Morocco imputes delay in Sahara referendum to Polisario

Morocco on Thursday imputed the delay in the referendum process in the Sahara to stalling tactics by the Polisario.

"The delay in the referendum process was imposed by the stalling tactics of our enemies (the Polisario), who seek to foil the United Nations settlement plan," Moroccan General Affairs Minister Mohamed Lahlimi told the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat daily.

"The UN secretariat general was compelled to adopt a step-by-step approach in view of the stalling maneuvers of the Polisario," he added.

The UN said last week that the much-delayed referendum will be held on July 31, 2000.

Lahlimi underlined that Morocco's position in the issue is clear. "If all the Sahrawis are allowed to register for the referendum and if all the Sahrawis sequestered in the Tindouf camps (the southwestern Algeria stronghold of the Polisario) are allowed to return to Morocco and to vote freely in the consultation, the Sahara issue will be closed."

A five-page addendum to the UN chief's latest report related to the Sahara issue said the identification of would-be voters in the referendum would resume on June 15, while the appeals operations would start by July 15, 1999.

According to the addendum, the identification operation would end on November 30, 1999 while the appeals would finish on February 28, 2000. This will pave the way for the start of the transition period on March 6, 2000 while the referendum campaign would open on July 10, 2000 and the referendum would be held on July 31, 2000.

The Security Council, which endorsed the UN chief's proposals, decided last weekend to extend to next September 14 the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in the Sahara (MINURSO) in order to resume the identification process, start the appeals procedure and conclude all agreements needed to implement the settlement plan.