WESTERN SAHARA
WEEKLY NEWS

original french

WEEK 25
18.-24.06.2000

Resolution of the Security Council S/RES/1301 (2000)
Commentaries and analyses (continuation):

9. Khatry Beirouk, a concerned Saharawi, "In insisting upon doing the impossible, they're abandoning the possible".

10. Yahia H. Zoubir : Réponse à M. Abraham Serfaty.

11. Kamal Fadel: a personal point of view: "Third Way": No Way.

12. Abraham Serfaty: Réponse à Khatry Beirouk et à Yahia H.Zoubir

13. Ismail ould Sayeh: Reflexions.

14. Abba Malainine, a personal point of view: "What's wrong with the Referendum Plan? Why another uncertain alternative solution? "

15. Keiko Shingo, une amie du peuple sahraoui: message à M. Serfaty.

 

15.06.00
Referendum
The Mauritanian President received M'hamed Khaddad, Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO, special envoy of the Saharawi president. He told the Mauritanian press that his visit concerned the latest developments of the peace process. He expressed to the Mauritanian President gratitude on behalf of the Saharawi people and government for the constant support of Mauritania for a just solution in Western Sahara (SPS).

17.06.00
UN
The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, made a brief stopover in Rabat, during which he met Mohamed VI, accompanied by his brother, Moulay Rachid. He then had lunch with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Benaïssa, the Minister of the Interior Ahmed El Midaoui, the Moroccan permanent representative at the UN, Ahmed Snoussi, the secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Taieb Fassi Fihri and General Abdelaziz Bennani, commander of the Southern Zone (Western Sahara). According to various sources, it was the question of Western Sahara which motivated this impromptu stop in Annan's tour of the Near East.

17-18.06.00
Anniversary
The Saharawi people celebrated the 30th anniversary of the uprising in Zemla, an area of El Ayoun, where in 1970 a peaceful demonstration for the independence of Western Sahara took place, with bloody repression by the Spanish legion. In the wilaya of El Ayoun several marches took place «in an atmosphere of respect for the martyrs and of determination to pursue the struggle». Exhibitions of photos of the martyrs and victims of repression in the occupied territories as well as exhibitions of craft work were organised. A regional hospital was officially opened. In his speech, President Abdelaziz affirmed «any idea of moving away from the peace plan amounts to an attempt to bypass the constant and legitimate right of the Saharawi people to live free and sovereign on the whole of its territory». He made clear that the Polisario Front rejects any negotiation outside the peace plan and asks the UN to fulfil its commitments. (SPS)

19.06.00
Military Manoeuvres
Military manoeuvres, named «Gleib Akhchad», after the place where in 1913 one of the most important battles against a French expeditionary force happened, took place in Tifariti (liberated territories) . They commemorate the century-old resistance of the Saharawi people against foreign occupation. Armoured vehicles, heavy artillery, AA and motorised batallions simulated an offensive against the wall held by the Moroccans. (SPS)

19.06.00
Referendum
The Saharawi President had talks in Tifariti successively with the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General, Mr William Eagleton, and with the First Secretary of the US Embassy in Rabat. Mr Eagleton explained his presence in Tifariti «for reasons of convenience», «all the Saharawi responsible officials are there and I could meet them at the same time», he said. President Abdelaziz indicated that at the talks he expressed the worries of the Polisario concerning the respect of human rights in the Saharawi occupied territories. He further stated that he had received a message from the American administration, the content of which he did not reveal. (APS)

20.06.00
Referendum
The Saharawi Consultative Council, meeting in an ordinary session in Tifariti, called on the UN and the international community to save the peace plan and to permit the Saharawi people to determine its future through a free, fair and transparent referendum. It also expressed, in a press release, its concern at the repression in the occupied territories of SADR. (SPS)

19.06.00
Announcements of Mohamed VI
Whereas the Algerian President stated recently in Paris that Morocco and Algeria had decided that the question of Western Sahara was the business of the UN, the King of Morocco, in an interview with Time Magazine, held that «There is a problem between Morocco and Algeria. There is no problem between Morocco and the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic because we do not recognize it. This is Algeria's creation.» On the subject of the "third way", the King of Morocco emphasised that «This is a decision I will not make on my own. We have our very active political parties and the [Moroccan] people are bound by consensus on the case of the Sahara. International public opinion needs to understand that this is a vital issue for us». On the question of knowing if the USA is playing a role in the Maghreb, Mohamed VI indicated that «The U.S. does play a role.(... ) I do rely on the U.S. to act as facilitator and to preserve and maintain balance in the region.(...) We absolutely want the U.S. and the U.N. to be involved so as to maintain balance. No party shall feel prejudiced versus the other.»

20.06.00
Visit of Mohamed VI to the USA
According to the White House spokesman, the American President and the King of Morocco had talks on various subjects, including Western Sahara. He added that «the USA supports the efforts of the UN in finding a solution. We are trying to find a solution».

22.06.00
Algeria
Mr Youcef Yousfi, Algerian Minister of Foreign affairs in answer to a question concerning the latest declarations of Mohamed VI, precised :« in the the peace plan, the Houston Agreements as well as in all UN General Assembly or Security Council Resolutions the parties in conflict are well identified: the kingdom of Morocco on one side and the Polisario Front on the other side». (aps)

22.06.00
Switzerland
The parliamentary Intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi People", including about 30 members and presided by Mr François Lachat, MP, met with Minister Mohamed Sidati. At a press briefing Mr Sidati spoke about the critical situation of the peace process insisting on the risk of a resumption of the armed struggle while Mr Lachat declared that the referendum must take place quickly (corr.).

NEW on INTERNET

NEW PUBLICATIONS
[External links to newspapers may not be valid after some days because the servers are restarted]

English

Français

Deutsch

Castellano

[Summary Weekly News,] [Western Sahara Homepage]