Sahara referendum entered final straight, Moroccan minister says

The referendum process in the Sahara has entered the final straight in accordance with the United Nations settlement plan, Moroccan interior minister, Driss Basri, on Wednesday told the house of representatives (lower house of parliament).

The UN has accepted the identification of persons whose right to register on the referendum voters' lists had been denied for a long time by the enemies of Morocco's territorial integrity, Basri said.

Persons who were not identified in the first phase will have the right to have their Sahrawi origins and their right to participate in the vote recognized, he said, underlining that the referendum will confirm the Sahara as Moroccan territory, he added.

The two operations will take five to six months before the beginning of the transition period that will be marked by the presence in the territory of UN troops, observers and administrative staff in charge of carrying out the last preparations for the referendum, slated for in July 2000, he said.

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

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 much-delayed referendum would be held on July 31, 2000.

The interior minister also stressed the importance of the return of the Sahrawi population sequestered in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria, stronghold of the Polisario).

According to Basri, the new stage will be a real test that will unveil those who want to see the referendum held, and those who fear the verdict of the polls.

"The pressure card once used by the opponents to hamper the settlement process is no longer valid," he said.

The minister stressed that UN Secretary-General saw for himself, during the visit he paid to the Moroccan Saharan provinces in the past few months, the unmatched attachment and loyalty that these provinces' population vow to King Hassan II. The UN chief also had an idea about the peace and prosperity that this population enjoys, he said.

Meanwhile, Morocco has welcomed the appointment of U.S William Eagleton as new personal representative of the U.N Secretary-General for the Sahara.

"The appointment of William Eagleton has been accepted by King Hassan II," Moroccan interior minister, Driss Basri on Wednesday told the house of representatives (lower house of parliament).

Eagleton, who replaces another American Charles Dunbar, had represented the United States in several diplomatic missions in the Middle-East.