Gabon backs Morocco's efforts to hold referendum in Sahara

Gabon said on Wednesday it backs Morocco's efforts to hold a self-determination referendum in the Sahara.

"Gabon backs Morocco's approach in holding the referendum, under the aegis of the United Nations, which remains the sole and unique path to settle this issue," Gabonese Prime Minister, Jean-Francois Ntoutoume Emane, said.

Libreville hails Morocco for accepting the U.N. settlement plan to materialize its legitimate claims, Ntoutoume said at an exchange of toasts with Moroccan peer, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, who arrived Wednesday in Gabon.

Gabon is the fourth leg of an African tour that already took Youssoufi to Senegal, Guinea and Cote D'Ivoire. He will wind up the tour with a visit to Burkina Faso.

Ntoutoume underlined that Morocco's commitment to the U.N settlement plan in the Sahara demonstrates Rabat's attachment to a peaceful and fair solution to the Sahara issue.

The referendum, delayed by the Polisario's stalling tactics, is slated for July, 2000 to determine whether the Sahara, a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975, sets up on its own, as claimed by the Polisario, or remains part of Morocco.

For his part, Youssoufi voiced Morocco's thanks to Gabon for its "constant, active and unconditional backing to our sacred national cause."

Youssoufi and Ntoutoume agreed on the need to give a new impetus to bilateral economic and trade cooperation through greater involvement of the private sector.

Gabon and Morocco are expected to conclude cooperation accords in the fields of fisheries, small and medium enterprises promotion, investment protection and cooperation between foreign departments