Morocco, US officials ponder latest developments of Sahara issue

The latest developments of the Sahara issue were discussed, in Laayoune Tuesday, by Moroccan officials and a US delegation led by Chuck Casper, programs analyst in the Department of State's bureau of international organizations affairs.

The meeting focused on questions related to economic and social developments in Moroccan southern provinces (known as the Sahara) and Morocco's relations with MINURSO (French acronym of United Nations' mission in the Sahara), particularly through the six-month program of visit exchanges between families in southern Morocco and their relatives sequestered in Polisario camps (southern Algeria).

Governor of Laayoune, Mohammed Rherrabi, gave at the meeting an overview on the social, economic, historical and cultural aspects of the development achieved in the region since it was retrieved in 1975 after a Spain occupation.

"Morocco has thwarted all attempts of enemies of its territorial integrity to create a pseudo state in the region," he noted, alluding to the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists who are claiming the secession of Morocco's southern provinces.

The governor added that the final settlement of the Sahara issue is among the top priorities set for the five coming years.

On his part, the governor in charge of cooperation with Minurso, Hamid Chabar, hailed cooperation between Morocco and the United Nations, notably in maintaining the ceasefire proclaimed in 1991.

Morocco has shown good will with regard to the implementation of the five-phase Minurso settlement plan, he said, expressing regret that the second phase of the plan, consisting in the determination of participants in the referendum over the Sahara, was hampered because of Polisario.