Latest news
Responses to the Initiative from The Americas
United States
“An historic occasion finally to resolve the question of the Sahara” “Morocco has put forward a very praiseworthy proposal, which aims to resolve this matter once and for all”. Morocco’s proposal “will be beneficial to the economic development, to the creation of jobs and to the political stability of the whole Maghreb” Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart for Florida.(April 2007)
“The Proposal for Autonomy represents an historic opportunity for the United States to help resolve this problem and to promote a better future for the whole region…. The new Moroccan proposal envisages a realistic framework for finding a political negotiated solution which remains the best means of assuring permanent peace for the parties…. This historical initiative grants the Western Sahara a profound local autonomy while recognising the territorial integrity of Morocco” Letter signed by 170 leading Republican and Democratic Members of Congress and the House of Representatives, which was sent to President George W Bush in April supporting the Moroccan Plan for Autonomy.
“By allowing the People of the Sahara a real voice in their future by means of enjoying full rights under Moroccan autonomy, a credible political solution could be achieved…. We encourage you to pursue this co-operation over the forthcoming months” since the non-resolution of this question “places international stability, the struggle against terrorism and efforts aimed at economic integration in North Africa in peril…. American engagement is in a position to produce a solution to this long-standing question and to re-affirm our bi-partisan support for a realistic and lasting peace in North Africa” Letter sent to President George W Bush on 6 June 2007 signed by 15 well-known, high-ranking former American officials, including Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State; Franck Charles Carlucci, former Secretary of State for Defence, Mickey Kantor, former Secretary of State for Commerce, hazel R. O’Leary, former Secretary of State for Energy; General Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Commander; Martin Indyk, former assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East; Thomas Daschle, former Senator and Democrat Majority Leader; and other former secretaries of State, ambassadors, influential members of Congress.
“We consider the Moroccan Initiative for real autonomy for the Western Sahara to be serious and credible. It is the result of several months of work and preparation by Morocco.” David Welsh, Assistant Secretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs, June 2007
“The Proposal for Autonomy represents an historic opportunity for the United States to help resolve this problem and to promote a better future for the whole region…. The new Moroccan proposal envisages a realistic framework for finding a political negotiated solution which remains the best means of assuring permanent peace for the parties…. This historical initiative grants the Western Sahara a profound local autonomy while recognising the territorial integrity of Morocco” Letter signed by 170 leading Republican and Democratic Members of Congress and the House of Representatives, which was sent to President George W Bush in April supporting the Moroccan Plan for Autonomy.
“By allowing the People of the Sahara a real voice in their future by means of enjoying full rights under Moroccan autonomy, a credible political solution could be achieved…. We encourage you to pursue this co-operation over the forthcoming months” since the non-resolution of this question “places international stability, the struggle against terrorism and efforts aimed at economic integration in North Africa in peril…. American engagement is in a position to produce a solution to this long-standing question and to re-affirm our bi-partisan support for a realistic and lasting peace in North Africa” Letter sent to President George W Bush on 6 June 2007 signed by 15 well-known, high-ranking former American officials, including Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State; Franck Charles Carlucci, former Secretary of State for Defence, Mickey Kantor, former Secretary of State for Commerce, hazel R. O’Leary, former Secretary of State for Energy; General Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Commander; Martin Indyk, former assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East; Thomas Daschle, former Senator and Democrat Majority Leader; and other former secretaries of State, ambassadors, influential members of Congress.
“We consider the Moroccan Initiative for real autonomy for the Western Sahara to be serious and credible. It is the result of several months of work and preparation by Morocco.” David Welsh, Assistant Secretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs, June 2007
Argentina
“The question of Autonomy is very important and (Morocco’s) proposal would be the impetus for peace and harmony with other countries and also for resolving many of the problems in Africa as a whole” Mr Alberto Edgardo Balestrini, President of the Argentine Congress of Deputies (March 2007)“We are going to …. deploy the greatest efforts to ensure that we reach a satisfactory consensus for everyone and bring an end to a dispute which has lasted for too long,” Mr Daniel Scioli, Vice-President of the Republic of Argentina and President of the Argentine Senate (March 2007)
“We believe it (The Moroccan Initiative) is a positive step and we hope it can move forward” Mr Jorge Taiana, Argentine Foreign Minister (March 2007)
Peru
The President of the Peruvian Majority Palementary Party, Mr Luis Javier Gonzales Posada, reitiered his country’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and the Project of Autonomy proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco (cited in the “Kenya Times” 24 January 2007)Mexico
The Vice-President of the Mexican Senate, Mr Francisco Agustin Arroyo Vieyra, accompanied by Mr Salomon Jara Cruz, President of the Commission for External Relations with Africa and Mr Jose Julian Sacramento Garza, Secretary of the Commission for External Relations with Africa emphasised that the resolution of the question of the Sahara would be a means of reinforcing stability in the Arab Maghreb and of meeting the aspirations of the population and achieving progress and prosperity. (July 2007)P O Box 59314, London NW8 1DE. Tel: +44 (0) 7711 67 1896 Fax: +44 (0)20 7286 5059 Email: info@freedom-for-all.org
Web-site development: Red Sphere Media