Rome, July 22, 2012 (SPS) - The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, said that immediately after the kidnapping of the three European cooperators, leaders of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic made contacts with their counterparts of Mauritania, Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as with the governments of Italy and Spain, adding to an Italian magazine “the Spanish and Italian authorities asked us to show an extreme prudence.”
“The occupation of our country by Morocco will create a state of instability,” said Ould Salek, confirming, in the last issue of the Italian geopolitical magazine Limes, “there is no doubt that since 2005 there are interests of the Moroccan intelligence have been working to destabilize the region, as to reduce the humanitarian aid and pressurize the Polisario Front to gain political concessions.”
He expressed "emotion and immense happiness" following the release of the three aid workers who "become members of our family for some time,” pointing that the only goal was "to set the hostages free and bring them safely home. We opted for diplomacy through intelligence services, avoiding resort to military action."
Head of the Saharawi Diplomacy said that the exchange of information about health of the three cooperators and their detention place “was constant”, indicating that the Sahrawi leaders were well aware of their presence in the region of Mali.
The Minister underlined that the situation of instability in Mali and Sahel Region “tragically made the negotiations with the kidnappers difficult,” saying in this regard “this entire region is prone to explode at any moment,” adding “we feared the worst (concerning the hostages) between May and June”
“Mali is in a total chaos at the level of the passage between Chad, Niger, Mali, Mauritania and Western Sahara,” said Foreign Minister, adding that the supporters of Islamic extremism “still trying to create chaos,” underlying “this region witnesses conflict, attacks and kidnappings, usually ends in tragic.”
He recalled in this regard that the Saharawi leaders were considered that the efforts being made to settle the Saharawi conflict “going in the direction of promoting stability in the region.”
Responding to a question concerning the status quo in Western Sahara, Ould Salek confirmed that the rejection of Saharawis demands by Morocco and several resolutions issued by the United Nations “all of that feeds a growing desire for the Sahrawi people to return to hold arms, especially the young people.”
“I want to refute the existence of Jihadist sleeper cells in the Saharawi refugee camps or in the occupied territories of Western Sahara,” added Mr. Ould Salek.
On other hand, the Saharawi Minster described the unilateral decision taken by Morocco in withdrawing confidence from Ross as “grave”, recalling that the United States and United Nations have strongly reiterated their confidence in “a man who always follows the a just settlement approach linked to many hopes and aspirations.”
The Minister said in this regard that Morocco challenges the international community and stops the negotiations, especially since the latter was going slowly and resulted in few results, but it (the negotiations) left the door of dialogue open and contributed to contain the conditions for the returning to armed struggle.”
“I am afraid that avoiding the call to hold arms would be came more and more difficult,” he concluded. (SPS)
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