Algiers, Nov 09, 2017 (SPS) - Sahrawi Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Salek on Wednesday called on all stakeholders in the Western Sahara conflict, namely the United Nations, the African Union and mainly France, to assume their responsibilities and find a lasting solution.
He also denounced the complicity between Paris and Morocco and their desire to undermine and block the peace process in Western Sahara.
Following the speech of Morocco's King Mohamed VI marking the anniversary of Moroccan military invasion of the Sahrawi territories, Ould Salek said that the King of Morocco has reneged on the commitments made by his country under the auspices of the UN and the AU, regarding the referendum on self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
"Morocco is not the only one to block the peace process; France, which is a permanent member within the UN Security Council, is doing likewise," he told a press conference held at the Embassy of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Algiers.
"We have called on the UN Secretary General and his personal envoy as well as the AU to assume their responsibilities," said the Sahrawi Foreign minister.
He underlined that France should play another role to restore peace in the region, adding that "Morocco has undermined all UN efforts."
He also deplored France's attitude vis-à-vis the Western Sahara issue.
"France has intervened in other conflicts in the region, like in Mali, where its sent troops with a view to restoring peace, preserving the borders and establishing democracy in this country, whereas in the case of Western Sahara, France has just done the opposite," he said.
As regards SADR participation in the next EU-AU Summit in Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) in late November, Ould Salek stressed "there would be no EU-AU Summit without SADR. It has been ratified by the AU and there is an agreement between the EU and the AU."
"The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is a fact and a national, continental and international reality. Morocco has to accept it," concluded the Sahrawi Foreign minister.SPS
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