Western Sahara issue: Algeria is “impartial”

Foreign minister Ramtane Lamamra said Algeria maintains its impartial position towards the Western Sahara issue, in response to remarks made by the FLN’s leader Amar Saidani.

“Morocco did not respect a promise made by its late King Hassan II early in the 1990’s to organize a referendum on Western Sahara’s independence,” Lamamra told a TV channel.

He believes that Morocco, the Polisario Front and the UN have the duty to find a solution for the crisis.

“As it is not part in the issue, Algeria nor support neither reject the autonomy proposal made by Morocco for the Polisario Front,” he said.

Morocco’s King Mohamed the Sixth proposed autonomy which was rejected by Sahrawi people and the international community.

Sahrawi foreign minister Mohamed Salem Ould Salek said Algeria’s position will not change as it is part of its diplomacy in decolonization.

According to observers, Saidani’s remarks represent his party’s position and have nothing to do with Algeria’s official position.