Eurasia Review
Morocco
On April 15 heads of Morocco’s political parties held a meeting to discuss the groundbreaking draft resolution for human rights in Western Sahara. The meeting was devoted to the latest developments regarding the National Question in the United Nations, and especially initiatives aimed at distorting the mandate of the MINURSO.
The meeting was an opportunity to reiterate the national consensus on the consistent position of Morocco to categorically reject these initiatives, upon the backdrop of the Kingdom’s efforts in the promotion of human rights across the country – including in the southern provinces – are hailed by the international community and many international partners.
Nevertheless, Moroccans unanimously reject this type of unilateral initiative, without prior consultation, in terms of content, context. A process that can only create misunderstanding and condemnation. Participants in the meeting expressed openly their concern about the consequences of such unilateral approach while the negotiation process is underway. Such initiative will deliberately break the spirit of consensus that has always driven the search for a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to this artificial regional dispute, on the basis of realism and a spirit of compromise that the Security Council calls for.
In April 2007, the Kingdom of Morocco presented an initiative for a negotiating Autonomy for the Sahara region, a proposal that was qualified by the United States administration as “serious and comprehensive”. However, the issue of human rights has been methodically exploited by other conflicting parties not to name the Polisario and Algeria in an effort to deflect the negotiation process and use it as a pretext not to engage resolutely and in good faith in seeking a political solution. Even the American human NGO The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights (RFK Center) applauds the United States’ draft resolution calling for a human rights monitoring and reporting mechanism in MINURSO, the United Nations (U.N.) Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara and the Sahrawi refugee camps outside Tindouf, Algeria. Unfortunately RFK center was trapped in this unacceptable and “dirty” game and was the first entity to applaud such an initiative in an ridiculous effort to influence the decision of the UN Security Council.
Morocco has always adopted proactive measures for the promotion and protection of human rights on its entire territory. Strengthening the independence of national mechanisms for human rights and adopting special procedures of the United Nations, thus meeting the expectations of the international community and, in particular, the Security Council. Morocco has always welcomed well known international human rights organisations, members of Congress and international media to visit the Sahara region and meet freely with all Sahrawis including the separatist advocators.
In any event, Morocco remains confident in the wisdom of the members of the Security Council and in their ability to find formulas to preserve the political process drifts all significant and detrimental consequences for the stability of the region. Morocco has always shown cooperation to all UN efforts to seek an acceptable political solution to this 37 years old conflict. Morocco has submitted an internationally praised autonomy proposal, in an serious effort to put an end to this conflict that has started to threaten not only the peace and stability of countries of the region but even Europe and the United States. In fact, as has been repeatedly reported by international media, the Sahel and sub-saharan Africa has become a safe haven to many terrorist groups linked to Al Qaida. And many international reporters, experts and even Malian government officials have confirmed the presence of Polisario fighting guerrillas in the terrorist groups in the Sahel.
Morocco will remain confident in the seriousness of the ongoing debate within the UN Security Council while tackling this sensitive issue. For many years Morocco has always been the first nation to respond positively to all UN humanitarian and peace keeping operations around the globe. Moroccans now expect a wise decision from the members of the Security Council.
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