Western Sahara & Morocco
"Europe encourages" Moroccan occupation of Sahara

afrol News, 26 October - The President of the exiled Sahrawi government, Mohamed Abdelaziz, complains over "the hesitations that mark the position of the European Union" (EU) regarding Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara. The EU should use its economic strength to pressure Morocco to avoid a new war at Europe's doorstep.

Speaking at a Sahrawi solidarity conference in Modena, Italy, President Abdelaziz said the EU's "hesitations" had "encouraged Morocco in its intransigence." While most European countries and EU politicians support the Sahrawis' right to organise a referendum over their territory's independence, the pro-Moroccan position of some countries - notably France - has hindered the development of a clear EU position. 

- On the basis of its proximity of the old continent and the responsibilities for certain [EU] members, in the past, the present and the future, a profound work needs to be made to create a common and forceful European position with the aim of resolving the conflict in conformity with the resolutions of the UN, demanded Mr Abdelaziz. Several UN resolutions confirm the Sahrawi people's right to autodetermination - meaning the holding of a referendum.

According to Mr Abdelaziz, the EU had "all the political and economic assets" needed to pressure Morocco to accept the implementation of the UN-organised independence referendum in Western Sahara. He especially pointed to the Euro-Maghreb partnership, which associates Morocco to the EU. 

EU pressure towards holding the referendum would contribute "to build lasting peace, stability and democracy" in this part of the Maghreb, Mr Abdelaziz said. The alternative was less promising.

- Any delay in resolving the conflict will ineluctably open the door to a new war, which the Sahrawi people again will be obliged to carry out, the Sahrawi President said. This was "a choice that inevitably will have harmful consequences on the safety and stability of the entire region" at Europe's doorstep, he added. 

The Sahrawi liberation movement POLISARIO, which is also led by Mr Abdelaziz, increasingly has been talking of taking up arms again after more than ten years of ceasefire have not produced a solution. The bulk of the Sahrawi population remains in Algerian refugee camps and the UN has not been enabled to organise the referendum - originally scheduled for the mid-90s. 

Originally supporting the UN's referendum plan, the EU's stance on Western Sahara has become more confusing over the last years. France - which has great economic interests in Morocco - forcefully has supported a plan of Moroccan origin to make Sahara an autonomous province within Morocco. This plan - the "Framework Agreement" - on several occasions narrowly has been rejected by the UN Security Council. France nevertheless keeps on promoting this concept within the EU and in other forums.

A report by an EU Parliament ad hoc delegation to Western Sahara published in July caused great controversy. Only a slight majority - 4 out of 7 of the members of the delegation - endorsed the report, which had recommended the "Framework Agreement" as the preferred solution to the Sahrawi conflict. 

Swedish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Marianne Eriksson refused to endorse the majority's report and was joined by the delegation's two Spanish MEPs in writing an alternative report. The delegation had been led by the French MEP Catherine Lalumiere, who, according to Ms Eriksson, had made use of "a number of inaccuracies and outright obstruction" in forcing through her version.

The "ad-hoc report" of the delegation's majority has yet to be the subject of a discussion in plenary. Nonetheless, it continuously is being distributed and promoted incorrectly as the official opinion of the European Parliament. MEP Eriksson in a statement on Thursday says this "is a downright lie". The official position of the EU-Parliament remains that of supporting a referendum in Western Sahara, she points out.

Sources: Based on SPS, Norw. Sahara Committee and afrol archives.

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