"In its statement, Algeria proved that it had not wanted and does not intend to change its position concerning the Sahara issue," said Mr. Chabar before the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly, following a speech of Algeria's representative who confirmed his country's hostile position towards Morocco's territorial integrity.

     The Moroccan diplomat added that the game adopted by Algeria "has become tiresome, as it banks on the status quo, and runs counter to the will of the international community."     he went on, the General Assembly addressed, last year on December 14, a clear message to Algeria by abstaining in great numbers during a vote on a resolution submitted by it, aimed at maintaining the impasse through sticking to proposals which resulted in the status quo, particularly the Baker Plan, in reference to the peace proposal of the former James Baker  former special envoy of the UN for the Sahara.

    The Moroccan diplomat made it clear that Algeria has no right to go on ignoring the will of the majority of the Sahraoui population, denouncing, in this respect, its claim that it is not a party to the conflict, and its stubbornness to counter any census of the minority living the Tindouf camps, in Algeria .

    As  to human rights, the diplomat pointed out that it is in the Tindouf camps in Algeria the situation is deplorable, where the population is deprived of any kind of freedom, as proven by several people who manage to flee the camps as well as by NGOs and Amnesty International. He recalled, in thisrespect, the reports of humanitarian organizations denouncing the embezzlement of international aids.

    The conflict over the Sahara dates back to 1976, a year after Morocco had retrieved this former Spanish colony under the Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania. The separatist movement lured thousands of Sahrawis into joining it in the Tindouf camps where it continues to hold them against their will and claims the independence of the territory.

    In a bid to solve the dispute, Morocco proposed autonomy to the Sahara region. The initiative was welcomed as “serious” and “credible” by several içnternational influential capitals.

   In accordance with the UN Security Council resolution 1754 which called on the parties to enter into negotiations “in good faith and without preconditions,” Morocco and the Polisario held two rounds of negotiations in June and August. The two parties agreed to hold a third round, but no date or venues have been set so far.

 Source: MAP
- News and events concerning Western Sahara-