Following the sixth set of talks, held March 7-9 in Mellieha (Malta) under the aegis of UNSG's personal Envoy Christopher Ross, Fassi Fihri voiced Morocco's extreme disappointment and no comprehension of the reason behind withdrawing the issue of human rights from the discussion, though it was introduced upon the request of the polisario itself during the latest set of talks last January in Manhasset, near New York.

    Fassi Fihri underlined that, though the other party has expoiled this issue to "spread its propaganda here and there on this issue specifically", "we said, here in Malta, that we were ready to tackle all dimensions of this issue to put things into perspective."

    "Unfortunately, we are regretfully noting that the polisario delegation refused to discuss" with the Moroccan party this issue, although the other party is the cause of it, he added.

    The Minister wondered about the reasons why the other parties chose this issue and if this was linked the law and justice prevailing in Morocco, which have been reinforced by the creation, thanks to the will of HM King Mohammed VI, of the National Council for Human Rights, an institution that meets the highest and most credible standards in terms of human rights.
 
    Armed with its achievements, the Moroccan delegation was fully available to discuss during this meeting the issue of human rights and thwart the lies and manipulations spread by the other parties outside the negotiation room, he stressed.

    The Minister said that the Moroccan delegation “positively responded to Ross’s approach with a view to exploring new ways and discussing additional issues.”

     The Moroccan delegation, he went on, agreed to examine a number of things, including the situation of natural resources in the provinces of Sakia El Hamra and of Oued Eddahab, and Ross’s mission.

Referring to natural resources, the Moroccan will tackle it to put an end to allegations concerning the so-called exploitation by Morocco of these resources, he underscored.
    Fassi Fihri said that those “modest” resources, whether they are fisheries or phospahtes, became useful thanks to the State’s action, private investment and national solidarity in favor of population in the southern provinces.

     “We also accepted to give Ross a chance to work differently,” he underlined.

    Fassi Fihri recalled that the Moroccan autonomy initiative for the Sahara was developed, anew, by the Moroccan delegation during the Malta meeting to stress its “virtues” as an approach of realism and compromise which will enable the sons of this land, which is dear to us, to reunite after several decades of separation.

     Morocco will use the next set of talks, late May, to continue its argumentation to convince the UN party of the importance and credibility of Morocco’s initiative which falls within the framework of the implementation of relevent UN’s resolutions, mainly resolution 1920.

Source: MAP
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