La Gazette du Maroc: former Algerian defense minister opposes sahrawi state creation

Former Algerian Defence minister, Khaled Nizzar, said he opposes the creation of a Sahrawi state, arguing that his country "does not need a new state at its borders."

In an interview with Moroccan weekly in French, "La Gazette du Maroc," Nezzar, who served as defense minister from 1990 to 1993, noted that the construction of the Maghreb Arab Union (UMA) "will undoubtedly help resolve the Sahara issue."

"Personally, I think that the best way out is to devise a no-winner-no loser settlement," he said, stressing that this goal could be attained through a formula that will allow Sahrawis to reintegrate their country, "within the framework of an entente." After he stressed that Algeria is not seeking to partition the Sahara territory with Morocco, Nezzar said "we can all help find the hoped for solution," noting that both Algerian and Moroccan authorities are now ready to go ahead in this direction.

Asked on the Algerian army's role in blocking any breakthrough to the Sahara issue, the retired general said that the army's stand follows the political institutions' one. "If the President of the Republic can't, or rather, does not want to break the deadlock, the army can't object to that," he explained. Touching on the re-opening of the borders, Nezzar pleaded in favor of such an option, provided that security measures be consolidated. "This inconceivable situation must come to an end," he said. He further paid tribute to the late king Hassan II whom he termed as "a man of dialogue." The King of Morocco had been ceaselessly endeavoring for a peaceful settlement to the Sahara issue.