The columnist Dario Valcárcel thinks that the Sahara issue "starts to get out from the dangerous stalemate" Thanks to the Moroccan initiative which “ has no gas and oil so far but has intelligence".
He added that, in comparison with Algeria, Morocco has a continuously developing system " while " its eastern neighbour maintain the dominance of the army, the heir of the 50s National Liberation Front", noting that "the Moroccan regime (... ) is more flexible and open-minded, while the Algerian regime leaks little news".
He continued that Algeria, “which suffers pressing problems, is dominated by concern over the resurgence of salafists”.
ABC clarified that “Morocco launched its initiative after consultations with the Governments of Paris and Madrid. It is the product of extensive negotiations with the United Nations "."
The column writer affirmed that the Moroccan initiative "is based on autonomy in the Sahara: a real autonomy looking forward to respect the UN resolutions, as confirmed by Moroccans "."
According to reliable sources, "Morocco will submit its autonomy project to the United Nations in April, and therefore two referendums are supposed to take place: one of which is going to consult current residents in the Sahara on the degree of acceptance of the autonomy project under Moroccan sovereignty. In addition, Rabat believes it is necessary to submit the project to all Moroccans ".
The newspaper added that "nothing can be made without the support of the United Nations.
As for Algeria and Mauritania they may sign the agreement, adding that Spain and France will support the initiative, not only at the diplomatic level "."
Regarding the arguments adopted by Algeria for Tindouf Sahrawis only, the author referred to Pr. Bernabi López who believes "excessive to consider Polisario sole and legitimate representative of Sahrawis. There is no longer unique representatives of a people", and that the problem can not be solved "by (Yes) or (No) expressed during consultation on abstract principles" such as independence or integration into Morocco.
However, the paper believes that
"There is a very clear issue: You can not leave a 300 thousand kilometre square area to chaos. The Sahara should be spared from this dilemma. Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, which was previously confined to Algeria, has now bases in Afghanistan and Sudan and Somalia ..."".
The paper revealed the proliferation of «uncontrolled groups, expanding their activities related to the smuggling of weapons, people and drugs".
It added that a UN supported solution will open a new phase where information spreading will substitute the absence of transparency "."
The paper said that Rabat launched an initiative, "open to the Saharan population, not just those who are in Tindouf, but also in Madrid, in the Sahara and elsewhere ","as Morocco stresses «the need to transform an uncontrolled land to a space governed by law "."
It added that nine African countries held a meeting a few days ago in Dakar with the American military command in Europe in order to «develop a joint strategy to combat terrorism".
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue / Corcas