WEEKLY NEWS
WEEK 06, 05-11.02.1996
05.-06.02.96.
Spain's Prime Minister visiting Morocco
Felipe Gonzalez heads for Morocco on Febr. 5 for a two-day summit to
patch up ties after the bitter fishing dispute last year . Spanish
diplomatic sources said both countries were disposed to restore
economic and cultural ties, which were originally cemented through a
friendship and cooperation treaty in 1991. According to the terms of
that accord, the two countries were to have high-level contacts
yearly, but the only summit since then was three years ago in Madrid.
The Spanish leader had an audience with King Hassan. In one of the
key accords of the summit, Spain grants Morocco up to 150 billion
pesetas ($1.2 billion) in soft credits by the year 2000 with the aim
of increasing the presence of Spanish businesses there.
Concerning Western Sahara Gonzalez said Spain would continue to
support U.N. efforts to settle the dispute between Morocco and the
Polisario Front. "I want to make clear the position of Spain. It
respects and supports U.N. resolutions and initiatives on the Western
Sahara issue," Gonzalez told at a news conference.
05.02.96.
South African Foreign Minister's visit to Algeria
The Foreign Minister of South Africa ended his 4-days visit to
Algeria. Concerning the Western Sahara problem, which he described as
a source of tension in the Arab Maghreb region, he stressed, at a
news conference, that he would meet the two parties to the conflict
before deciding the final position on this problem. "We will meet
leaders of the Polisario Front and then Moroccan officials. We can
contribute to calm down the situation and help to found a solution".
05.-06.02.96
South African Foreign Minister's visit to SADR
Mr. A. Nzo visited the liberated territories of the Sahrawi Arab
Democratic Republic and the refugee camps. According to a
press release(french) of the SADR
Ministery of Information, talks concerned the bilateral cooperation
between the two countries. "In the past (the cooperation) was marked
by the support of ANC to the fight of the Sahrawi people, and
actually by the recognition of the SADR by the South-African
Republic".
07.-08.02.96
South African Foreign Minister's visit to Morocco
During his two-day visit to Morocco South African Foreign Minister
Alfred Nzo mets King Hassan and Prime Minister Abdellatif Filali.
According to news agencies the Western Sahara conflict was not evoked
in the statement issued by both ministers.
New publications
- United Nations: recent
developments. A briefing document by Martin Hughes,
Western Sahara Campaign U.K.
- Kein Wille, kein Weg, Jens-Uwe Rahe, Süddeutsche
Zeitung, D-Muenchen, 01.02.96
Summary Weekly News,
Western Sahara Homepage