The delegations of Morocco, Polisario, Algeria and Mauritania take part in this two-day closed-door meeting, in the presence of the United Nations facilitator, Peter Van Walsum.
The first and second rounds of talks had convened on June 18-19 and August 10-11 respectively in the same venue in accordance with the UNSC Resolution 1754 of April 30, which called on the parties to the Sahara issue to "enter into negotiations without preconditions and in good faith," with a view to "achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution."
A senior Moroccan delegation takes part in these talks aimed at reaching a final and mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict over the Sahara, a former colony that was ceded by Spain to the North African country in 1975 under the Madrid Accord. However, a year later, the Polisario, backed by Morocco’s eastern neighbor, Algeria, started claiming independence of the territory.
The delegation includes Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa, Foreign Affairs Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri, Chairman of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS) Khalihenna Ould Errachid, chief of Morocco’s intelligence (DGED) Yassine Mansouri, super governor of the province of Oued Dahab Mohamed Saleh Tamek, and CORCAS Secretary General Maoulainine Khallihenna.
- Statement of the chairman of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, before the start of negotiations:
We are entering with a positive and constructive spirit, as we did in the previous two rounds. We hope that it will be the case from the other parties which have not yet show tangible good faith of real negotiation to find a solution to this conflict in the region and to provide the opportunity for the people of the Sahara to enjoy autonomy and allow the Maghreb countries to get out of this sterile crisis.
It is not different, it is a continuation of the last two rounds, but you it will show if the Polisario Front and its allies really want to resolve this dispute through negotiation and dialogue in the framework of the United Nations. The Kingdom of Morocco has an integrated project and has submitted this project for negotiation within the framework of the United Nations. It has expressed so many times its willingness to reach a final solution to this conflict through negotiation. Therefore, we are equipped with a serious and credible project. The other party is swinging between whether to accept negotiations and setting conditions for negotiations and this of course unacceptable for the Kingdom of Morocco.
Tonight we hope that tomorrow will bring in something positive from the other parties. Concerning the Kingdom of Morocco, it has come in good faith and shows solid and strong will in order to put an end to this conflict.