Morocco astonished at conclusions of Annan's latest report on Sahara

Morocco voiced astonishment at the conclusions contained in the UN secretary general's latest report on the Sahara and "rejects its recommendations," the ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation said in a release Wednesday.

"Morocco expects the Council to assume its responsibilities in accordance with UN charter and resolution 1495 to prevent any drift from the ongoing settlement process." Morocco deplores that the United Nations Secretary General's personal envoy, James Baker, has failed to comply with the Security Council's resolution that called parties to work together and cooperate with the UN to move towards a mutually acceptable political settlement, the release goes.

The report's conclusions do not correspond to the provisions of resolution 1495, adopted by the Security Council on July 30th, 2003, nor to the expectations of the whole international community.

The Council's resolution and its members insisted that the there was no intention to impose any solution and that any settlement must be previously negotiated and mutually accepted, the foreign department said, adding that several members of the Council have, since, confirmed the approach, the only one compatible with the United Nations Charter on the peaceful settlement of conflicts.

The release recalls how Morocco sent last September 16 a ministerial delegation to Baker in Houston, regretting that the latest conclusions and recommendations overshadowed such moves.

Morocco had expressed in a letter to the chairman of the Security Council reservations on the report for it does not take into account the fundamental objections to Baker's plan expressed by Morocco in March 2003, the release says.

"Morocco wants to reaffirm strongly its rejection of the Baker plan either regarding its general layout or practical modalities for the principle, for operational considerations and for regional security requirements." For Morocco, the plan is actually a step backward in the process of seeking a genuine political settlement, since it brings us back to the settlement plan of 1999, that clearly proved fruitless.

Morocco expects the Council to assume its responsibilities in accordance with UN charter and resolution 1495 to prevent any drift from the started settlement process and assist parties in working together and with the United Nations for a definitive solution that would be beneficial for the Maghreb region.

"Morocco, convinced of its legitimate rights and national unanimity for territorial integrity, is resolved to defend its assets and will spare no effort to push forward the quest of a realistic political settlement that respects fully its territorial integrity and national unity," the release concludes.