Western sahara latest events

Sahrawi Human Rights Group calls for " monitoring mechanism" of aid to the Tindouf camps

6/11/2009

A group of Sahrawi associations for human rights in Laayoune, called for the installation of a monitoring mechanism to ensure proper delivery of grants by the European Commission (EC) to citizens kidnapped in the camps Tindouf.

In a letter to the President of the EC, José Manuel Barroso, a copy of which was received Tuesday at the MAP, the group emphasizes that these gifts are diverted through the smuggling and laundering operations to unknown destinations for the benefit of Polisario leaders . "

"A budget of EUR 143 million has been mobilized since 1993 to remove the sequestered people in Tindouf from their insecurity," says the Group, regretting that "these funds have, unfortunately, never reached their destination.

"We ask that you ensure that the money of European citizens really reaches those people through the establishment of a mechanism for continuous monitoring of these donations," adds the Group.

According to the same source, this control mechanism will allow avoid "that the European money come in the accounts of terrorist groups active in the region whose last victim was the European citizen and British engineer Edwin Dyer , murdered in cold blood by terrorists from Al Qaeda. "

"Our brothers and sisters who who live in the Tindouf camps on Algerian territory for more than 30 years, are victims of a double polisario and Algerian stubbornness," deplores the Group of Sahrawi associations.

Source: MAP

- News concerning

Western Sahara

The consensual solution proposed by Morocco to settle the Sahara issue under its territorial integrity is in line with the principle of autonomy, Moroccan Foreign Minister said.

The need to seek such a win-win political solution emerged following the impasse due to the inapplicability of the referendum, Taib Fassi Fihri told BBC on Wednesday evening.

    The United Nations has, since 2000, come to the conclusion that the referendum option was unworkable because of the problems facing the identification of putative voters, the minister said, stressing that Morocco has proposed the autonomy initiative to serve as a platform for the negotiations.

    Fassi Fihri recalled that Morocco had gradually recovered its territories from the Spanish rule. He insisted that the autonomy does not only involve referendum, which does not necessarily mean choosing between two extreme options.

    The official added that the majority of Sahrawis are in Morocco where they participate in elections and enjoy freedoms prevailing in the kingdom, and that Morocco seeks to achieve a solution with Algeria and polisario which lives on the Algerian territory.

    The polisario, the minister continued, had never existed during the Spanish rule, and can, by no means, represent Sahrawis.

    “We are looking forward to a mutually acceptable solution to overcome the impasse and be able to build the Arab Maghreb,” Fassi Fihri said, assuring that Morocco does not seek to get back to hostilities in the region, especially following the efforts made by the UN and at the international level.

    These efforts must be taken into account, Fassi Fihri said, noting, however, that Morocco stands ready to defend its territorial integrity.

    He described as “very negative” the other parties’ rigid positions, underlining that Morocco, which is ready to embark on an enlarged regionalisation process starting from the Southern provinces, shouldered its responsibilities by positively responding to the UN’s call.

    The minister highlighted the friendship bonds linking the Moroccan and the Algerian peoples and the ties of esteem between king Mohammed VI and president Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

    In this connection, he said Morocco is committed to normalizing relations with Algeria, especially through the opening of borders, and stands ready to co-operate at the bilateral level with Algeria towards reaching a solution to the question of the Moroccan Sahara in keeping with the urgings of the UN Security Council.

    The opening of borders enables to combat illicit economic activities, Fassi Fihri said, underlining that the kingdom proposed to distinguish between the Sahara and the Maghreb integration, but received no positive reaction from Algeria.

    On the issue of the two Moroccan Spanish-occupied cities of Sebta and Mellilia, the minister reiterated Morocco’s commitment to dialogue, including on these two cities, which are, he said, part of Morocco.

    Regarding the illegal immigration, Fassi Fihri said the kingdom, which has become a country of transit and a host country, handles this issue within the framework of its sovereignty.

     He noted, in this regard, that Morocco is launching dialogue with the EU to come up with a comprehensive vision based on three axes: the fight against illegal immigration, encouraging legal immigration, and economic development of migrant-emitting countries.

    As far as the Middle-East conflict is concerned, he said Morocco adopts a position based on the comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Arab conflict through the withdrawal of Israel from all Arab occupied territories, and the establishment of a viable Palestinian state.

Source: MAP
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas

CORCAS Chairman talks with a delegation from CEDS Dakar

The Chairman of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS), Mr. Khalihenna Ould Errachid, met Thursday in

Rabat

Mr. Diallo said to the press after the meeting that members of the delegation were briefed on the functions of the CORCAS and its role in promoting the autonomy initiative in the Southern Provinces.

He stressed that this project is a historical reference and ideal to resolve conclusively the

Sahara

"The autonomy plan is an enlightened proposal that is the only way for the final settlement of the

Sahara

The autonomy project for the southern provinces, presented by the Kingdom, is the only way for the final settlement of the

Sahara

Created in December 1998, the Center for Strategic and Diplomatic Studies in

Dakar

Its mission is to meet the needs of development and updating of knowledge of diplomats, senior officers and senior civil service officials.

Morocco's autonomy initiative: only realistic solution to Sahara issue, CORCAS member
6/4/2009

Morocco's initiative to grant substantive autonomy to its southern provinces is the only realistic and fair solution to this issue, Hajbouha Zoubeir, a member of the Royal Consultative Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS) said here Wednesday.

"The Moroccan proposal can also bring together all Moroccan Sahrawis, both inside and outside the Tindouf camps" south-western Algeria, Zoubeir  said in a media meeting.

    The autonomy plan is likely to settle out the artificial conflict that has lasted too long, she said, describing this plan as the best offer on the table.
    Zoubeir outlined the noteworthy development achieved in Morocco’s southern provinces at all levels.

    The CORCAS member protested against the gross abuses of human rights perpetrated in the Tindouf camps. All the Sahrawi families have got a member who was either imprisoned, tortured or killed by the Polisario, she said, noting that it is high time to shed light on these atrocities and violations.

Source: MAP
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue / Corcas

Polisario banks on impasse of

Sahara

6/3/2009

Moulay Ahmed Mghizlate, member of Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS) said Tuesday in

Geneva

  Addressing the 11th session of the UN Human Rights Council held under the theme: "Global economic crisis and its impact on migration and development", Mghizlate said the illegal immigrants are not only victims of the global economic downturn but also easy preys for human smugglers backed by the separatist groups such as the Polisario.

   These criminal networks encourage and feed on human trafficking to line up their pockets as do the Polisario gangs which take advantage of the current stalemate of the Sahara issue to expand their thriving business of trafficking in persons, said the CORCAS member.

   He also cited international reports saying that the Polisario connections with the human smugglers are growing and getting stronger.

   Mghizlate sounded the alarm bell, calling on the international community to pay heed to the hovering danger of these criminal connections, which pose a serious threat to the stability of the region and the entire Mediterranean basin.

Source: MAP

News and events concerning

Western Sahara

PSOE member calls upon Algeria and Polisario to hold serene dialogue away from any fixed position
5/18/2009

The work of the economic and social development promotion agency for the southern provinces (APDS) is "very positive," member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), Juan Gabriel Callejon Baena, said here Friday.

During a meeting with APDS Director General, Ahmed Hajji, the Spanish deputy said that the actions of the Agency contribute efficiently to the development of the kingdom's southern provinces and to promoting investments in this region.

   Callejon, who is visiting Morocco at the head of a delegation composed of PSOE members and investors from Andalusia, stressed the importance of the presence of Spanish companies in Morocco. He underlined, in this context, the opportunities offered by the north African country in several areas, including agriculture and tourism.

   On his part, Hajji highlighted the achievements of the APDS since its launch on March 6, 2002, adding that the meeting was an opportunity for the delegation to realize the quality of the steps taken by Morocco to develop its southern provinces.

Source: MAP
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas

Azerbaijan upholds support for Morocco's Sahara autonomy plan
5/26/2009

Azerbaijan has voiced support for the Moroccan proposal to grant broad autonomy to its southern provinces, which remains "the only solution to settle out definitively this dispute" over this territory, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Morocco, Saber Aghabayouv said.

  "We continue to support Morocco concerning the Sahara issue," the diplomat said in an interview published Monday by the Moroccan daily, L'Opinion.

   Aghabayouv affirmed that "we consider the Moroccan proposal as being the only peaceful solution to solve this conflict once and for all," saying "it is the only way to establish peace and stability in the entire region."

   "We regret the position of Algeria concerning this issue," the diplomat said, voicing hope that the land borders between the neighbouring, north African countries will soon reopen.

   The diplomat termed as "very positive" the cooperation ties between the kingdom and the Asian country at all levels, noting that two countries will hold talks to promote and protect bilateral investments.
   
   Aghabayouv, who was speaking to the French-speaking on the eve of Azerbaijan's national day (May 28), hailed the development achieved in Morocco, hoping bilateral relation will be further reinforced.

   Since its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan maintains friendly ties with Morocco. The two countries have signed several partnership agreements in trade, tourism and industry. 

Source: MAP
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas

Interview in Rabat between CORCAS chairman and Minister of Belgian Federal State

5/25/2009

The Chairman of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS), Mr. Ould Errachid Khalihenna, met Friday in Rabat, with Mr. Philippe Moureaux, Minister of Federal State, Vice-President of the Belgian Socialist Party and Mayor of the municipality of Molenbeek, who is paying a working visit to the Kingdom. The talks, which took place in the presence of CORCAS Secretary General, M. Maouelainin Ben Khalihanna Maouelainin, focused on various aspects of economic development in Southern Provinces, including the city of Laâyoune. The two parties also discussed the possibility of initiating a cultural twining between the commune of Molenbeek and the city of Laayoune, Moureaux said to the press after the interview. The Belgium official recalled having already carried out, two years ago, a visit to Laâyoune, noting that the CORCAS plays an extremely important role in several respects, particularly with regard to the Moroccan autonomy proposal for the southern provinces, initiated by His Majesty the King, and the negotiations conducted under UN auspices. He also considered "positive" the impact of the Moroccan approach to settle the Sahara issue. During this three-day visit, Mr. Moureaux, who was accompanied by Mr. Shahid Mohammadi, Brussels MP and communal councilor in Molenbeek-Saint Jean and his chief of staff, Ms. Isabelle Van Mechelen, will pay a visit to the city of Laâyoune.

Source: MAP - News concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas -

A group of young Sahrawis, having recently benefited from family visit exchange, decided to settle permanently in the

province

of

In statement released Wednesday by the first national TV channel "Al Oula", the group reported that they had chosen to settle in Essmara after they inquired about the democratic development witnessed by the southern provinces particularly in this province.

Sidi Ould al-Bashir, one of the province’s notables, stressed the benefits of this decision for these young people their families and the entire population of Essmara and southern provinces in general.

For Khayri Al Ouli, another notable, this new return shows, once again, the unwavering attachment of the province inhabitants to the motherland, believing that young people can freely contribute to the building the future of the province.