According to them, the United Nations has arrived to this same observation in its last resolution (1813), confirmed by the Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Mr. Peter van Walsum "who knows the ins and outs since he oversaw four rounds of negotiations." Likewise, he "went on the spot, met with all parties concerned by this issue, before asking the recalcitrant parties to be realistic about their independence claims, in his view, unrealistic and impractical".

During the meeting, held Thursday in Geneva, and moderated by Mr. Charles Graves, President of the American NGO "Interfaith International", initiator of this event, the speakers said that this conflict, a potential source of instability in the region, causes the sufferings of thousands of families, saying it was time to turn the page of plans whose inapplicability was proven and recognized by the United Nations itself.

The observation made by Mr. van Walsum has actually been observed long ago by the majority of Sahrawis, that is autonomy under the sovereignty of Morocco is the only appropriate solution.  

Speakers denounced the attitude of Algeria, who works behind the scenes with the sole objective to sustain the status quo despite all the sufferings and blockages harmful for the building the Arab Maghreb Union.

According to them, "the only concern of this country is to achieve its hegemonic goals."

The proposal of Morocco is also distinguished by the comprehensiveness of its approach and will mostly end a humanitarian and social tragedy unique in the world. Families torn apart, separated by force by abductions and disappearances by Polisario. The establishment of the Moroccan proposal to help reunite these families and rebuild social cohesion initiated by years of totalitarian hype, physical and mental deportations of young children abroad. They also pointed out that if the majority of the Sahrawi population live in their country in stability and with the genuine feeling of belonging to a homeland, hence promoting the emergence of citizens aware of their duties and proud of their rights, an other party is living in a hostile environment, victims of kidnapping and deprived of freedom of movement and expression.

The outline of the autonomy project was exposed to the audience, which offers an honourable opportunity to Polisario, they said, calling on Algeria to seize it.

The members who attended the round table, held under the theme "Autonomy of the Sahara, realistic solution to a humanitarian tragedy, include: Mr. M'ghizlate Moulay Ahmed, member of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS), Ms. Saadani Maoulainine, victim of forced deportation, M. Sidati Ghallaoui, ex-Polisario representative in Italy, and Ms. Hajbouha Zoubeir, associative activist in Laayoune.

Source: MAP
- News on Western Sahara issue/ Corcas -