Algiers, Dec 26, 2011 (SPS) - “The Pan-African Parliament intends to send a parliamentary delegation to the occupied territories of Western Sahara to assess human rights situation there,” said Sunday in Algiers Mr. Laroussi Hammi, Vice-President of Pan-African Parliament in charge of International relations.
“We will ask again the Moroccan authorities to allow an African parliamentary delegation to visit the occupied territories of Western Sahara to investigate the human rights situation,” he told reporters, following a meeting with President of the Algerian National Committee of Solidarity with the Saharawi people (CNASPS), Mr. Mahrez Lamari.
The U.S. Congress passed an Act Tuesday requiring the Department of State to ensure the respect for human rights in Western Sahara before any military assistance given to Morocco.
Congress determines the funding U.S. military as “the right of access to Western Sahara without hindrance for organizations of human rights, journalists and representatives of foreign governments.”
Mr. Hammi expressed “the unwavering support” of the African Parliament to the Saharawi people who fight for their legitimate rights, calling on the Kingdom of Morocco “to implement international resolutions on the Western Sahara conflict.”
“We make a solemn appeal to our Moroccan brothers to return to reason and to comply with international law concerning this conflict,” he said, lamenting in this context the daily violations of human rights in the occupied Saharawi cities.
Vice President of the African Parliament called for the implementation of all international resolutions on the Saharawi question, all stating the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination through free and fair referendum.
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a member of the African Parliament. (SPS)
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