Normalization of Algerian-Morrocan ties would help settle Sahara issue: FM says

The Moroccan Foreign Minister, Taib Fassi Fihri believes that the normalization process between Algeria and his country would contribute to finding a solution to the issue of Western Sahara, in a clear reference targeting the sympathy of Algeria to support the Moroccan subtraction of the Sahara which is the initiative of Autonomy.

Taib Fassi Fihri said, asserted on Thursday night in Manhasset (New York suburbs), that the ongoing normalization process of the Moroccan-Algerian relations is likely to “contribute to the resolution” of the Sahara issue.

 This process which covers “many areas as well as the exchange of ministerial visits is likely to help meeting the challenges facing the Arab Maghreb region at the economic and security levels, thus contributing to settling this regional dispute,” Fassi Fihri added at a press briefing following the end of the 8th round of the UN-backed informal talks on the Sahara, held on July 19-21.

 The Moroccan official stressed the “need to involve (in future meetings) legitimate and credible representatives of the southern provinces and abroad, so that they can contribute and reflect on a final settlement.”

 This round, he said, was also a new opportunity to present the Moroccan autonomy initiative as a comprehensive and legitimate proposal, as it was pointed out by the Security Council, and recall its full respect of international legality.

 The Moroccan FM tried to exploit the recent visits exchanged between officials of the two countries and Algeria’s intention to re-normalize the bilateral ties, in order to persuade Algeria to cede its position on the Sahara issue, the same position of the UN, believing that the process of normalization may contribute to the creation of a solution to the Moroccan subtraction which aims to grant a self-governance to the territory of western Sahara.

Opposite to this, the Moroccan official tried to provoke Algeria when he said that it does not respect human rights in Tindouf camps (south of Algeria), claiming the existence of “ambiguities” in applying international laws of humanity, at a time the head of Sahrawi delegation Khatri Adouh asserted that “Morocco fears a democratic consultation of the Sahrawi people. The UN insists on a solution that would protect Sahrawi people and ensure their rights to self determination, but Morocco stubborn to obstruct the exerted efforts”.