The Moroccan delegation which is representing the kingdom of Morocco in the third round of negotiations of the UN led talks is in no doubt determined to engage in serious negotiations, with the aim to achieving a final settlement to the Sahara conflict.
It is worth mentioning that talks between the two parties have already taken place, during the first and second rounds of negotiations, respectively on june18-19, and august 10-11 in Manhasset , taking into account the UN security council resolutions 1754 and 1783 which called on the parties to “enter into negotiations without preconditions, and in good faith» with the aim to “achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution”
The resolutions also highlighted the significance of the Moroccan proposal to grant the Sahara substantial autonomy that was welcomed as “serious and credible” by the UN Security Council and the main world and influential capitals
Although the Polisario front and its main ally Algeria have not shown i, in practical terms any good faith , in order to achieve a political and lasting settlement to he conflict, the Moroccan delegation is willing to create an objective atmosphere in the on going negotiations
In this context the chairman of the Royal advisory council for Saharan affairs ( CORCAS) Mr Khalihana ould Errachid called both Algeria and polisario to show good faith and seriousness required for the success of the third round of negotiations on the Sahara; he added that “ the Moroccan delegation takes part in the third round of negotiations driven by the same spirit if enthusiasm, good faith and seriousness, as during the two previous rounds” in the same context he deplored the fact that Algeria has not engaged in guaranteeing success to these negotiations to reach a settlement of this dispute, noting that the polisario, for its part , pursues its provocations through ever- contradictory stances.
The Moroccan delegation is well aware of the statement of some leaders of the Polisario front just hours before the third round of negotiations, these statements in question are far away from the spirit and the purpose of the negotiations, which aims to establish peace, tranquillity, and impose a political solution to the over three decade conflict over the future of theSahara.region
In this respect the Moroccan foreign affairs minister made it clear that “Morocco, regrettably notes the clear divergence, on the one hand, between the momentum that it has created, which is future –oriented towards regional appeasement and Maghreban integration and, on the other hand, the status quo advocated by Algeria and the polisario, which is synonymous with decline in a sahel-Saharan zone exposed to diverse and real menaces”
The four delegations of Morocco , Polisario ,Algeria, and Mauritania arrived, started preliminary consultations with the UN envoy, and facilitator Peter Van Walsum, as part of the third round of negotiations on the Sahara ,, the talks are due to start today with speeches of the head of delegations, followed by debates, and will go on through Wednesday .
As to the general secretary of the UN Ban Ki –Moon he called on the parties taking part of the UN-brokered talks on the Sahara issue to make “ full use of this week’s round of talks”
the Polisario front ha not made any efforts to reach a peaceful agreement, while the Moroccans are determined to make sure that the peace process carries on, by discussing the project of large autonomy proposed ,and seen by the international community as the only opportunity to put an end to the 32-year-old conflict
Source – CORCAS-
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