Russia hopes Sahara issue of contested groups be settled quickly

Russia voiced hope on Tuesday that the issue of the contested tribal groups would be settled before next october 31, the Russian foreign department said.

In a release faxed to Moroccan News Agency bureau in Moscow, the Russian foreign ministry said "it is very important" that Morocco and the "Polisario" (an Algeria-backed guerilla movement, claiming the secession of Morocco's southern provinces) to cooperate with the UN high commissioner for refugees for the settlement of the issues related to the repatriation of Sahrawi refugees.

The UN security council announced lately that the identification operation is completed, with the registration of 147,000 applicants, except for members of the contested tribes H41, H61 and J51/52. Those are tribes that fled the Spanish occupation and that are denied eligibility by the Polisario.

The security council also decided to extend the mandate of "MINURSO" (acronym in French for the UN mission for the referendum in the Sahara) until next October 31.

Annan's special envoy is expected to hold talks with Morocco and the so-called "Polisario" to settle the issue of contested tribes.

The United Nations is planning to hold a referendum in the Moroccan southern provinces (Sahara), retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords, to determine whether this former Spanish colony would join Morocco or set up an independent state, as claimed by the "Polisario."

The European Union renewed on tuesday "total support to the UN peace plan providing for the holding of a free, legal and neutral self-rule referendum in the Sahara."

Initially set for next December 7, the referendum has been facing several obstacles due to the Polisario's delaying maneuvers and attempts to shrink the voters' lists.

Spain voiced lately fear that the projected self-determination referendum Sahara would be further delayed due to the almost "irreconcilable" positions of Morocco and the Polisario regarding the list of eligible voters.