6/7/2007
The Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday urged the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario" to accept Morocco's proposal to grant substantial autonomy to the Sahara population, during a hearing at the Congress.
"I urge the leadership of the Polisario to realize that they will never again get such a good deal for the population they purport to represent," Tom Lantos said in a statement at the hearing on "U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa", attended by David Welch, assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs.
"The next generation of Western Saharans will enjoy a peaceful life without having to eye one another suspiciously in busy markets and town squares. The next generation will grow up mercifully free of an armed conflict that stains their daily existence and limits their future. This will all happen if the Polisario is wise enough to accept the reasonable and realistic offer currently on the table", Mr. Lantos said in an allusion to Morocco's proposal.
"The Moroccans have proposed far-reaching autonomy for the people of the Western Sahara region. They would elect their own leaders, run their own affairs, levy taxes and establish budgets, maintain their own police forces, and control the education of their children. Only external security and foreign affairs will be controlled by the central Moroccan government," Tom Lantos told the hearing. He recalled that "many have greeted the Moroccan proposal as a promising new day", and that 173 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to the President urging him to back the Moroccan plan.
He made it clear that Washington has a "major stake in the stability of North Africa". "Al-Qaeda and other terror groups are expanding rapidly their presence in the region. It is imperative that we settle the Western Saharan issue as part of the effort to assure that the region does not become a major terrorism breeding ground."
Morocco and the Polisario are expected to meet on June 18 in New York to start direct negotiations as was called for by the UN security Council in April in attempt to reach a final solution to the three decade-old dispute over the former Spanish colony. Spain ceded the territory to morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accord but the Polisario, backed by Algeria, rejected it and continue to claim independence.
Tom Lantos called on both sides to “negotiate the details in good faith.” “I urge the leadership of the Polisario to realize that they will never again get such a good deal for the population they purport to represent", He insisted.
He also called on the separatists to "encourage vigorous and free discussion of the Moroccan proposal among the Sahrawi refugees" in Algeria's based Tindouf Camps.
“We consider the Moroccan proposal to provide real autonomy for the Western Sahara to be serious and credible,” said on his part David Welch adding that this proposal “offered more material for discussion.” “It offers a potential path forward. We think this is a chance to put something new on the table and address it.”
On Wednesday, a letter was released by a bipartisan group of 15 prominent foreign-policy thinkers, led by former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, praising the Moroccan initiative, and calling for President Bush‘s support to this initiative.
The Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday urged the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario" to accept Morocco's proposal to grant substantial autonomy to the Sahara population, during a hearing at the Congress.
"I urge the leadership of the Polisario to realize that they will never again get such a good deal for the population they purport to represent," Tom Lantos said in a statement at the hearing on "U.S. Policy Challenges in North Africa", attended by David Welch, assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs.
"The next generation of Western Saharans will enjoy a peaceful life without having to eye one another suspiciously in busy markets and town squares. The next generation will grow up mercifully free of an armed conflict that stains their daily existence and limits their future. This will all happen if the Polisario is wise enough to accept the reasonable and realistic offer currently on the table", Mr. Lantos said in an allusion to Morocco's proposal.
"The Moroccans have proposed far-reaching autonomy for the people of the Western Sahara region. They would elect their own leaders, run their own affairs, levy taxes and establish budgets, maintain their own police forces, and control the education of their children. Only external security and foreign affairs will be controlled by the central Moroccan government," Tom Lantos told the hearing. He recalled that "many have greeted the Moroccan proposal as a promising new day", and that 173 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to the President urging him to back the Moroccan plan.
He made it clear that Washington has a "major stake in the stability of North Africa". "Al-Qaeda and other terror groups are expanding rapidly their presence in the region. It is imperative that we settle the Western Saharan issue as part of the effort to assure that the region does not become a major terrorism breeding ground."
Morocco and the Polisario are expected to meet on June 18 in New York to start direct negotiations as was called for by the UN security Council in April in attempt to reach a final solution to the three decade-old dispute over the former Spanish colony. Spain ceded the territory to morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accord but the Polisario, backed by Algeria, rejected it and continue to claim independence.
Tom Lantos called on both sides to “negotiate the details in good faith.” “I urge the leadership of the Polisario to realize that they will never again get such a good deal for the population they purport to represent", He insisted.
He also called on the separatists to "encourage vigorous and free discussion of the Moroccan proposal among the Sahrawi refugees" in Algeria's based Tindouf Camps.
“We consider the Moroccan proposal to provide real autonomy for the Western Sahara to be serious and credible,” said on his part David Welch adding that this proposal “offered more material for discussion.” “It offers a potential path forward. We think this is a chance to put something new on the table and address it.”
On Wednesday, a letter was released by a bipartisan group of 15 prominent foreign-policy thinkers, led by former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, praising the Moroccan initiative, and calling for President Bush‘s support to this initiative.
