Western Sahara talks end without agreement
2010-02-16
Unofficial negotiations on the fate of the resource-rich Western Sahara have so far yielded few results.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 16/02/10
 [STR/AFP/Getty Images] UN envoy Christopher Ross chaired the newest round of negotiations to resolve the Western Saharan conflict. |
With the end of the second round of unofficial UN-brokered talks to resolve the Western Sahara conflict on February 11th came renewed commitments by all sides to continue negotiating as soon as possible.
The two days of talks in upstate New York were attended by Moroccan, Polisario, Algerian and Mauritanian delegations.
"Similar to the first unofficial talks in August 2009, this round was marked by a sense of serious commitment, mutual respect and integrity. Proposals of both parties were re-presented and were the theme of discussions," the UN secretary general's personal envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, said in a statement on the last day of the talks.
"Neither of the two sides accepted the proposal of the other, which will be the sole foundation for the coming negotiations. Both parties, however, re-affirmed their commitment to pursue negotiations, whenever possible", added Ross, who plans to visit the region soon.
"The Moroccan side reiterated its political, legal and operational position with regard to the Polisario proposal [which] brought nothing new regarding the possibilities and mechanisms to lead to a definitive solution, because it adopts initial plans which proved unfeasible," Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri told the press after the talks.
Ahmad Bukhari, representative of the Polisario Front at the UN, said in an opinion piece published in the Spanish-language daily El País on February 12th: "The autonomy proposal being offered as 'the only solution' to the conflict means legitimising the modification of the frontiers and make a blank slate of the principle of self-determination, perhaps without realising that this will not do anything but open a Pandora's box in Morocco itself".
Bukhari also called on Morocco to respect the commitments made before the UN Security Council related to co-operating with the international community to organise a self-determination referendum for Western Sahara residents.
"Both sides need to discuss the core of the conflict and seriously seek to arrive at a solution that would boost the right of self-determination, based on the proposals of both sides," the Algerian minister in charge of Maghreb and African affairs, Abdelkader Messahel, said on Algerian television on February 8th.
Messahel said that a primary factor in the conflict is enhancing the principle of self-determination in the Western Sahara, and allowing people to decide their own future, which he called a "sacred right".
In the wake of the talks, the deputy chairman of the Moroccan Institute for International Maghreb Relations, Abdelhafid Oualalou, told the press that his country had once again "extended its proposal, suggesting self-rule, while the Polisario Front rigidly insisted on self-determination through a referendum. Countries linked to the conflict, namely, Spain and France, expressed support for the Moroccan proposal."
"We hope that both parties will end this chapter of conflicts and turn over a new leaf of co-existence, so as to build the Arab Maghreb region and enable it to face the current challenges," Oualalou added. "All parties, including the European states, benefit from building a unified and stable Maghreb."
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Anonymous Posted 2010-02-17
It is like we are faced with the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, only the name of players has changed. As for the rest, it is endless negotiation with the sole aim of prolonging the negotiations themselves without reaching a solution. Meanwhile, the colonisation is accompanied by human rights violations, as was the case with poor Aminatou, whom the international community narrowly save from a horrible death. Regarding Mr Cherkaoui’s correspondence from Rabat, it distinguishes itself with a great sense of humour, when he writes, “This session was marked with a great sense of commitment, a lot of mutual respect and integrity”, only to then add, “Neither of the two parties accepted the other’s proposition. However, the two parties did affirm their commitment to pursuing negotiations every time it is possible.” Let us replace Ross with Mitchel, Morocco with Israel, the Sahrawis with the Palestinians, Algeria with Iran and Spain with England and we will have a copy of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even in spite of the howls of outrage this could raise. To begin with, Sharon and Netanyahou have only repeated Hassan II’s and Mohamed VI’s affirmations: “This land is rightfully ours. It is the land of our ancestors, from which were chased. Now we have returned and no one can dislodge us. But, we accept to speak with the opposing party if it shows itself reasonable and truly wants to recognise our inalienable right.” On the other hand, we hear the Palestinians completely replicate the Sahrawis: “This land is the land of our ancestors. Our parents and grandparents were born here. We have been occupied by military forces, something that we will never accept.”
BMF Posted 2010-02-17
What a waste of time! It is just hot air, meetings, wasted energy and effort, and all for very little, if not nothing! The future is for the reunification of all the peoples of the region under the Grand Maghreb. This is vital. We no longer have a choice. Either we unite immediately or disappear—signed, sealed, delivered! The example of certain African “countries” is pertinent enough as it is today. These countries have only held on to the name “country”! The rest is politicos’ politicking and intellectual masturbation. Will we be intelligent enough to save what can still be saved before it's irreparably too late? A word to the wise!
BEN Posted 2010-02-17
I don't agree! Fine, I agree! The problem with the Polisario is that it always wants to keep its glasses on for fear of adapting its views and the views of the Algerians, something that's impossible. You can't see with four eyes a the same time: two in front and two in back.
Acharif Moulay Abdellah BOUSKRAOUI Posted 2010-02-17
“An Appeal to International Opinion, the NGOs and the UN” – Praise be to God alone and prayers and respect for the Prophet, His family and His companions- In a world where everyone is committed to fighting poverty, which is the cause of several scourges: disease, AIDS, illegal immigration, terrorism and crimes of all sorts …since the poor are easily manipulated by criminal, terrorism and mafia organisations… As such I appeal to the international community and the UN to participate in the realisation of the project for the Arab Maghreb Union; since this union will put an end to a number of problems in North Africa and participate in keeping order in the region…and since the Polisario was created with the aim of impeding the realisation of the union and thus weakening the countries of the Arab Maghreb…and since everyone knows that the Sahara was and will remain Moroccan and that the historic ties of the "baiia" between Alaouite sultans and their subjects, the Moroccan Sahrawis, was symbolic of their Moroccan-ness..As such, the international community is invited to defend the legitimacy of our project for autonomy in our provinces in southern Morocco, which will guarantee dignity to all stakeholders in this case and thus defend the Moroccan-ness of the Sahara……so that the Arab Maghreb Union is realised and so that peace will reign.
Ait Atta Posted 2010-02-19
The Moroccan Sahara was, is and will InshaAllah always be Moroccan and Algeria cant't do anything about that. Allah Alouatan Almalik
سمسم Posted 2010-02-20
Aminatou is just an agent to the Algerian intelligence. Anyway, we are in our Sahara and will remain in our Sahara. We wait for the Algerian military to leave our Sahara, hahaha! The wise understands!
ولد غيلان Posted 2010-02-21
Eastern Sahara is part of Western Sahara. Both of them are an integral part of the Cherifian Moroccan kingdom. Since the Moroccan people liberated Moroccan Western Sahara, it's high time to liberate the Moroccan Eastern Sahara through one of two marches, “the Green March" or "the Red March”.
Kabs Posted 2010-02-24
The startling comparison between Tindouf and the other cities of Algeria is an essential feature. This is a cruel inequality, which challenges the conscience. While the Algerian regime hoards $160B in its vaults, its investments are diluted here and their, and its petrodollars waltz endlessly, the country deliberately decided to preserve its camps in Tindouf on the yoke of the people’s poverty and suffering. Never has a contradiction between words and actions on the ground been so flagrant. The peoples of the world will never understand that the division of oil and gas wealth, spread somewhat everywhere, has deprived the camps of Tindouf from the bare minimum to survive. The Algerian government has wasted colossal sums on buying weapons and its Pharaonic projects. Shall it be less parsimonious in its conceptions for the solidarity with the people? It would be dreaming to believe that it truly accords actions to its words, granting the camps a minimum of decent capital, and, more importantly, ceasing to manipulate them towards its political ends and simplistic propaganda. Rather than broadcasting on the television images of our brothers parked in tents, poor areas and children with stunted growth, should it not be resolute in its idea that the best way to help is to first of all consider them in terms of human principles rather than out of a lack of generosity? Where is the Muslim generosity? Where is the revolutionary solidarity that President Bouteflika himself, who once strode forth to the UN podium with Guevara-like speech, never ceased to praise?
sara Posted 2010-02-25
If Algeria or Polisario put as a condition for setting up the Union of the Arab Maghreb dividing Morocco and setting up the state of Polisario, we don't want this union. Having five states is better than six.
الهواري Posted 2010-05-17
Everyone knows that thousands of detainees in the occupied Tindouf are used like human shields and exploited on the political stage for personal interests by the military junta. Thousands of detainees in the occupied Tindouf are used like human shields and exploited in the political scene for personal interests by the military junta which controls the Algerian people.
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