Reply #24: That would seem the way to bet, but interesting things are afoot: [View All]

[bemildred]

http://www.democraticunderground.org/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=116&topic_id=307

(The MSNBC link no longer works.)


bemildred (1000+ posts)
Sat Jul-19-03 09:44 PM
Original message
Morocco wants no imposed solution on Western Sahara



Just found this. Morocco has been stalling for a long
time, and wants to continue. Phosphate and oil IIRC. It's
interesting that James Baker has his finger in this pie.

RABAT, July 16 - Morocco rejected on Wednesday any
attempt to impose a solution to its long-running dispute
with Polisario independence rebels over the fate of the
northwest African desert territory of Western Sahara.

A U.N. plan would give the sparsely populated but mineral rich
area seized by Morocco in 1975 immediate self-government and
schedule a referendum within five years for residents to choose
between independence, integration with Morocco or semi-autonomy.
''Morocco's position is clear: we refuse that any decision
pertaining to the sovereignty of the kingdom be imposed on us,''
Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa said in comments carried by the
official MAP news agency.

---

The Polisario's endorsement of the Baker plan last week was a
major shift in the stance of the Algerian-backed movement which
fought a guerrilla war with Morocco over the former Spanish colony for
15 years until a U.N. ceasefire in 1991.



One might still be able to find it by googleing.