Message from King Mohammed to Norway's prime minister

Moroccan human rights minister, Mohamed Aujjar, is presently visiting Norway to convey prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevick, a message from King Mohammed VI.

The Moroccan official met Norwegian secretary of state for foreign affairs, M. Helgesen, to brief him on latest developments in the Moroccan Sahara issue and particularly Morocco's total refusal of any idea to partition its southern provinces and its readiness to cooperate, in an open and constructive manner, for the success of the UN secretary general's personal envoy, James Baker.

Aujjar also insisted on the need to grant utmost priority to the release of 1,362 Moroccans still detained by the Polisario separatists in the Tindouf camps, on Algerian soil, in total violation of the international humanitarian law and the 3rd Geneva convention. The human rights minister further urged Norway, a human rights-defending country, to endeavor for the immediate and unconditional liberation of all Moroccans still held prisoners on Algerian territory.

The two officials also reviewed the crisis in the middle east and the two countries' efforts to contribute to bring stability in the region and create conditions conducive to resumption of negotiations in the respect of international legality and agreements already concluded between Palestinians and Israelis.

The Moroccan official further briefed the Norwegian secretary of state on human rights breakthroughs in Morocco and promising perspectives.

Of the struggle against international terrorism, Aujjar expounded Morocco's approach which consists in opening an inter-civilization frank and constructive dialogue in order to lay foundations for rapprochement and better understanding between peoples. The Norwegian official stressed the need for a sustained action in the Middle east to end violence and bring the two parties back to negotiations. A work session held by Aujjar with chairman of the Norwegian human rights institute, Nils Butenschon, reviewed cooperation prospects between the Moroccan human rights department and the institute. The human rights institute chairman hailed Morocco's human rights progress which, he said, can be used as a model for several countries around the globe.