Rome, Feb 03, 2012 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front , Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz, expressed "cautious optimism" before the resumption of Moroccan-Saharawi negotiations scheduled for February under the auspices of the UN, in an interview with the Italian magazine Limes geopolitics published Thursday.
"If these talks fail, the return to arms would be almost inevitable," President of the Republic Abdelaziz said, recalling that the Polisario leadership had managed to convince the base, which had expressed the desire for the resumption of arms struggle following the failure of the various rounds of negotiations, to be patient and trust in diplomacy in resolving the conflict.
Responding to question on his "optimism" about the outcome of the future negotiations, President Mohamed Abdelaziz explained that "positive signs" announced themselves as, he said, "this time we will negotiate with Moroccan officials representing new government, came as a result of the revision of the Moroccan Constitution. "
Moreover, the President added that "the situation in the Maghreb Arab has changed dramatically because of the transformations experienced by some countries in the region, including Morocco, where democracy rallies had marked this country."
"We hope to convince our partners in Morocco, within the framework of international legality, to give a chance for the Sahrawi people to decide their future through referendum," the President Mohamed Abdelaziz pointed out.
"We are going to New York, with confidence and hope, however, I must emphasize that, in the case of the failure of these negotiations, it will be very difficult or impossible to prevent the return to arms."
Responding to question on recent EU Parliament rejection to extend the EU - Morocco fisheries agreement SADR President said "this EU position is fair and reasonable ", describing it as "another encouraging sign."
"I should note also that the United States for several years, have acknowledged that the free trade agreement with Morocco does not include Western Sahara, because neither they nor the UN recognize the Moroccan sovereignty over our land, "he said, adding that" Morocco must now reconsider its strategy. "
Concerning Sahrawi peaceful Intifada in occupied territories, the President underlined "the Movement's activities continue under many different forms" and that "recently, a National Coordinating Committee was established as demonstrations continue in occupied territories. "
"Some representatives of the Coordination took part at the last Congress of the Polisario Front and they participate effectively in the political process," he said.
Asked about the fate of the three foreign aid workers abducted last October in the Saharawi refugee camps, President Mohamed Abdelaziz stated that "for us, humanitarian workers are traditionally part of the Sahrawi family."
"We are very close to their families, to whom also we have expressed our solidarity, we want to reassure them that we have intensified our efforts and we do everything we can to bring them back as soon as possible," he concluded.( SPS)
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