Report: For Morocco, Sahara issue is settled, Ageria is dear to me

Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, told a Lebanese daily that for Morocco, the Sahara issue is settled as the kingdom has recovered its Sahara provinces in conformity with international legality, like all other provinces which were colonized.

"We have settled all issues related to the partition of Morocco into areas under foreign influence through dialogue with the colonizing countries, he told Lebanese daily "Al-nahar" in an interview published Wednesday.

He went on that regarding the Sahara provinces and the dispute with Morocco's neighbors and in view of the exploitation of this issue by some Spanish leftist circles and in the rest of the world, there was a worldwide campaign to hold a referendum in which the local populations will express themselves so that the exercise of Moroccan sovereignty is definitive.

"If the referendum takes place, it will not modify the Moroccan citizenship of the Saharan province, Youssoufi insisted.

Regarding problems associated with the identification of persons entitled to vote in the referendum, the prime minister explained that the UN peace plan grants the veto right to the concerned sides and this right is being used by the "Polisario" to prevent persons of Sahara descent from being registered on the voter lists.

He added that as a result, the referendum operation is being delayed, expressing hope that the MINURSO will succeed in completing the list.

Asked on whether he would be ready, to hold a new round of negotiations with the "Polisario," he said that he does not know whether the UN secretary general's special envoy, James Baker, would propose negotiations. He further insisted that Morocco is sure that the local populations of the Sahara will never vote for the Polisario.

Commenting about relations with Algeria, the Prime Minister told al-Nahar "Algeria is very dear to me, in view of a shared history with Algerian militants with whom we have achieved joint victories," referring to the Moroccan and Algerian struggle for independence.

He went on that he is giving the priority to the difficult living conditions of populations in the border areas, explaining, "if we go back to the pre-1994 situation, it will prompt some dynamism that will contribute to improve the climate between the two governments and peoples."

"My wish is that the Arab Maghreb will be built, but this depends on good relations between Morocco and Algeria, he said, adding that for Morocco the Sahara issue is not a pre-requisite for restoring relations with Algeria but hopes that "Algerian brethren will reconsider their stance on this issue." Algeria is backing the "Polisario" a guerilla movement claiming the independence of Morocco's southern provinces.

Youssoufi conceded that Morocco has never accepted Algeria's support to the "Polisario," adding that Moroccans have been militating for Algeria's independence and regret that the Algerians are not adopting the same attitude vis-a-vis Morocco's territorial unity.