SAHARA PRESSE SERVICE

Sidney, 17/09/04 (SPS) the Secretary of the Australia Western Sahara Association (AWSA), Mrs. Lesley Osborne, hailed the initiative of the Republic of South Africa to enact official diplomatic relations with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (RASD), considering this act as an effective support to Saharawi people's right to self-determination and independence.

In a letter addressed by the Secretary of the Association to The High Commissioner for South Africa to Australia, Mr Anthony. L.K. Mongalo, Awsa felicitated South Africa for its decision "to enact formal diplomatic relation with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic", estimating that this act "is very significant for the Western Saharawi especially those still waiting in refugee camps for the opportunity to return to an independent homeland once there is a UN referendum".

This decision, added the letter, " is also much appreciated by international support groups such as AWSA, who are working for justice for the Saharawi people, including bringing the issues to the attention of our respective governments", so as they contribute in the establishment of peace and stability in the region of the Maghreb, through the support of Saharawi people's right to self-determination and independence.

Through a joint communiqué signed Wednesday in Cape Town by the Saharawi Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek and Mrs. Nkozazana Dlamini-Zuma, South African Minister for Foreign Affairs, 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.

Attended by the person in charge of the affairs of the Saharawi Ambassador to Pretoria with the presence of Saharawi African Union's Parliament members, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek inaugurated Thursday in Pretoria, the seat of the Saharawi Embassy to South Africa, which is thereafter located in East Wood in Pretoria, where most of accredit embassies can be found in South Africa.

To confirm South Africa's will to contribute to the support of Saharawi people right to self-determination and to independence the South African President, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, called Africa to mobilise to liberate Western Sahara from Moroccan colonial yoke, considering that the current situation of the territory "a subject of great shame" for the black continent.

"This impose on all of us the challenge to ensure paying all what is possible to guarantee that this brother people get this fundamental and inalienable right, which defence by our whole continent had brought us freedom", added Mr. Mbeki. (SPS)

060/090/000 171027 SEPT 04 SPS

SPS
SADR/SOUTH AFRICA/USA
Joseph Pitts commends the South African decision to recognise "the legitimate government of the people of Western Sahara"

Washington, 17/09/04 (SPS) Republican Congressman, M. Joseph Pitts estimated Thursday that Saharawi people deserve "the support" USA "has given others in their fight for independence". He commended the South African decision to recognise "the legitimate government of the people of Western Sahara".

In a press release publicised Thursday, the Republican Congressman commended South Africa's decision to enact diplomatic relations, at a level of ambassadors, with SADR, "the legitimate government of the people of Western Sahara", considering this act as a positive step to "increase pressure on Morocco to give the Saharawis have a say in their own future ".

Mr. Pitts, highly recommended this initiative, estimating that this "peaceful, democratic people", Saharawis, deserve "no less than the support we have given others in their fight for independence ".

The initiative of South Africa, the great "leader on the continent" of Africa, should be an example to other countries, which can positively contribute to a speedy, peaceful and final settlement of the last decolonisation question in Africa by adopting similar action.

Through a joint communiqué signed Wednesday in Cape Town by the Saharawi Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek and Mrs. Nkozazana Dlamini-Zuma, South African Minister for Foreign Affairs, 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 Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, inaugurated Thursday in Pretoria, the seat of the Saharawi Embassy to South Africa, after the latter's recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, located thereafter in East Wood in Pretoria, where most of accredit embassies can be found in South Africa.

South African President, Thabo Mbeki, who was giving a speech during the constitutive meeting of the Pan Africa Parliament in Midrand (north-east South Africa), confirmed the will of his country to work for the establishment of peace in the Maghreb region, calling Africa to mobilise to liberate Western Sahara from Moroccan colonial yoke, considering that the current situation the territory as "a subject of great shame" for the black continent.

Congressman Joseoh Pitts is Vice-Chair of US Congress International Relations Subcommittee on International Terrorism. (SPS)

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SPS
SADR/VENEZUELA/VISIT
Venezuelan Minister for Energy arrived in a visit to SADR

Chahid El Hafed, 17/09/2004 (SPS) Conveyed by the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez Frias, the Minister for Energy and Mines, Rafael Ramirez, arrived Saturday evening to SADR for a two days visit.

Mr. Ramirez will be the guest to a dinner given by Prime Minister, Abdelkader Taleb Oumar, who will be accompanied by Mr. M'Hamed Khadad, Member of the National Secretariat, Minister for Defence, Mohamed Lemine Bouhali, Minister of Education, Bachir Moustapha Sayed, Minister for Cooperation, Salek Baba and Minister of Culture and Sports, Mrs. Mariem Salek, it was indicated.

Tomorrow, the minister will have a popular reception and a meeting in the Wilaya of Smara, where he will inaugurate a school that will carry the name of the late legendary Venezuelan Leader, Simon Bolivar. He will then visit some national socio-cultural institutions.

He will also be received by the minister of defence and his staff, after been saluted by a military detachment, according to the program distributed to the press.

Mr. Ramirez will be the guest on a luncheon offered by the President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz. Then he will hold a conference for Polisario Front members and SADR's officials about the situation in Venezuela and Latino America as well as on the doctrine of Simon Bolivar and his heroic struggle that the actual President, Hugo Chavez is still leading.

It should be recalled that the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez Frias, has announced in the beginning of September, during a meeting with President Abdelaziz in Caracas, that his country "will rise its voice to back the Saharawi claims", calling Moroccan Government to comply with international legality.

"Morocco, he added, must accomplish its compromise with the United Nations to search a solution that pass through the organisation of a referendum so as the people of Western Sahara can decide over their future",. (SPS)

010/090/100/TRD 172009 SEPT 04 SPS