AL Khaleej: Morocco open to solution securing sovereignty over Sahara, Academic

Morocco has wisely dealt with the Sahara issue and has been open to a solution that secures its sovereignty over its territory, said Pr Abdelhadi Boutaleb in a story ran, on Sunday, by the Abu Dhabi-based "AL Khaleej" daily.

The academic called on the international community "to support Morocco in its initiatives meant to put an end to this articificial problem, which has grown into a disproportionate dimension."

The Sahara dispute is opposing Morocco to the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists who are claiming the secession of Morocco's southern provinces, known as the Sahara.

Boutaleb said the international community has to draw "lessons from the UN failure to reach a solution to the issue based on a referendum," Boutaleb said, adding that important world powers announced that a just solution to this problem consists in the adoption of a consensual solution satisfying all parties.

Besides, Boutaleb described the recognition by South Africa of the alleged republic "SADR" as "a surprising decision" from "this country which proposed to play a role of mediation between the parties," adding the decision was inopportune at a time several countries withdrew their recognition of "SADR."