Eric Jansen, former UN Secretary General representative in the Sahara, said that Morocco's initiative to grant substantial autonomy to its Southern provinces known as the Sahara, has "for long been considered as the most politically plausible solution" to the three-decade old dispute opposing the kingdom to the Algerian-backed separatist movement.

 The "recent call by the Security Council for immediate action not only involves Morocco and the Polisario, but also the other concerned countries, namely Algeria where the Polisario settles its camps", Mr. Jansen said, here Saturday, in a statement to MAP bureau in Belgium following a debate on the Sahara issue.

    Citing "the endlessly growing threat of terrorism" the "possible extension of the activities of Al Qaeda throughout the uncontrolled desert," uncontrolled illegal immigration in the region and beyond, and the humanitarian considerations, Jansen deemed that these factors make "important" the settlement of the Sahara, "not only for the populations living there and for the countries of the region but also for the United States and Europe."

    Participants in this underlined the importance of Morocco’s plan as "good basis" for a political settlement of this dispute.

    The debate was initiated by the International Reforming Movement on “Brussels’ contribution to the settlement of the Western Sahara dispute” and was attended by several politicians, academics and scientists.

    On April 11 Morocco submitted a proposal to the UN Security Council that suggests launching negotiations between the parties of the Sahara issue. The issue broke out in 1976 because of claims from the Polisario to separate the Sahara, Morocco’s Southern Provinces, from the rest of the north-west African kingdom. The Sahara had been ceded a year before by Spain under the Madrid Accord. On April 30, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for the parties to start direct negotiations to solve the problem.

        Jacques Brassine de la Buissière, specialist in institutional issues, recalled the Belgian experience since the 70s, which gave substantial authorities to the regions and communities. 

    Speaking to MAP on the sidelines of the debate, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Didier Reynders said the Moroccan autonomy is a “good basis” that would allow a “genuine dialog,” voicing the willingness of his country to help succeed this process.