Addressing the House of Representatives (lower house) on the latest developments of the Sahara issue, the Minister underlined that the resolution has "clearly shown the path to follow towards ending the conflict, by insisting on negotiations between the parties involved on well-defined bases." It has paved the way for a new process based on negotiations in good faith, Mr.Jettou went on to say.
Touching on Morocco's plan to grant autonomy to its Southern Provinces (the Sahara) in a bid to solve the 30-year-old dispute between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario separatists over the control of this former Spanish Colony, the Minister said it testifies to "our country's sincere efforts and our firm resolve to cooperate with the international community on this issue."
He also described as "bold" this initiative, noting that it draws inspiration from constitutional provisions and from the experiences of some other countries that are geographically and culturally close to Morocco.
The initiative provides for the fact that the autonomy system within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty be “subjected to a free consultation, in conformity with the provisions of the international law", Moroccan Premier said, noting that Morocco has asserted that this initiative is a “platform to end decades of human sufferings in the Tindouf Camps (south western Algeria) and to end the separation of people living in this region.”
Mr. Jettou deplored, following the first round of talks, the fact that “the other parties concerned remain trapped in their obsolete theses and until now they were unable to get rid of outdated plans.”
This position “was reflected by the statements of these parties that are yet unaware of the depth and the judicious character of this historical opportunity to achieve regional peace, safety and stability," he added.
The Minister deemed that the participation of people originating from the southern provinces as well as of Sahrawi bodies in those talks has "broken the myth that the separatist minority is the exclusive representative of the people living in the Sahara."
Morocco and the Polisario launched the first round of talks on the Sahara on June 18-19 in Manhasset, in New York outskirts, in accordance with the U.N. Security Council resolution 1754 that called on the parties to engage in direct negotiations in "good faith and without preconditions." A second round is slated for the second week of August.