WEEKLY NEWS

 

WEEK 51

16.-22.12.1996

 

Headlines

Spying

New U.N. and U.S.responsibles

Decentralization

Diversion

 

16.12.96
Spying

A Swedish citizen of Moroccan extraction, aged 52, who lived in Sweden for 30 years, was condemned to 8 months of jail because he spied Moroccan opponents in Sweden. He transmitted to the Moroccan authorities informations concerning the activities of Moroccans sympathizing with Polisario.

18.12.96
New U.N. and U.S.responsibles

The nomination of Madeleine Albright as new U.S. Secretary of State could have, according to EFE, importance for the further development of the Western Sahara conflict. Mrs Albright, as former U.S. representative at the Security Council, accused Morocco several times to hinder the implementation of the peace plan in Western Sahara.

The new U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, answering to a journalist asking him if he plans to get personally involved in the efforts to break the deadlock over the Western Sahara referendum, declares: "Yes. If necessary, I expect to get personally involved, and I think in recent months we have seen some movement where there have been talks between the parties. We should try and move it forward, and my personal involvement is not excluded".

18.12.96
Decentralization

The Moroccan government adopts the draft decentralization law, which creates 16 regions, each directed by a regional council elected for 6 years. This project will soon be submitted to the parliament. Western Sahara will be divided in 3 regions, Gulimine-Smara, El Ayun-Bujdur and Wadi Eddahab

18.12.96
Diversion

For the first time a social, cultural and economical week will be organized at the end of February 1997 in occupied El Ayun. On Febr. 24, the biggest dromedary race in the world, with more than 400 animals, will take place. As if by chance it occurs at the same time as the 21th aniversary of the proclamation of the Sahrawi Republic.

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