that the issue should be settled on the basis of international legality rather than on the basis of small political calculations.
