SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Haouza (liberated territories) 25/04/2004 (SPS) The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, called Morocco to conform to international legality to establish peace in the region on the base of the respect of Saharawi people's right to self-determination and the respect of the relevant Security Council's resolutions on the matter.

Intervening on Saturday, during a press conference held in the region of Haouza (liberated territories) in margin of an international demonstration organised in front of «the wall of shame», Mr. Abdelaziz launched an «appeal to peace» to the Government of Rabat on the basis of the relevant Security
Council's resolutions, calling to the enforcement of the plan for the self-determination of Saharawi people.

Asked on his opinion about Secretary General's report, issued last Wednesday, Mr. Abdelaziz pointed out the objectivity of some paragraphs of the report, which is going to be studied by Security Council this week.

In this respect, he noted with satisfaction «Un's attachment to the principle of self-determination of the Saharawi people, as the only way to put an end to the conflict».

The President of the Republic considered, nonetheless, that SG should have been «firmer in calling Security Council to force Morocco to the enforcement of the Peace Plan for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara», noting that the prorogation of the Minurso mandate for 10 other months,
as proposed by SG, «is too much».

Moreover, the President expressed congratulations and thanks to the international movement for peace in Western Sahara in its third edition, on Saturday, in front of the Moroccan military building that is separating Saharawi families for decades.
 
«From this platform in the liberated territories, and in front of the wall of shame I would like to express our deep gratitude and thanks to the peoples of Spain for their support and solidarity with our struggle».

Asked about the position of Zapatero's Government, which issued after the elections of March, Mr. Abdelaziz declared that he expects «continuity» in the same impulse followed by the precedent Spanish government, noting that this would be «a position which is in conformity with the international legality and in harmony with the hopes of the peoples of the peninsula».

«We are confident that all democratic government that leads Spain can but take into account the sympathy and support of the peoples of Spain to our cause», he added.

Considering the historical, cultural and geographic relationships with Western Sahara «the responsibility and as a matter of fact the role of Spain should be resulted from this implications and should be effective in order that Saharawi people can fully recover their rights».

He further asked Mr. Zapatero to « take profit of his visit to Morocco to invite the King of Morocco to conform to the international legality and to quickly work for the enforcement of UN's plan for the self-determination of Saharawi people».

Asked on the position of Algeria and the consequences of the re-election of the President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, on the region, the Head of the State congratulated Algeria for «the success of the presidential elections, which were democratic, free and transparent, according to the testimony of all the international community».

On another hand, he renewed the gratitude and thanks of his country for «the unconditional support of Algeria to the legitimate struggle of the Saharawi people» and considered that the Algerian elections «will certainly have positive results, not only to Algeria, but also to the whole people of the region, Saharawi people included». (SPS)

010/090/000/TRD 251213 Apr 04 SPS