Head of Spanish local government: economic development in Africa to help settle Sahara issue

President of the Spanish regional government of the Canary Islands, Adan Martin, argued that spurring the development of Atlantic Africa will help solve all problems in the region, including the Sahara issue.

Martin, who visited Morocco last week, told the Spanish media that stability and economic and social development of the whole west African region "will make it much easier to settle all problems, including the Sahara."

The Spanish local official was referring to Moroccan southern provinces retrieved by Morocco in 1975 from Spanish occupation. An Algeria-backed movement, the polisario, is claiming the separation of these territories from the rest of Morocco.

Martin also argued that with the support of the Spanish central government and of the European Union, the autonomous region of the Canary archipelago will be able to create an economic zone comprising Morocco, the canary Islands, Mauritania, Cape Verde, and the Portuguese Islands of Madeira and Azores. King Mohammed VI has brought his backing to the project.

Asked about a meeting he had with the UN secretary general's personal envoy for the Sahara prior to his visit to Morocco, Martin said the meeting had no relation whatsoever with his trip to Morocco. The meeting with James Baker was an attempt by the Canary government to have information in order to be able to take decisions accordingly, he told reporters.

It is the duty of the Canary islands to contribute to the development of all the Atlantic region, he insisted.