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20.11.97
Diplomacy
Suleimane Tayeb Ahmed Salema, the new Ambassador of the SADR in
Panama, presented his letters of credence to the Panamean President
Ernesto Barez Balladares. On this occasion he exprimed his thanks for
the support of Panama. On its side the Panamean government reaffirmed
its solidarity and support to the SADR in order to find a solution to
the conflict.
20.11.97
Diplomacy
In a common press release the Algerian and the Ethiopian Ministers of
Foreign Affairs exprimed their satisfaction after the Houston
agreements and appealed to the international community to continue to
support the implementation of the peace plan in order to organize a
free , fair and impartial referendum in Western Sahara.
22.11.97
The "Paris-Dakar" rally
This contested rally will take place next year from 1 to 18 January
and will cross Moroccan and occupied Western Sahara territories.
Smara will be a stopping place.
22.11.97
Humanitarian aid
The delegate of the regional government of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain,
Carlos Moro and the local responsible of the F. Polisario, Ahmedou
Mohamed Fadel, decided the creation of a permanent coordination of
the humanitarian aid to the Saharawi people with special attention to
the Saharawi children spending holidays in families of this
province.
24.11.97
United Maghreb Union
The secretary of the United Maghreb Union, Mohamed Amadou, declared
in an interview at the arab edition of the radio "Voice of America"
that the Western Sahara conflict has undermined for decades the
construction of the Maghreb. He added that the Houston agreements
between Polisario and Morocco can open new perspectives and show
positive issues for the Maghreb.
25.11.97
Visit of President Mohamed Abdelaziz in Spain, I
The Saharawi president, accompanied by an important delegation,
begins a friendly visit to Spain. The visit will be devoted to
necessary exchanges of views just before the resumption of the
crucial step of voter identification in the frame of the UN peace
plan. Soon after his arrival at Barajas airport of Madrid, the
Saharawi President held talks with the Spanish Foreign Minister Abel
Matutes. The discussions turned around the latest developments of the
Western Sahara question. The President will meet different political,
trade union and other democratic institutions. At a meeting with the
press at the airport, the President declared that his visit in Spain
takes place in a historical moment for his country and for the region
(Communique of the SADR Ministry of Information).
26.11.97
Visit of President Mohamed Abdelaziz in Spain, II
In a press conference held in Madrid Abdelaziz declared he met with
Minister Matutes and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Congress
and asked Spain to play an active role in the referendum. He added
that some Moroccan initiatives cast doubt on the will of this country
to respect the Houston agreements: the visit of Minister of Interior
Basri in the occupied territories as well as the announced visit of
the King in El Ayun in March 1998.
26.11.97
Getting ready for the referendum I
120 chiukhs from occupied Western Sahara finished their workshops
meant to prepare the voter identification according to the Houston
agreements.
26.11.97
Getting ready for the referendum II
The National Independent Union (Moroccan centrist Party), appeals to
stop the controversies after the legislative elections of November
14th, in order to mobilize all the nation behind King Hassan II for a
solution of the Western Sahara conflict, which must be in favour of
Morocco. This party is leaded by Ahmed Osman, former Prime Minister
and brother in law of the king.
28.11.97
Repatriation of the refugees (Interview of a UNHCR responsible in the
newspaper El Pais)
The UNHCR has foreseen the repatriation of about 135'000 refugees by
airplane from Tindouf. Less than the half of the 160'000 refugees are
included in the Spanish census, declared Daniel Mora, member of the
organization, but the Polisario Front asked for their repatriation
with their families, their cattle and their goods. Between June and
September 1998 every day about 2'000 persons will be embarked in
Tindouf for El Ayoun, Smara, Dakhla and Boujdour and also Aguenit,
Tifariti and Mehairiz in the liberated territories. The Saharawis
living in Mauritania, Canary Islands and Cuba, about 10'000 persons,
will also be convoyed to the votation centers. The cattle and the
goods will be transported by 2'500 trips of trucks of 10 tonnes.
According to the same source there is a dangerous pollution in the
camps of the water of the wells with fecal material. The HCR will
start an urgent appeal for funds (2 millions of $) in order to make
them healthier.
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