Speaking on Monday in Paris, during a panel discussion under the theme: "Morocco facing the challenges of human development, modernity and globalization", organized by the Moroccan Section of the International Senior Movement, Mr. Saint-Prot, who discussed the concept of autonomy, regionalization and peace, noted that the historic claim of Morocco over the Sahara is legitimate in particular regarding the links it has always had with this region for centuries.
"The Algerian theses are no longer valid" and Algiers obstinacy "puts the whole region in danger," he said, noting that the danger is multifaceted and includes terrorism, arms trafficking and the failure of the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU).
He stressed that the Moroccan proposal to grant autonomy to the southern provinces is "serious" and is likely to enable the Maghreb form a strong bloc able to compete with Europe within the Mediterranean Union.
"Polisario" is an "invention and a pawn of Algeria" which aims to control the region and establish its domination, "said M.Saint-Prot.
Addressing the humanitarian dimension of the Sahara issue, Ms. Naïma Korchi, lawyer and international consultant said that Algeria and Polisario "have never respected the International Conventions on the Rights of Human Rights in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria).
In these camps, she said, there are many poor Algerians in the region and Mauritanians who profit from humanitarian aid to Sahrawi hostages. The latter undergo daily physical and moral torture, "said Ms. Korchi, which has also raised the issue of Western Saharan children deported to Cuba and the diversion of humanitarian assistance by Polisario officials ".
In an introductory remark, Mr. Mohamed Mraizika, teacher and researcher in social sciences and international humanitarian law, highlighted the major changes experienced by Morocco over the last decade.
The kingdom "resolutely committed itself in a process of liberalization and openness of its economy, modernization of its means of communication and strengthening the rule of law and promotion of freedom and social justice", he said.
At the regional level, Morocco has continued to advocate an "effective" Maghreb Union that can be a "privileged" interlocutor with the future Mediterranean Union”, he added.
Convinced that the regional integration of the Maghreb is "dependent on settling the Sahara issue," the kingdom has proposed a "relevant and realistic" solution consisting of granting broad autonomy to the southern provinces, said Mraizika, also secretary general of the International Senior Movement and founder of the Moroccan section.
The conference was attended by members of the Embassy and the Consulate General of Morocco in Paris, Mr. Khek Sysoda, Cambodia's ambassador to Paris and permanent delegate to UNESCO, Pitro Rinaldi, a former ambassador to Italy, and several other dignitaries.
Source: MAP
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