Responses to the Initiative from Africa, the Media and Institutions

 

 

Gabon, Senegal, Gambia, Togo, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and the majority of African countries support Morocco’s action in proposing a comprehensive Autonomy Plan to its Southern Provinces as a means of resolving the conflict: The Plan “is aimed at offering the inhabitants of the Provinces of the South the opportunity to govern democratically and run their own local affairs within the framework of political decentralisation” (“Le Temps de l’Afrique”, March 2007)

The Media

France – “Le Monde” described the Moroccan initiative as “serious and credible” and the tiredness of both the international community and the Sahrawi population with the continuing conflict, to highlight the “favourable global reactions to the Moroccan Project in countries like France, Belgium and Spain” 13 April 2007

France – “L’Alsace de Dimanche” The Moroccan Initiative “is a beginning and not an end, and is part of a vast plan of modernisation and democratisation” in Morocco.  The “innovative” initiative has been welcomed by the population in the South and has also “interested” the Sahrawi people in the camps in Tindouf, Algeria, who “aspire to a different and better future”.  Morocco “has created a new dynamic to end the impasse and has provided a “cadre” which can serve as a basis for dialogue, negotiation and compromise”.  Regarding the Maghreb, the Moroccan Initiative “would give political weight to the region and stimulate economies”.
 
Germany – “Die Welt” “Autonomy under United Nations’ guarantees and within the body “cadre” of a reformed Moroccan State would bring peace to this part of the world…. Germany’s interest resides in the Moroccan compromise” Michael Stoermer, 9 March 2007
 

Institutions

London

Islamic Institute in London – Mr Azzam Tamimi, President of the Institute of Islamic Political Thought declared, “I am fundamentally opposed to the breaking of Arab countries” into small states, particularly Algeria’s desire to create a “micro-state” in the Sahara and stated that he was concerned by certain countries’ intervention to prevent the Sahara from remaining an integral part of Morocco.  He praised Morocco for its programme of reforms, which had been set in motion over the last few years, commenting that these placed Morocco at the forefront of both Maghreb and Arab states in this sphere, “The openness which Morocco enjoys, whether on the national or international level, is a good augury for the Moroccan People”.  March 2007

Mauritania

The Mauritanian Association for the Communication of Culture in the Maghreb stated that the Polisario’s declarations favoured a “return to the logic of force and civil war” which went against the hopes of the Saharwi population, reported in “Al Akhbar”, July 2007

 

“Al Akhbar” – Mauritania welcomes Morocco’s efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution to the question of the Sahara.  This view was confirmed by Colonel Ould Mohamed Vall, President of the Military Council for Justice and Democracy, who declared that the “open to dialogue” solution put forward by Morocco and the nature of the initiative would create a “dynamic for economic and social development”, guaranteeing stability and security for the Maghreb in the interests of its peoples. 
The Maghreb Arab Union project is “an ideal for a whole nation” which “those in favour of breaking it into small pieces” must not derail.  July 2007
 

Egypt

“Al Misri Al Yaom” – an article by the former Egyptian Minister and Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Cairo, described the Moroccan Initiative as “in the interest of all the Moroccan People, of whom the inhabitants of the Sahara form the heart”.  It would “enable all Sahrawis, whether inside or outside Morocco to benefit from the region and assume the role which would revert to them alongside the different regional institutions, without any form of discrimination or exclusion”.  “The populations of the Sahara would govern their affairs themselves by means of legislative, executive and judicial institutions with specific competencies, would dispose of the requisite resources to develop the region in all its areas, and would contribute to the economic, social and cultural life of the Kingdom, while the State would be in charge of the attributions of sovereignty, especially in matters of defence, foreign affairs and the constitutional and religious attributions of His Majesty The King” 14 May 2007

Mali

“Nouvel Horizon” – commented that the Moroccan Initiative had been welcomed by the international community “because of its spirit of openness and its flexible character which creates a new dynamic and a new approach in finally solving the differences between Morocco and its adversaries”.  The journal went on to say that the Polisario “risked becoming a minority” since most of the world found the Moroccan Initiative to be an advance in finally resolving the problem of the Sahara.  It also called for the other parties to the negotiations “to show their good faith like the Kingdom of Morocco, so as not to be considered as instigators of others’ interests” 17 May 2007

“Le Républicain” - emphasized that the Moroccan Initiative was characterized by its openness and flexibility and had been endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 1754. May 2007

“Les Echos” - described Morocco’s plan for Autonomy as “courageous”, responding to the aspirations of the Saharwi People and emphasized that the Moroccan project for Autonomy was just as good as autonomy practiced around the world. May 2007