SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Berlin, 24/06/04 (SPS) The parliamentary group of German Christian Democrat Party (PDC/CSU) in Bundestag (Parliament), called on Thursday to an immediate settlement of Western Sahara's conflict, exhorting international community to pay more efforts in defending Saharawi people's "right to self-determination".

In a communiqué publicised on Thursday, of which SPS received a copy, PDC/CSU parliamentary Group's spokesperson, Dr. Christian Ruck, asserted that "Western Sahara conflict's settlement tolerates no more delays", calling international community to pay more efforts in defending Saharawi people's "right to self-determination".

UN Secretary General's former Personal Envoy, James baker resignation "may push to failure" the peace plan for self-determination of Saharawi people, though this plan constitutes "a reasonable compromise to realise peace in this region", deplored the spokesperson.

Thus, the international community is called to "prove to the people of this region, who is still suffering this old aging conflict, that its right to self-determination remains a priority for the international community", which should also defend UN's principles and international law, so as to reach a peaceful settlement to this problem, concluded the communiqué. (SPS)

060/090/100 242252 June 04 SPS

SPS
SADR/SPAIN/SOLIDARITY
Opening of the Conference of Spanish and Saharawi twinned cities and communities

Madrid, 24/06/2004 (SPS) The opening session of the Conference of Spanish and Saharawi twinned cities and communities took place today at the conferences' Palace 'Kursaal' in San Sebastian, assisted by an important Saharawi delegation, SPS noted.

More than 250 representatives of 140 Spanish institutions and organisations took part to this conference, to which also assisted an important Saharawi delegation chaired by the Head of the Government, Mr. Abdelkader Taleb Omar, accompanied by members of the National Secretariat, Government, Representatives of Saharawi refugees camps' Dairas, besides an Algerian delegation headed by Mr. Mehrez El Ammari, President of Algerian Association of Support to Saharawi People.

San Sebastian's Mayor, Mr. Odón Elorza, give the opening speech to the conference, followed by interventions of  others personalities who condemned Moroccan military occupation of western Sahara, calling the international community for more support and solidarity with Saharawi people in its struggle for freedom and independence.

Intervening before of the participants, as host of honour and president of the Saharawi delegation, Mr. Abdelkader Taleb Omar, thanked Spanish peoples, especially Basque's, for the support and for the role they are playing to help Saharawis in their resistance and struggle to get their legitimate rights back.

In the evening, the participants had the opportunity to attend a Saharawi musical show, which was highly appreciated.

Jointly organised by Basque's Government, San Sebastian Mayoralty, Gipuzkoa Council, the Federation of Spanish Institutions Supporters of Saharawi People (FEDISPS), the Association Friends of SADR, the EUSKADI and the Euskal Fondea, this conference aims at "strengthening the links of brotherhood" between Saharawi people and its Spanish and European friends, underlined the organisers.

The representatives of Spanish cities and communities and their Saharawi counterparts have to review the results of the twinnings and the programmes of cooperation between their communities, so as to reach the best ways of financing future, social, cultural and medical projects, besides humanitarian assistance to Saharawi refugees.

It should be recalled that studies and debates, which tackles the last developments of the national cause and human rights in occupied territories of Western Sahara, will be given by imminent national, Spanish and European personalities. (More details on the conference's programme in Spanish). (SPS)

060/090/000 241910 June 04 SPS