"I call on all those who spent part of their lives in this part of the Sahara, and those who left the region after the end of colonization, to return as I did a few days ago and find out the extent of profound change witnessed in this city."
Mr. Olarte, who paid a three-day visit to the southern regions along with a European delegation, underlined that Morocco devoted considerable attention to the development of the city of Laayoune, "following Spain withdrawal".
He stressed that he realized that the Saharan population "acknowledge without reservation" the development witnessed in the city, adding that his last visit to Laayoune goses back to more than 30 years.
In his article entitled “Laayoune yesterday and Laayoune today”, Olarte condemned allegations against Morocco aiming at "distorting the truth" of the situation in the city, pointing out that, contrary to what some reports say, "the city of Laayoune in the past is different from Laayoune theses days". He said, "The city is witnessing a comprehensive modernization process, with the preservation of its cultural identity."
On the other hand, Olarte described the information published about organizing demonstrations during his visit to Laayoune as "non-credible and not true".
It is noteworthy that Mr. Olarte, who was accompanied by the President of the Spanish Association for Human Rights, Mr. Francisco Jose Alonso, society actors and journalists, conducted a series of meetings with a number of elected representatives of local civil society.
News and events relating to Western Sahara issue / Corcas