Dakhla (refugee camps), June 11, 2012 (SPS) - “The position of Spain regarding the Saharawi cause has seen a significant progress in the right direction since the advent of the Popular Party to power,” underlined Monday Mr. Mhamed Khaddad, Member of the POLISARIO National Secretariat and Coordinator with the MINURSO, speaking at the Governors and Secretaries’ conference taking place in the Wilaya of Dakhla, 9-11 June 2012.
“We saw, through our contacts with the Spanish party in New York and Madrid, a significant change towards the support for Saharawi people’s right to self-determination and to the state of human rights in the occupied territories,” said the Saharawi official, pointing that the late Spanish Government led by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero “went on so far in the defense of the thesis of Morocco.”
He applauded on the other hand the position of Britain on Western Sahara conflict, saying “UK adopts an advanced position concerning the support for human rights and self-determination of the Saharawi people,” adding “I do not expect any significant change on the position of France.”
With regarding to the position of Russia and U.S., Mr. Mhamed Khaddad indicated that their positions “are in line with vision of the United nations.”
He underlined that the EU’s decision to freeze the fishing agreements with Morocco and its condemnation to the human rights violations in occupied Western Sahara in its lat report constitutes “an acumen and new vision to the course of the conflict.”
Concerning work of the MINURSO, Mr. Mhamed Khadda described the UN Secretary General’s last report as “a slap in the face of Moroccan policy through its condemnation to Rabat regime’s violation to the work of MINURSO, its call for the establishment of independent sources to convey the reality of situation in the occupied territories, in addition to activating role of the Mission.”
“It is the first time since 20 year that the UN complains from the abuses of Morocco and its obstruction to the work of MINURSO mission,” said the Saharawi Official, adding “this is a new turning point.”
“Polisario Front could embarrassed Morocco before the international community, and thus reflected in its refusal to negotiate several times,” said members of the Saharawi negotiating delegation, indicating that Morocco’s decision to withdraw confidence from UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Mr. Christopher Ross “reflects the confusion of Rabat regime and its exposure to the international community.”
“Morocco refused the visit of Ross to the Saharawi occupied territories for the fear that he would be received by demonstrations calling for the right of Saharawi people to self-determination,” underlined Mr. Khaddad, highlighting that this is “a testimony by the enemy confirm the great size and influence of the Intifada (uprising) of Independence.” (SPS)
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