ALGIERS-Secretary General of the United Nations Ban ki-moon, who is determined to launch direct negotiations between the Polisario Front and Morocco to resolve the Sahrawi issue, denounced Rabat's "disrespectful attacks" on him whereas the Sahrawi people dub Morocco's attitude "sign of panic."
Morocco, which hampered the peace process with the Polisario Front, multiplies attacks on Ban ki-moon and his willingness to reach a just and democratic solution guaranteeing to the Sahrawi people the right to self-determination and their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.
Ban ki-moon has severely called Rabat to order as he denounced "disrespectful" attacks on him and the United Nations, recalling his attachment to the UN resolutions for the settlement of conflict in Western Sahara, especially as the Moroccan party undermines the UN efforts for the resolution of this conflict.
After his meeting in New York with Morocco's Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar, Ban expressed his "stupefaction" regarding the recent statement of the Moroccan government, which criticized the UN Secretary General "for departing from neutrality, objectivity and impartiality" during his recent visit to the Sahrawi refugee camps and liberated territories in Bir Lehlou.
In this regard, Ban expressed his "deep disappointment and anger towards the demonstration held Sunday" in Rabat with presence of "many members of the Moroccan government."
"Pressure, blackmail from Morocco"
Sahrawi Delegate Minister for Europe Mohamed Sidati has recently affirmed that attack on Ban ki-moon was "a sign of panic" of the Moroccan authorities, which resorted, once again, to pressure and blackmail."
While denouncing Morocco's practices, the Sahrawi official stressed that the violent reaction from the Moroccan authorities resulted from "legitimacy granted to the Sahrawi people's struggle" by the UN Secretary General.
"Expansionist Morocco has accustomed us to such method. It has always resorted to invectives, pressure and blackmail," he stated.
For her part, representative of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Spain Khira Bulahi stressed that Morocco "currently lives with international isolation and its positions are opposite to international legality."