The first direct talks between Morocco
and the Polisario Front in seven years
have failed to make headway, after
both sides stuck to their proposals
regarding the future of the Western
Sahara region.
The Polisario rebels insisted on a
referendum to determine autonomy or
independence while Morocco continued
pushing for limited autonomy.
The two sides, however, agreed to
resume discussions in August to end
the 32-year dispute over the former
Spanish colony, the UN said on
Tuesday.
The parties had agreed to meet after
the UN Security Council's intervention
but the two-day talks in New York
merely extended the existing
stalemate.
Representatives of neighbouring
Algeria and Mauritania were also
present at the talks.
Protracted dispute
Morocco annexed the phosphate-rich
northwest African territory after its
Spanish colonisers left the territory
in 1975, settling it with about
300,000 Moroccans in 1975.
Full-scale war broke out, and Morocco
took over the whole territory after
Mauritania pulled out in 1979.
The ensuing guerrilla war ended after
a UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991.
James Baker, the former US secretary
of state, tried for years to broker a
settlement on behalf of the UN but
finally gave up in 2004.
In April, the Polisario proposed a
referendum offering the region's
Saharawi people a choice of autonomy
or independence from Morocco, and
offered to share the administration of
Western Sahara's resources with
Morocco if it becomes an independent
state.
But Morocco, wishing to retain
sovereignty over the territory,
presented an autonomy plan permitting
the election of a parliament and
creation of a regional government.
Continuing stalemate
In its opening statement at this
week's meeting, the Polisario restated
its April proposal and reminded
Morocco that it had accepted a
referendum with independence as an
option in 1991 and again in 1997.
The Polisario, backed by neighbouring
Algeria, said it "would like to
extend the sincere hand of peace, a
just peace in keeping with
international legality, yet a peace
that is also advantageous to all, to
the Saharawi people, to Morocco and
the Maghreb region".
The Polisario said the failure of the
Baker negotiations in 1997
"should not be the destiny
reserved or planned for this new
process".
The group said only the Saharawi
people can decide the future of
Western Sahara "in a just and
valid way".
It added: "If the Saharawi people
want to be an independent nation, this
is their right. If they want to be an
integral part of Morocco that is also
their right, and in both cases we, as
parties, are under the obligation to
respect this decision."