SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Toledo (Spain), 28/05/2004 (SPS) the 2nd international conference on information in Western Sahara opened its works on Friday afternoon in Toledo under the chairmanship of José taboado Valdes, President of the Co-ordination of supporting institutions and associations to Saharawi people, and with the presence of Mohamed Sidati, Minister Counsellor to the President, Batal Sid Ahmed, Saharawi Minister of Information, and Khalil Sid M'Hamed, Minister of Occupied Territories.

Under the theme ''Let's break the information embargo", the 2nd edition of this conference will try to set up mechanisms for the co-ordination between the different work-groups in the field of information for more efficiency and so as to define the ways and means capable of guaranteeing the wide spreading of information on the situation of the conflict opposing Saharawi people to the Moroccan regime since the military invasion of Western Sahara in 1975, indicated the organisers.

Along three days the participants will have to debate, at the level of the commissions and the plenary sessions, on the current subjects, and are expected to announce the institution of a tribune of supporting journalists and writers to Saharawi people, it was indicated.

The Algerian Association of Support to Saharawi people (ASPS), chaired by Mehrez Amari, was also represented in the conference accompanied by many Algerian journalists, who came to cover the event, enrich the debate and take part to the discussions held in the conference.

Toledo's conference was also attended by Saharawi Ambassador to Algiers, Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, a large delegation from Saharawi ministry of information and many Saharawi representatives to Spanish autonomous regions.(SPS)

010/TOL/000/TRD 281854 May 04 SPS