Ould Errachid told MAP this report has "buried for good the Baker Plan which doesn't take stock of the conditions of all parties."
The CORCAS chairman noted that the deadlock is dismissed by all parties as it perpetuates an unacceptable political and human situation, and favors the sufferings and division of the members of the same family.
For him, Annan report highlights an important fact, namely that all the means resorted to by the UN to solve this problem, which opposes Morocco to the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists, especially the referendum, proved inappropriate for objective reasons, i.e. the referendum relating to identification, which the UN was trying to carry out, had no precedent in the Organization.
He explained that this project is based on the identification of the Sahrawis as tribes, as the UN had actually listed the names of the tribes, but the organization did not delimit the territorial and geographical area where these tribes live, adding that this area, as showed in the UN documents, goes beyond the Moroccan borders, and touches Algeria and Mauritanian, and the north of Mali.
This is, in fact, he said, the territorial and geographical area that should be taken into account.
If the UN wants to carry out a self-determination referendum for the Sahrawi tribes listed in its documents in a fair, honest, free and democratic way, this consultation should not be limited to the present Sahrawi territory, he said. Oul Errachid noted, in this regard, that it is naturally impossible to modify the borders of three countries in order to organize an identification referendum.
That would be, he went on to say, impossible to implement, adding that, as a consequence, the parties concerned with this conflict have only one solution that satisfies everybody, that is a political settlement granting the Sahrawis autonomy within the framework of the Moroccan sovereignty.
CORCAS head called on the “Polisario Front,” which lays claims to Morocco’s southern provinces, the Sahara, to accept, without any delay, negotiations with a view to put an end to this conflict, that has lasted for thirty years now. He added that the immediate implementation of an enlarged autonomy, to which king Mohammed VI called on March 25, is able to end tension in the region.
“This is your historical opportunity,” he told the Polisario.
“Granting an enlarged autonomy in the framework of the Moroccan sovereignty has been subject of convergence by all parties, and constitutes the unique possible political solution,” he argued.
He also called on “Algeria, neighboring and sister country, to spare no effort to encourage our brothers in Tindouf (Polisario-run camps south-western Algeria), particularly the leaders of the Polisario, to engage in negotiations to settle the problem in a way in where there is no winner and no loser.”
He ensured that “every body will be a winner at the end of the day: Morocco will consolidate its sovereignty on its Sahara and realizes conciliation with its sons. Algeria will also gain as it would have got the Arab Maghreb Union (regional grouping mustering besides Morocco and Algeria, Mauritania, Libya and Tunisia) out of the situation of stagnation, which it has been enduring for a long time.”
Autonomy, in the framework of the Moroccan sovereignty, which will enjoy the approval of all parties, would allow for the definitive settlement of the Sahara issue, in conformity with the international legality, he underlined, hailing the autonomy as a better example of self-determination.
The political solution, he said, is in conformity with the will of all parties, especially the Sahrawis who will have all their political, economic, social and cultural demands and rights, underlining that an autonomy based on freedom and dignity also satisfies all the countries, governments and peoples who long for the establishment of the Arab Maghreb Union.
This solution, he underlined, would also satisfy Algeria, which provided political, diplomatic and economic support to the “Polisario,” in addition to the fact that this proposal will be welcomed by the United Nations.
In the name of the CORCAS, which he chairs, Khalihenna Ould Errachid also drew the attention of the Polisario to the fact that the Sahrawis living in the region and in the Tindouf camps aspire to put and end to the suffering and to division among the same family.
“Do not miss this historical opportunity, and do not mislead the relatives. See to it that the sufferings end, and do not block the establishment of the Arab Maghreb Union,” he said.
He also asked the Polisario not to hinder the UN action “so that we can make true our historical expectations about autonomy.”
“Enough obstinacy! Do not mortgage the future of our generations,” he said.
The UN Secretary General has suggested to the Security Council to prolong for another six months the mandate of the UN mission on the Sahara (MINURSO), and called on all parties to endeavor in order to encourage a “political, fair, sustainable and mutually acceptable solution.”
In a report to the security council, published on Friday, Annan noted the “Polisario” violation of the cease-fire in Tifariti (south-eastern Morocco). He also expounded that, in its recent resolutions, the S.C. has never mentioned the old plan, and noted that the present deadlock is due also to the fact that the Sahara issue is not really regarded as a priority by the international community.
Annan underlined that, according to his personal envoy to the Sahara, Van Walsum, the persistence of the impasse is also due to two factors at stake in most capitals, namely, on the one hand the Sahara issue “is not placed at the first rank in the political agenda,” and, on the other, “the importance attached to maintaining good relations with Morocco and with Algeria.”.