SAHARA PRESSE SERVICE

Madrid, 10/07/2005 (SPS) Former President of the Spanish Government, José Maria Aznar, will receive the President of the Saharawi Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, Monday in the seat of the Foundation of Analysis and Social Studies (FAES) in Madrid, reported Spanish press agency, Europa Press.

Former leader of the Spanish Popular Party (PP), in power in Spain until April 2004, Mr. Aznar is currently the President of FAES. PP continues to criticise the Spanish executive for its way to manage the conflict of the Western Sahara. PP criticises in particular the ambiguity of the executive’s positions and its compassion with Morocco after the violent confrontations of last May between Saharawis and Moroccan colonial forces.

PP’s group in the Spanish Parliament presented a proposition of a motion on the Spanish foreign policy orientation last June in which it put stressed "the seriousness" of the situation, calling Zapatero’s Government to support "without hesitation" a solution to the conflict on the basis of the Baker Plan, "Peace Plan fpr the self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara".

President Abdelaziz had met last November 2004 with the Head of the Spanish executive, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in Madrid. It was the first meeting of its kind between Saharawi and Spanish leaders since the Spain betrayed the Saharawi people in favour of the Madrid’s Accords signed in November 1975, which allowed Morocco invade and occupy the Saharawi nonj-self-governing territory.

Observers put forward that the initiatives of Zapatero’s Government aiming at finding a "viable solution", or an "accord between all the parties" so as to reach a "viable" solution, is an attempt to hide Madrid aim to ally Paris’ position avoiding thus its responsibilities as the Occupying force of the territory. (SPS)

010/090/666/ALG/TRD 101032 Jul 05 SPS

Madrid, 10/07/2005 (SPS) More than 72% of Spanish people supported the independence of Western Sahara according to a poll recently realised by the Royal Institution Alcano (Real Instituto Elcano) for International Studies and Strategies, publicised in its web site (http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/barometro.asp).

The majority of Spanish people (72%) are in favour of the independence of the Saharawi people against 16% supporting a large autonomy within Morocco, indicated the poll of the institution, emphasising that (77%) of the voters were male while (67%) were female.

The percentage of the persons in favour of Saharawis "increases depending on the increase of the level of education of the person", increasing from 64% for the persons with primary education to 82% for the universities’ students and graduates and highest educational levels, the same source added.

Concerning the political parties, the Basque National Party (PNV-in Spanish) comes in the first place with 93% of in favour of the independence of Western Sahara, followed by the Unified Left (Isquierda Unida- in Spanish) with 87% while the right and centre represent 65%, the poll shows.

The Real Instituto Elcano for International Studies and Strategies is "a private and independent foundation specialised in the analysis and discussion of the information and news especially concerning the international relations of Spain", according to the information on the institution as defined in the web page of the foundation. (SPS)

010/090/666/ALG/TRD 101208 Jul 05 SPS

SPS
SADR/SPAIN/DEMONSTRATION
More than 5.000 persons demonstrate in Seville their rejection of the Moroccan colonial occupation of Western Sahara

Seville (Spain), 10/07/2005 (SPS) More than 5.000 persons demonstrated their rejection of the Moroccan colonial occupation of Western Sahara in Seville, calling on the Spanish executive to "a firm attitude" in favour of the independence of the non-self-governing territory, reported a press release publicised Saturday by the Spanish associations of solidarity with the Saharawi people in Andalusia.

The demonstration, which was organised under the initiative of these associations, was attended by political parties, trade unions, human rights organisations, Spanish families who are receiving Saharawi children in Andalusia, it was indicated.

"Morocco, invader out of the Sahara", "No to occupation, no to repression, yes to self-determination", "Yes for a referendum in Western Sahara", "Sahara freedom, Polisario will win", are some of the slogans chanted by the participants in the demonstration.

A sit-in was then improvised at the end of the march in the "Muelle de la Sal" Place in front of the river of Guadalquivir, where an act of solidarity with Saharawi political prisoners and detainees of the last acts of Moroccan reprisal against the last Saharawi demonstrations in the occupied territories.

The demonstration was concluded with the presentation of the Solidarity Price, "Juan Antonio Gonzalez Caraballo", to Saharawi human rights’ activist, Ali Salem Tamek, given to him by Defender of the people of Andalusia, José Chamizo.

On another hand, a letter of support to Mrs. Aminetou Haidar, symbol of the resistance against the colonial occupation, actually under detention in the Carcel negra in El Aaiun, was read at the end of the ceremony. (SPS)

010/090/666/ALG/TRD 101832 Jul 05 SPS