"The other parties, Algeria and Polisario, have adopted a strategy of diversion by advancing sometimes the issues of human rights, and other times the exploitation of natural resources of the Saharan provinces, in order to avoid real negotiations, "said Fassi Fihri, during a joint press conference with Minister of Interior, Mr. Taieb Cherqaoui devoted to recent developments on the question of the Kingdom’s territorial integrity.

The latest events in Laayoune are, in this regard, an escalation strategy, the aim is to torpedo " real negotiations" call on by the UN, which insists on "substantive" talks and calls on parties  to " incorporate a more realistic vision, "the minister lamented, adding that the Security Council has repeatedly called for, since 2004" seeking a negotiated political solution, mutually agreed " based on the momentum  triggered by the Moroccan autonomy initiative.

The case of the Gdem Izik camp showed "the sternness of the other party in an attempt to poison the negotiations climate," assured the minister, who stressed the peaceful nature of the intervention of security forces who used conventional means during the operation to dismantle the camp, contrary to the allegations and falsehoods conveyed by some foreign media. 

While comparing the violent methods used by criminal gangs in the camp and those increasingly common in the Sahel region, Fassi Fihri said that the intervention was "inevitable" as people were taken hostage in the camp by elements belonging to trafficking network of all kinds, including convicts and persons serving a political agenda abroad, i.e. pro- separatists.

Morocco is a "sovereign state" and acts accordingly, stressed the Minister, in response to a question on alleged explanations requested by Spain about these events, noting that the Moroccan diplomacy has been in constant contact with foreign embassies and kept them informed of developments since the first day of the outbreak of this case.

This same logic that governs the actions taken vis-à-vis some MPs and journalists who are showing their bias in favor of the separatist thesis, said the minister, noting that no country in the world would tolerate someone to "pour oil on fire" by interfering in its internal affairs.

Commenting on the latest informal talks in Manhasset, near New York, the Minister said that the Moroccan delegation "was able to convince Christopher Ross (personal envoy of UN Secretary General) of the need to reinvigorate and accelerate the pace of the negotiation process.»

In this context, he said, "we will continue negotiations," adding that Morocco showed in Manhasset that the kingdom "was in no way responsible for the interruption of the family visits exchange program "between the southern provinces and the camps of Tindouf.

Despite these developments, said the minister, Morocco remains committed "to the normalization of its relations with Algeria, to open a serious dialogue with that country and establish successful cooperation by strengthening bilateral relations and building the Maghreb. "

For his part, the Interior minister said the intervention of the police in the Gdim Izik camp and the city of Laayoune, "was carried out without firing a single gunshot ".

The interior minister said that "police were faced with a difficult situation," which explains, he said, "the painful loss of human lives."

The police were met with violent resistance from trained militias which made use of gas bottles, 4x4 vehicles speeding to hit the police. One element of these forces has been brutally murdered, the minister said.

Morocco has never witnessed this kind of barbaric acts made by instigators that we know, said the minister, adding that the perpetrators of these acts are active in the Sahel region.

Source:  MAP
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas