Former UN official expects political compromise on Sahara

Time may bring a political compromise on the Sahara issue, said former UN secretary general's special representative for the Sahara, Hon Erik Jensen.

This compromise is a chance for peoples of the north African grouping, Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) who aspire to a peaceful and prosperous future, said Jensen during a conference themed "Sahara issue in the United Nations Organisation" held in Rabat by the Moroccan Diplomatic Club.

Erik Jensen served in the MINURSO, the UN mission deployed in the Sahara since 1991 to monitor the cease-fire between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario which lays claims on the former Spanish colony. Morocco recovered the territory in 1976 under the Madrid accords with Spain.

The former UN chief representative also made it clear that the Security Council will not enforce coercive diplomacy by imposing any solution on any of the parties.

In the same conference, Moroccan former delegate to the United Nations, Ahmed Snoussi said that it was Morocco that took the initiative to propose a serious and concrete solution to the issue underscoring the national unanimity on the Sahara.

The three day-conference, started Monday, aims at promoting national solidarity and reviving the Green March spirit among younger generations.