SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Chahid el Hafed, 21/06/04(SPS) Polisario Front releases, Monday, 100 Moroccan prisoners of war (see list of the prisoners), after mediation undertook by Irish and Spanish Governments, SPS noted.
 
In response to a request from the Irish Government, which is presently chairing the European Union, Polisario Front declared, in a Statement publicised on Monday, having "undertake the initiative of releasing 100 Moroccan prisoners of war, some officers included", also in response " to a Spanish Government's request presented during the visit, to the Saharawi camps, of Spanish Foreign Affairs Secretary of State".

This humanitarian initiative intervenes while “Moroccan Government continues, despite of international community's appeals, to keep in complete secret some 150 Saharawi fighters and more than 500 civilians disappeared. Morocco also is blocking all paths to a just and final solution to the Morocco-Saharawi conflict on the basis of the respect of international legality", underlined the statement.

Undertaking an official visit to Saharawi refugees camps, the Irish Minister of state for Cooperation and Human Rights, Tom Kitt, accompanied by the Director of Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Department for Africa and Middle East, Eamon Mac Aoaha, and representatives of Irish audiovisual and written Media, has attended the liberation of 100 Moroccan Prisoners of war, Polisario Front has unilaterally released.

This initiative arises the number of Moroccan prisoners of war unilaterally released by Polisario Front, so far, to 1843, of whom the last group was released in February 2004.

"This humanitarian initiative proves Polisario Front's good will in the search of a just and fair solution to the conflict opposing it to Morocco", affirmed Mr. Khadad, Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO, adding that « International Community must push Morocco to respect its commitments to international legality". (SPS)

040/090/100/TRD 211928 June 04 SPS

SPS
SADR/ IRLAND/ VISIT
An Irish ministerial delegation undertakes a visit to repatriate 100 Moroccan POWs

Chahid el Hafed, 21/06/04 (SPS) An Irish delegation, chaired by Minister of State for Cooperation and Human Rights, Mr.Tom Kitt, undertakes a visit to repatriate 100 Moroccan prisoners of war (POWs) unilaterally released by Polisario Front, SPS noted.

Arrived in the afternoon, the delegation was received by the President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, accompanied by the President of Parliament, Head of the Government and saharawi Coordinator with MINURSO, with the presence of representatives of national, Algerian and Irish Media.
 
After been saluted by a military detachment, the president of the Irish delegation had had a meeting with the President of the Republic, after which the Irish Minister of State expressed his gratitude to Polisario Front's political leadership "who have responded to our exhortation to release Moroccan POWs".
 
It should be recalled that Irish Government, which is presently chairing European Union and Spanish Government have both solicited a humanitarian initiative from Polisario Front, asking for the release of a group of Moroccan POWs.

In this respect, Polisario Front released the following Statement:
"

In response to a request from the Irish Government, which is presently chairing the European Union, Polisario Front undertakes the initiative of releasing 100 Moroccan prisoners of war, some officers included. This initiative is also a response to a Spanish Government's request presented during the visit, to the Saharawi camps, of Spanish Foreign Affairs Secretary of State.

This new group arises the number of Moroccan prisoners of war unilaterally released by Polisario Front, so far, to 1843, of whom the last group was released in February 2004, following mediation of the Prince of Qatar. 

This humanitarian initiative, intervenes while Moroccan Government continues, despite of international community's appeals, to keep in complete secret some 150 Saharawi fighters and more than 500 civilians disappeared. Morocco also is blocking all paths to a just and final solution to the Morocco-Saharawi conflict on the basis of the respect of international legality.

Polisario Front seize this occasion, which coincides with the visit to Saharawi authority and refugees' camps of Irish Minister of State, Tom Kitt, to call Ireland, Spain, European Union and the international Community to do their utmost so as Saharawi prisoners of war be released, so as the fate of saharawi disappeared be highlighted and so as the peace plan for self-determination of Saharawi people, Security Council unanimously adopted in the 31st of July 2003 in its resolution 1495, be implemented.
Bir Lahlou, 21 june 2004." (SPS)

040/090/100 211822 June 04 SPS