Morocco, Western
Sahara Hold Formal Talks
Morocco
and Western Sahara's independence movement have opened informal
talks, with the UN acting as mediator.
Negotiators from the two sides began a two-day meeting, on
Wednesday, at a secluded private conference centre north of New
York City.
UN officials said the world body is hoping to pave the way for
full-scale negotiations to resume.
’’There have been tensions, without a doubt. However, both
sides have told me they are prepared to come to this round in a
productive, serious frame of mind, and I expect they will,’’
UN mediator Christopher Ross said last week.
More than three decades after their conflict started, Rabat and
the Polisario Front introduced new proposals three years ago
but, formal negotiations broke down after less than a year.
A bid to revive them last year was held up by fresh tensions.
Historical background to crisis
Morocco annexed the northwest African territory in 1975 and is
now offering it autonomy but, the Polisario, which fought a
guerrilla war until 1991, demands a referendum on the future of
the former Spanish colony with independence as one option.
Diplomats said emphasis at talks this week would likely shift to
the parties' core plans for Sahara.
’’The main purpose here is to get the parties to engage
seriously on the two proposals,’’ said one senior diplomat
who follows the issue.
Western Sahara has a population of under half a million people
known as Sahrawis, but is rich in phosphates used in fertilizer
and, potentially, offshore oil and gas.
No country recognises Morocco's rule, however, the U.S., France
and Spain have praised Rabat's proposal.
Tension between Morocco and Algeria, which backs Polisario, also
has scuttled attempts to form a European Union-style grouping in
the area.
Morocco's team is being led by Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi
Fihri and Polisario's by Mahfoud Ali Beiba, speaker of the
movement's parliament-in-exile.
NAN/Yinka
