Mrs. Maria said following the speech by Mr. Khalihenna that Spain, headed by Mr. Zapatero wants to find a solution to the Sahara conflict, adding that the Canary Islands is interested in contributing to resolve this conflict, in view of the historical relationship between the Canary Islands and Sahrawis.
The Deputy Government representative of the Canary Islands said that the solution to the Sahara conflict requires the participation of everyone, and that dialogue and listening to all parties will entrance resolving the conflict which has lasted a long time in accordance with international legitimacy
CORCAS Chairman reviewed in his speech the following points:
A - with respect to the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs:
- Founded by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to represent Sahrawis in a fair just way and respond to their needs
- Its objective is to solve the problem of the Sahara
- Participation in the preparation of autonomy project
- Preparation of objective and subjective conditions for the application of self-government
B - Autonomy
- Autonomy responds to the failure of the solutions that have already been raised about the conflict
- Autonomy only solution to the conflict
- Autonomy reconciliation with everyone
- Autonomy will change Morocco legally, politically and administratively
- A democratic form of self-government to ensure that the population handles their own affairs
- Autonomy only way-out satisfactory to all parties:
• Morocco as the only way to maintain sovereignty over their territory
• Algeria as it is not a party to the conflict
• Sahrawis including the Polisario Front as an answer to their needs and demands, and as leading actors in the history of Morocco
- Self-rule is not a victory of one party over another
- An effective solution in promoting development and progress in the region
C - Relationship with Spain
- Spain friendly neighbor
- The depth of shared history between the two countries
- Spain model that can be followed in terms of autonomy
- Visit to Spain, came to explain our point of view to Spanish local governments and elected bodies, Spanish actors, especially in the Canary Islands are called to help create channels of clear and transparent dialogue with our brothers in the Polisario Front
D - Overview of the history of the conflict
- The war with Polisario Front left behind a tragedy
- Referendum submitted to resolve the conflict was unique of its kind, has never provided or applied in any dispute over the world since it was built on the basis of the identification
- Application of the referendum means the change of borders of Morocco and neighboring countries
- Polisario are Moroccans they studied in educational institutions in Morocco, and had legitimate demands within the scope of the Moroccan State
- Polisario result of local and international circumstances in the seventies
- United Nations recognized the failure of referendum plan
- Secession is unacceptable
E - Problem of maintaining status quo
Maintaining the status quo in the region means:
- Continuation of critical humanitarian situation in the camps, living on the assistance provided by Spanish associations and organizations
- Uncontrolled region
- Zone without law, system
- Growing phenomenon of trafficking: human, weapons, drugs and terrorism
- Millions of sub-Saharan displaced wish to immigrate to the north to escape civil wars in their countries and desire for adventure. This results in serious repercussions on the entire region.
Mr. Khalihenna Ould Errachid, President of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs was accompanied by: The Secretary General of the Council, Dr. Maouelainin Ben Khalihenna- Kalthoum Khayat - Masoud Ramadan - Hussein Beida - Moulay Ahmed Mghaizlat - Gajmoula Bent Abi – Chrif Hasna- Aba Abdel Aziz - Khaddad Moussaoui
Source: CORCAS
(News on Western Sahara issue / CORCAS)