SPS SADR/SPAIN/COOPERATION/MEDIA The Minster for Cooperation asks
for a Spanish "more active role" in the decolonisation of Western Sahara
15.12.04
Aviles (Asturias-Spain),
15/12/2004 (SPS) Saharawi minister for Cooperation, Salek Baba Hassena,
asked Tuesday in Aviles for a Spanish "more active role" in the
decolonisation of Western Sahara, warning against a possible
humanitarian disaster in the refugees camps, reported different Spanish
means of communication on Tuesday.
Mr. Salek Baba regretted "the weakness of the international community
whenever it is a question of implementing" the pertinent UN's
resolutions to the conflict, calling for "a Spanish more active role in
the solution of the conflict", within the framework of the respect of
Saharawi people right to self-determination and independence.
Spain must adopt "a more active and dynamic position" in the
decolonisation of Western Sahara taking into account Madrid's
historical responsibility in the tragedy Saharawi people are living
since the colonisation of their territory by Morocco as a result to the
Madrid's Tripartite Accords of 1975.
Moroccan rejection of the Peace Plan for the self-determination of the
people of Western Sahara, called Baker Plan, "unfortunately has the
backing of some members within Security Council", deplored Mr. Salek,
what constitutes an indisputable complicity with Moroccan violations of
Saharawi people's right to self-determination and independence.
Salek affirmed that Saharawi people will peacefully continue "adopting
political ways, but we think that it would be legitimate to defend our
right via other means if the UN reveals itself to be unable to impose
the Plan in which it invested so much efforts", referring to the Baker
Plan.
The Saharawi Minister also exposed Saharawi refugees humanitarian
situation, emphasising that the UN "does not achieve the established
program of food supplies of the refugees’ camps".
He warned against a possible humanitarian disaster in the refuges camps
"if the international community does not provide complementary aid" as
soon as possible.
The Saharawi Minister, it should be recalled, was invited by the
Asturias authorities to take part to the 1st Forum of Solidarity, which
is organised from the 13 to the 17th December by the municipality of
Aviles in collaboration with the Regional Agency for International
Cooperation of the Province of Asturias. (SPS)
SPS SADR/SOUTH
AFRICA/DIPLOMACY Saharawi Ambassador presents
his credential letters to President Mbeki
Pretoria, 15/12/04 (SPS) Saharawi
Ambassador to Pretoria, M. Sadafa Mohamed Bahia, presented Wednesday
his credential letters as an
extraordinary and plenipotentiary Ambassador of SADR to Pretoria to
South African President, M. Thabo Mbeki, indicated a communiqué
by the Embassy
publicised today, of which Sahara Press Service received a copy.
"At the end of a ceremony, that took place Today at the Presidential
Guesthouse", Mr. Sadafa Bahia "presented his credential letters to President Thabo Mbeki", as an
extraordinary and plenipotentiary Ambassador of
the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic to South Africa, emphasised the
communiqué.
During the ceremony, the new Ambassador paid "a vibrant tribute for the
liberation struggle of the South African people", which remains an
example to all "peoples seeking liberty, justice and democracy", added
the text.
Talking about the Saharawi question, Mr. Sadafa expressed "the total
availability, of SADR, to cooperate with all efforts undertaken by your
country to find a solution that guarantees to the Saharawi people the
exercise of its inalienable right to self determination", reaffirming
however the attachment of his country to the Baker Plan.
The ceremony took part with the presence of Mr. Fowler and Mr.
Ntsaluba, respectively director of the President's Cabinet and Director
General of the ministry for Foreign Affairs from the South African
part; while from the Saharawi it was attended by Mr. Tayeb Sadik,
Counsellor at SADR's Embassy to Pretoria.
The Republic of South Africa announced its official recognition of the
Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), last September the 15th 2004.
This South African initiative "will bring a highly valued contribution
to the return of peace and stability in the northern part of our
continent through a fair and balanced approach towards all peoples of
the region ", added a joint communiqué issued by the South
African and Saharawi Foreign Affairs Ministries then. (SPS)
SPS SADR/SOUTH
AFRICA/DIPLOMACY Mbeki reiterates his country's
support to the Peace Plan for the self-determination of the Saharawi
people
Pretoria, 15/12/04 (SPS) South
African President, Thabo Mbeki, reiterated Wednesday his country's
support to the Peace Plan for the self-determination of the Saharawi
people, during the ceremony of presentation of the credential letters of the first
Saharawi Ambassador to Pretoria, indicated a communiqué
publicised by the Saharawi Embassy to South Africa.
Receiving the credential letters of the
Ambassador of SADR to Pretoria, Sadafa Mohamed Bahia, M. Thabo Mbeki
reiterated "the support of his country to the Baker Plan, which offers
Saharawi people an opportunity to exercise their right to
self-determination", indicated the communiqué.
South Africa "will continue searching a solution to the
Morocco-Saharawi conflict", within the framework of the respect of
Saharawi people's right to self-determination, emphasised Mr. Mbeki,
regretting "the absence of Morocco during the (South-African) attempt
to gather the two parties –Morocco and Polisario- in Pretoria last
September the 05 and 06 2004 aimed at giving a new chance to peace",
added the same source.
After the speeches of both sides, Mr. Mbeiki invited Mr. Sadafa Mohamed
Bahia "to a private meeting during which they discussed the question of
Western Sahara on the light of the last developments", concluded the
text.
The Republic of South Africa and the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic
had decided to establish diplomatic relations and to have
representations at the level of ambassadors starting from September the
15th, 2004.
The decision of the two African countries to establish diplomatic ties
at the level of ambassadors constitutes a key evolution in the
relations of two peoples who already have old relations of solidarity
and cooperation, commented observers from the two countries. (SPS)
SPS SADR/GERMANY/PARLIAMENT Germany will continue supporting
the UN's efforts fo a peaceful solution to the Saharawi conflict,
affirms Dr. Klaus Scharioth
Berlin, 15/12/04 (SPS) German
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Klaus Scharioth, affirmed
that his country will "continue supporting the UN's efforts fo a
peaceful solution to the conflict", of Western Sahara that would
respect Saharawi people right to self-determination.
In his answer to the written questions by the Parliament member
(conservative CDU/CSU), M. Rudolf Kraus, Président of the
Bundestag (German Parliament) Committee for Developement allemand and
former Secretary of State at the Minstry for Cooperation in the
Government of Helmut Kohl, Dr. Klaus Scharioth affirmed that "Germany
will continue, as before, supporting all UN's efforts to find a
peaceful solution to the conflict", of Western Sahara.
Dr. Scharioth added that "the résolution unanimously adopted by
the Bundestag last January the 29, 2004 (Document of Bundestag
15/2391), constitues a very important basis for the Federal Government
to its discussions with the parties to the conflict, but also to its
attitude within the United Nationa and European Union", wrote the
answer.
The German Federal Government, added the Secretary of State, will also
continue its commitments "at the humanitarian level even after its
departure from the Security Council this December the 31st 2004 and
will closely coordonate its actions with the European parteners", to
better coordonate their actions.
It should be recalled that the Bundestag had unanimously adopted last
January the 29th 2004, a resolution backing the Baker Plan and asking
the German Federal Government "to call upon Morocco and Polisario Front
to work with the United Nations and with each other for the acceptation
and the enforcement of the Peace Plan", elaborated by the former
Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General, Mr. James Baker.
The resolution had also exhorted the Government to "take a stand so as
our European partners actively act for the backing of the referendum
process", in Western Sahara.
On his side, Mr. Jürgen Chrobog, Secretary of State in the Federal
Ministry for Foreign Affairs had clearly affirmed, in a response to a
written question by the Liberal Parliamentary Group (FDP) publicised
last June the 15th 2004, that his Government "works so as the parties
to the conflict accept the Baker Plan", underlining that the resolution
affirming the Bundstag support of this Plan constitutes "the basis of
his bilateral contacts with the parties to the conflict and with the
concerned parties, as well as the basis to his attitude within the EU
and the UN".. (SPS)
SAHARA
PRESS SERVICE