SPS SADR/MOROCCO/MEDIAS Mr. Driss Basri : "Only a
referendum on self-determination can definitively resolve the problem"
19.11.04
Algiers,
18/11/2004 (SPS) Moroccan former Minister of Interior, Driss Basri,
reaffirmed that "Only a referendum on self-determination can
definitively resolve" the conflict between Morocco and Polisario Front,
asserting in two interviews to Algerian newspaper "El Watan" in its
Thursday's edition and Spanish newspaper "Colpisa" in its Monday's that
his country "can not ignore international law for long".
The old Moroccan strong man, who was a minister of interior for 30
years under King Hassan II, underlined that Moroccan Government "can
not put itself in the position of a banned state from the international
community and can not ignore the right", with reference to UN's
pertinent resolutions.
"Western Sahara problem is a decolonisation problem because the UN
resolutions, including the latest, talk about the organisation of a
referendum on self-determination", he underlined.
In this respect, Mr. Basri recalled that the International Court of
Justice estimated that to transcend the problem of allegiance or
non-allegiance of some Saharawi tribes to the Moroccan Sultan and "for
the decolonisation of the territory, a referendum on self-determination
should be organised" in Western Sahara.
In front this point of view King Hassan II took the decision in Nairobi
of organising a referendum on self-determination for the Saharawi
people, he recalled.
Concerning the UN peace plan, he referred to the Plan of Pérez
De Cuellar, "as completed and made clear in some of its points in
London and also in Houston".
This plan, he said, indicated many stages parting from the cease-fire
to the exchange of prisoners, from the re-deployment of armed forces to
the administration of the territory.
In all this phases, he stressed, "the UN, Morocco and Polisario Front
had crossed important steps". He also emphasised that with "a good
will" the difficulties linked to the identification of the voters "can
be resolved".
"Unfortunately, bad ideas and advices, which nobody want to recognise
his accountability of, came from other Capitals to whisper the idea of
the third way", deplored Mr.
Basri.
In this respect he expressed his opposition to this solution (wide
autonomy Morocco proposed to Saharawis- Ed) because it constitutes a
danger for his country, according to him.
"I will not hide that in the time of his majesty Hassan II or in the
time of Mohamed Vi as well I had never dissimilated my rejection of
this solution which I would consider as a deviation for the following
reason: an autonomy makes the problem persist without resolving it from
its roots, besides that in the word autonomy there is some vagueness,
and calls to a measure less predetermined too", he explained.
On another hand, Mr. Bassri estimated, in an interview publicised
Monday by Spanish newspaper "Colpisa", that "the best solution to
Western Sahara conflict does not lie in the current strategy of
indecision of some of our leaders", in reference to the autonomy Rabat
is defending.
"Concerning autonomy, as I said in 2000, it means send the ball to the
touchline. The Maghreb is not ready for a solution of this kind,
because it is dangerous for the stability of Morocco, but also for
Mauritania, Algeria and Libya", he considered.
According to the former vizier of Hassan Ii "the only valid solution is
that one proposed in the initial peace plan signed by both parties in
1991 and completed in the Houston Accords", estimating that this is the
adequate framework of a lasting solution. (SPS)
SPS SADR/INTERNATIOANL
SOCIALIST The International Socialist
supports Saharawi people right to self-determination
Johannesburg, 18/11/2004 (SPS)
The Secretary General of the International Socialist (I.S), Mr. Luis
Ayala, affirmed in a press conference during the works of the Council
of his organisation, that took place in November the 15th and 16th in
Johannesburg, that the position of the IS is "conform to the resolution
adopted in the 22nd Congress of Sao Paolo" in 2003.
The 22nd Congress of the IS, that took place in October the 27 and 28
2003, has adopted a resolution that "supports the UN process and the
resolution 1495 of the Security Council aimed at implementing
self-determination for the people of Western Sahara".
The resolution also calls "all the parties to cooperate with the UN, in
particular with the efforts of the UN …".
It should be noted that a delegation representing Polisario Front,
compose of Ambassador Sadafa Bahia and M. Tayeb Sadik, member of the
Committee for Foreign Affairs, had participated to the works of the
Council, which was devoted this time to the progressive agenda of the
Organisation and to the included themes, such as the priorities of the
organisation now, the platform of action of Peking and the continuous
development.
The Saharawi delegation has also held many meetings with political
parties from Africa, Europe, Asia and Latino America in margin of the
meetings of the Council. (SPS)
SAHARA
PRESS SERVICE