Brussels (European Parliament) May30,2012(SPS) - MEPs called in Brussels for countries relying on democracy, including those of the European Union, to stop "focus" on their economic relations with Morocco despite the "failure" by this country to respect human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
"It is high time that these countries stop focusing on economic relations with Morocco when the kingdom continues to trample underfoot the most elementary human rights in the occupied territories," they told APS, after the screening Tuesday night at the European Parliament’s the hit movie "Children of the clouds, the last colony".
To Democrat Socialist MEP Pino Arlacchi, the projection of such a film in the walls of the EP is an "unprecedented event." "No political, cultural, social or other reasons could justify the violations of human rights in the territories and their occupation by Morocco," said the Italian, famous for his studies and essays on the Mafia.
Former deputy secretary general of the UN (1997-2002) found that such projection helps to know "more" the Saharawi cause which is also, he said, about democracy and human rights.
"It’s a matter of international law, which is often true for some and not for others. It’s time to break the silence knowingly maintained on this issue and lift the police and political influence exerted on the Saharawi population in the territories," he said.
His colleague from the Green Party, Raul Romeva, welcomed an "increasingly important awareness" in the European parliament on the Saharawi question, especially after the rejection of the extension of the fishing agreement with Morocco in the Saharawi territorial waters.
"This is especially important in that a trend is beginning to emerge in favor of the Saharawi cause," welcomed the Spanish MEP, a graduate in economics and international relations, recognizing that some of his colleagues continue to ignore the "real" situation of human rights in the occupied territories.(SPS)
080/1090/TRA