Moroccans' cohesion behind the king, best warrant for unity, benaissa

The cohesion and mobilization of Moroccans behind King Mohammed VI is the best warrant of Morocco's unity and sovereignty, Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister, Mohamed Benaissa, said.

The official, who was interviewed by the Moroccan radio, termed as unachievable the Algerian proposal to partition the Sahara.

Morocco is not ready to relinquish an inch of its land and all the components of the Moroccan society (political parties, trade unions, civil society) are mobilized behind the king to defend Morocco's territorial integrity, he said.

He recalled that the latest report of the United Nations Secretary General notes that the frame-work agreement, commonly known as the third path, is still viable.

The agreement provides for the settlement of the Sahara issue through granting a large autonomy to the southern provinces under Morocco's sovereignty.

Morocco categorically reject any partition option or proposal as such a move would be a serious precedent for the region, for the Maghreb and for North Africa, said Benaissa, underlining that according to the U.N. charter, the world body cannot impose a solution to any party.

The partition proposal does not imply its approval and the U.N. Secretary-General remains attached to the third path, he added.

By forwarding the partition proposal, Algeria becomes a full-fledged party to the Sahara issue, he said, denouncing the contradiction of the Algerian position, calling for peoples' liberation and their partition at the same time.