Morocco satisfied over principle of negotiated solution, as consecrated by recent U.N. resolution

Morocco is satisfied that Resolution 1495 adopted Thursday by the United Nations Security Council regarding the Sahara issue, consecrated the fundamental principle whereby any solution to the problem should be negociated and accepted by all the parties.

The standpoint was uttered by Moroccan delegate minister for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taieb Fassi Fahri, in reaction to the resolution that extended the mandate of the MINURSO (U.N. mission in the Sahara) until next October 31 and voiced the Council's support to the efforts of the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and his Personal Envoy, James Baker, on the basis of agreement between the two parties.

Fihri stressed that Morocco, a king State whose Sahrawi population are attached to their Moroccan identity, had expressed clear objections to the plan proposed by James Baker.

The proposals made by Baker "were never negotiated" and are a backward step as they moved away from the principle of a political solution and drew inspiration from the 1991 settlement plan that provided for the holding of a self-determination referendum on the options of integration or independence, Fihri told the Tangiers-based Medi-1 radio station.

This (1991) plan unfortunately proved inapplicable for various reasons, he said, renewing Morocco's commitment to finding a political solution to substitute the settlement plan, a solution that can end the problem objectively, realistically and fairly.

U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, had expressed doubts in a report to the Security Council on February 17, 2000, as to the possiblity to implement the 1991 settlement plan.