Madrid, Feb 11, 2012 (SPS) - The Basque Parliament requested Thursday the European Union to negotiate with the Polisario Front, the legitimate and sole representative of the Saharawi people, on any solution allowing the European vessels to legally fish in the territorial waters of Western Sahara.
In a proposal made by the Progress and Democracy Union (UPyD), the Basque Parliament unanimously requested the European Union that if a new fisheries agreement with Morocco is negotiated, it should not include the territorial waters of Western Sahara.
The Parliament called on the EU to impose the respect for human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara in any future agreement with Morocco concerning the Saharawi issue.
It also called on the Government of Spain and the EU to actively promote within the United Nations a “fair, lasting and adjusted to international law solution ensuring the inalienable right of the Saharawi people to self-determination, guaranteed by the international charters and law.”
The Socialist Parliamentarian, Mr. Jesus Loza, warned to the repercussions of the situation of stalemate experienced by the Saharawi cause, highlighting that this enlarge suffering of the Saharawi people.
He pointed out in the same regard to the huge amounts of money spent by the Moroccan state to enforce the separation wall, also known as the Wall of Shame, with approximately of 2700 km-long instead of investing it in the benefits of the citizens.
Mr. Loza underlined that the decolonization of Western Sahara “will enable the improvement of the relations inside the Arab Maghreb and Spain as well.”
From his part, PP deputy Carmelo Barrio explained that the Basque Parliament continues its historical confirmation regarding the illegality of Morocco’s exploitation to the Western Sahara natural resources, in particular the fishing wealth, expressing satisfaction to the consensus by all parties on that motion, despite their political diversity.
The EU refused last December 14 to extend the fishing agreement with Morocco, because it included the territorial waters of Western Sahara, which is incompatible with international law. (SPS)
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