Interview-“We may pitch an armed fight,” says Sahrawi President

Saharawi President Mohamed Abdelaziz showed optimism over the appointment of Christopher Ross as United Nations special envoy to Western Sahara. “The option of armed fight is the unique solution if Morocco spoils the UN efforts,” he told Echorouk in an interview outside a visit paid by French elected officials to the Saharawi refugees’ camps.

• How did the imitative of hosting the French officials come about?
• In Paris, there is a representation of the Polisario Front and a network of solidarity ties in many cities and parties. The initiative was made in collaboration with many friends in France. The officials came to know about the situation of people here on the the 33rd anniversary of the setting up of the Western Sahara Republic.
• You know that most of those French elected officials represent parties of the left while the French government is led by Sarkozy’s right-wing UMP party. Do you expect an impact on the French official position after this visit?
• I think it is an important start. When the officials come back to France, they will launch an awareness campaign. That would have a feedback in the French media and at all the other French levels. I am not expecting a tangible impact at present but the process is still a start and there are still many opportunities for awareness -raising campaigns.
• Some foreign media reports described the visit as ‘provocative’ for Morocco. Is it true?
• This vision is meaningless. The visit is the not the first of its kind. Many Spanish, Italians and Belgians paid similar visits. It is not a provocative move. For my part, I consider it as a useful and a peaceful act.
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• A few days ago, the UN new special envoy paid a visit to the Saharawi refugee camps. Was there any progress in the Western Sahara issue?
• Actually, we are satisfied at Christopher Ross’s tour. We told him we were ready to work together for our self-determination. We also explained to him the situation of people in the camps and showed him the way the UN must work on.
• Is there any new promise on the self-determination right?
• We called for the self-determination right. We expressed to Ross our intention to make progress in talks. We hope that the Moroccan government agrees to implement the UN resolutions especially those stipulating clearly the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
• What about Morocco’s position towards Ross’s visit?
• Ross met with all officials in Morocco including King Mohamed the Sixth. He informed us about a potential fifth round. This reflects his positive will in dealing with the Polisario Front of western sahara and Morocco.