US shows understanding to Morocco's position on Sahara

The Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister on Tuesday said the USA has shown understanding regarding Morocco's position on the Sahara.

"The USA has shown understanding regarding the Moroccan proposals (on the Sahara) for several reasons," Mohamed Benaissa told the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat daily.

"The first reason is that the conflict is initially a Moroccan-Algerian one hence it is a geopolitical conflict par excellence. The second relates to historical and civilizational considerations from which Washington concluded that Morocco cannot give up an inch of its territories," Benaissa elaborated.

The USA has presented to the United Nations Security Council a draft resolution, backed by France and Britain, asking James Baker (U.N. Special Envoy for the Sahara) to update his autonomy plan, called the "Framework Agreement" and present it to the parties.

Benaissa said the USA "has made its decision on the issue when it presented the draft to the Security Council, backing the frame-work agreement proposed by Baker." The draft, Benaissa said, gives the inhabitants of the southern provinces administrative power under Morocco's national sovereignty.

During talks with King Mohammed VI, who paid a work visit to the USA last week, President George W. Bush "underlined the strategic location of Morocco as a gateway to the Mediterranean and North Africa," said Benaissa, adding the US President also "stressed Washington's determination to guarantee the security and stability of Morocco."

Economically, the USA jointly decided with Morocco that the Kingdom be the fifth nation to have a free trade accord with the USA.

"This means that Washington feels reassured as to conducting business in Morocco," he insisted.