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Rabat – The resolution of the regional dispute around Western Sahara inevitably has to go through the Autonomy Plan, which stands out for its seriousness and realism, according to petitioners members of the International Support Group for the Reunification and Peace of the Sahrawis, on Friday in New York.
Gueda Rodriguez said in front of the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee that the Moroccan autonomy initiative, which is gaining international support, embodies the path to peace and represents the only viable solution to a long-running conflict.
Presenting the findings of his group after years of studies, interviews and travels, Rodriguez emphasized that the dispute over the Western Sahara can not be resolved through the referendum project, which is now obsolete and unenforceable.
He also noted that the armed separatist group operating in Tindouf’s camps with Algeria’s support lacks legitimacy because it was not selected through democratic elections.
“It is sad to see young people and children armed in these camps created by Algeria, victims of manipulation, indoctrination, and a devastating sense of frustration and hatred,” Rodriguez added
He also condemned Algeria and the leaders of the Polisario for diverting humanitarian aid that the international community had planned to provide to the people living in the Tindouf camps.
“This situation, which has persisted for decades, is unfortunate and deplorable,’’ he went on to say.
Members of the International Group supporting the peace and reunification of the Sahrawis have also emphasized what they called Morocco’s unwavering commitment and extensive efforts, particularly on the diplomatic front, to defend its territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
David Gourzong Cerdas, former deputy of Costa Rica and member of the International Support Group for the Reunification and Peace of the Sahrawis, stressed that the Sahara region has always been an integral part of the Kingdom of Morocco, which he called one of the oldest and most ancestral nations in the world.
Cerdas noted that the Autonomy Plan is the only solution that preserves the Sahrawi traditions and culture, which are essential components of Morocco’s identity.
Additionally, he claimed that Algeria, which supports and funds the armed seperatist group Polisario on its own territory, is to blame for the regional conflict over Western Sahara.
MWN with MAP
