SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Berne, 04/03/2004 (SPS) The minister of Occupied Territories, Khalil Sidi M'Hamed, during his visit to Swiss Confederation, has made intense contacts with Swiss and UN's authorities to guarantee Saharawi Human rights activists participation to UN's Commission for Human Rights, indicated a source close to Saharawi representative to Geneva.

In the State and District of Vaud, the minister was received by Mr. Pierre Chiffelle, State Counsellor, to whom he exposed the current developments of the Baker's Plan and the continuance of the serious violations of human rights in Western Sahara.

Mr. Chiffelle promised, on behalf of the State of Vaud, to undertake the necessary steps towards putting an end to the restriction to which Saharawi human rights activists are victims, deprived by Moroccan authorities from participating to the session of the Commission for Human Rights.

"We will do our best, underlined the State Counsellor, in order to draw light on the Saharawi disappeareds and to allow these human rights activists to testify and participate fully to the works of the next Commission, conforming to the Law and international conventions".

In Lausanne, the minister was received by Vaud's committee of support to Saharawi people and the association Humanitel and the ADER (Association for Development of renewable energies).

During these meetings, the Committee's members explained the methods of producing energy they experienced with success in the Saharawi refugees' camps and the strategic long term policy concerning energy, they are planning to realise to provide for the needs of the refugees.
 
At the central level, Mr. Khalil wet in the office of the Federal Department for Foreign Affairs (DFAE) with Mr. Francis Piccand, Mr. Simon Amman and Honstantin Obolensky, respectively Collaborator to the Centre of Analysis and Perspectives, Collaborator to the IV policy division and the diplomatic Collaborator to the II policy division for Africa/Middle east

During the discussions the minister's interlocutors promised to transmit the complaints and to continue following the prevailing human rights situation in territories under Moroccan occupation besides other subjects linked to humanitarian aid.

In Lausanne, the minister gave an interview to "Radio 24Heures".

In Berne, the minister had also met with the assistant general director of Amnesty International (Swiss Section), Mr. Daniel Bolomey, to whom he asked for an urgent action in favour of human rights activists, who are submitted weeks ago to an intense campaign of exaction and libel.

Mr. Bolomey, who showed his "preoccupation" about this situation, promised to undertake the necessary steps to put an end to these continious violations of human rights perpetrated by Morocco, and this by collaboration with the authorities of the organisations in London.
 
Finally, the minister had some meetings with the Swiss parliamentary group " Western Sahara", recently constituted. The group reiterated its support to Saharawi people's struggle and resistance, asserting its firm will to pay all efforts to put an end to the restrictions imposed on Saharawi human rights activists in occupied territories. (SPS)

010/090/666/TRD 041650 Mar 04 SPS

SPS
SADR/AFRICAN UNION
African Union invites the SADR to participate to the European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership on diseases linked to poverty

Maputo, 04/03/2004 (SPS) African Union (AU) invited SADR to participate to the European Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership on diseases linked to poverty, (EDCTP), and to participate to Africa's efforts to irradiate infectious diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, that are affecting the most poor countries, Sub-Saharan countries in particular.

''I am sure that Your Excellency will give your full support to this partnership and its efforts to achieve good results in your country, your region and in the continent as a whole'', underlined the President of Mozambique, Joaquim Alberto Chissano, Chairperson of African Union, in a message addressed to his Saharawi counterpart, Mohamed Abdelaziz.

The initiative, decided during AU's 2nd summit held in July 2003 in Maputo, was considered as ''a priority for the continent'' in the final declaration of the Heads of State and Government in a sense that ''these three diseases'' are a cause and a consequence to poverty, and an obstacle to economic development, to education and sanitary progress in many developing countries.

'' I believe that to develop effective vaccines and medicaments, it is essential to do research in Africa'', indicated the message.

The EDCTP targets the increase of efficiency of European investments in clinical trials in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, and to increase financial investment to realise this intervention. (SPS)

010/090/100/TRD 041556 Mar 04 SPS