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14. - 16.09.97 Houston negociations: Agreement between Morocco
and the Polisario Front
After 3 days of talks behind closed doors in Houston, the UN Special
Envoy Mr. James Baker III announced on September 16 that the parties
involved in the conflict came to an agreement that laid the
groundwork for an end to their dispute over Western Sahara by
agreeing to a code of conduct governing a referendum that would
decide the fate of the territory.The U.N. mediator said the accord
would be presented to the United Nations to decide whether a
referendum could be held, and when. At issue is whether Western
Sahara is incorporated into Morocco or becomes independent, as
supported by the Polisario Front. "We have agreed upon pretty much
everything that is necessary for the United Nations to reinstitute
the (referendum) process", he told.
Baker, who described the Houston talks as "fairly difficult", said
the issue of who would vote had been decided, but it was a "very,
very complicated issue". "It depends on tribes and tribal groupings
and a whole host of other things. I can tell you that I would
estimate we would probably see a total electorate in this case of
something in the neighborhood of 80,000 voters, " he said. In his
opinion the vote could take place in "10 or 11 months", and he
affirmed that both sides had agreed to give the United Nations "all
the authority that it deems necessary in order to organize and
conduct a free and fair referendum." He said also there was no
guarantee that everything agreed to in this latest round of talks
would be fully implemented. "The proof of the pudding will be in the
eating, " he added.
The agreement concerns following points:
1. Transitional period
The two sides recognize the authority of the UN during the
transitional period in order to allow the organization of a
transparent, free and fair referendum. The agreement is included in a
declaration about the function and presence of the UN in the period
between the end of voter identification and the vote.
2. Code of conduct during the electoral period ( 3 weeks)
This agreement includes the possibility for both parties to have an
equal access to the medias and warrants freedom of speech and
movement during this time. International observers will be allowed to
watch the electoral campaign as well as the members of the Polisario
support committee, in which the international solidarity groups will
be present.
3. Voter identification ( 8 - 10 months)
This point is matter of an other agreement setting the conditions of
the resuming of the voter identification and the appropriate
criterias. Morocco renounces to present global lists. The members of
the contested tribes can participate to identification but only as
individuals without beeing convoked. The Polisario accepts oral
testimonies as identity evidence. This formula is supposed to bring a
total electorate of something around 80'000 voters. The
identification process could be resumed in 4 - 6 weeks.
4. Agreement on confinement of Moroccan and Saharawi troops.
5. Agreement on release of POWs and political detainees.
6. Agreement on return of the refugees actually in the camps near Tindouf.
Comments and reactions
Polisario Front
Mr A. Boukhari, Polisario Representative at the UN said the agreement
gives a new dynamism to the referendum and he reaffirmed the will of
full cooperation of the Saharawi part in order to realize a fair and
free vote. He repeated that the referendum will decide if Western
Sahara will be independent or a part of Morocco.
President of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic SADR and Polisario
leader Mohamed Abdelaziz said that agreement reached with Morocco
laid the ground for resolving the Western Sahara conflict and ending
a colonial situation of injustice and suffering lasting 23 years.
"Hope is now permitted..." He appealed to the international community
"to support the implementation of these agreements.
Morocco
Mr Filali, who led the Moroccan delegation, told the Maghreb Arab
Press (MAP):" I believe, based on what has been decided since the
first meeting and after the conclusion of this round, and also on the
basis of the declarations made by both sides, that Morocco can look
with optimism at the future of its territories". Commenting on the
talks during this round, Mr Filali said they were not easy because
there were some tense and difficult times. "However, I believe that
despite everything, we have reached a logical compromise which will
enable the organization of this referendum, because this is what we
wanted, and because this problem, which has lasted for more than 20
years, must end..."
United Nations
"The Secretary-General is extremely pleased that, through the good
offices of his Personal Envoy James A. Baker III, the parties to the
dispute in Western Sahara have reached agreement on issues that have
held up the implementation of the Settlement Plan for nearly two
years. The Secretary- General congratulates the parties and expresses
his high appreciation to Mr. Baker for his skill in achieving an
agreement on these difficult and complex issues. The
Secretary-General looks forward to the parties' cooperating with the
United Nations in fulfilling the commitments they have made so that
the Settlement Plan can be implemented."
Algeria
TheAlgerian government exprimed its satisfaction calling the
agreement of "major importance" and affirmed its will to support its
application.
Spain
The Spanish government declared also to be happy about the agreement
and underlined that it gives a real perspective of solution.
[Summary
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