The Spain and the Western Sahara in 2009 forced the news Madrid to refocus its position Madrid, 12/29/2009 (SPS) A series of events related to the conflict in Western Sahara appears to have influenced the position of the English government, largely modeled on the Moroccan position, according to media reports, would be back in 2009 to traditional theories, closer to the principle of self-determination, in the opinion of many observers.
The first event was the appointment in January 2009, Christopher Ross as new UN Special Envoy for Western Sahara, replacing Dutch diplomat Peter Van Walsum.
the occasion of his appointment, the English Foreign Ministry expressed its "confidence in the ability of the new Personal Representative of the Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon," to convene a new resume shortly negotiations initiated pursuant to resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations. "
Madrid considers his appointment as "Involves a stimulus for progress towards a political solution just, lasting and mutually acceptable to the principle of self-determination as stated in the Security Council of the United Nations in its resolutions."
The English Government will, however, any comment on the statement made by Christopher Ross on the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination, after his meeting with the Saharawi leaders during his tour in the region, burying of the coup "autonomy plan" Moroccan that Madrid will not cease to be a "basis for dialogue" in the context of a possible resumption of negotiations direct links between the Polisario Front and Morocco.
The English Government's position will be further hampered by the view expressed by U.S. President, Barack Obama, the former English colony. In his message last July, King Mohammed VI, Bush made no reference to "autonomy plan" of Morocco.
This message was seen by observers as a move away towards the Moroccan initiative, supported unconditionally previously by former President George Bush.
If the media and politicians believed so premature English talking about a substantial change in the position of the United States on the question of Western Sahara, some analysts were quick to conclude that a clear political will from Washington not to match the Moroccan position, focusing the UN framework for the settlement of the conflict of Western Sahara.
This vision was confirmed when the U.S. ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, has not, in turn, refers to the "autonomy plan" of Morocco to the United Nations, as was done systematically Bush administration.
"This is an important sign that allows us to think there is a change of position of the United States, "some observers have noted.
In an analysis entitled" Barack Obama and the Western Sahara, a English lawyer, Carlos Ruiz Miguel, tried to demonstrate on the basis of resolutions adopted by the Council UN Security on Western Sahara, which Morocco has paralyzed all efforts of the international community in seeking a solution to the problem of decolonization, and the position of support he has expressed Spain not recipe.
With the appointment of Mr. Christopher Ross and the new position of the White House, the latest resolution of the Fourth Committee on Decolonization Western Sahara in early October, has influenced the revival of the Western Sahara issue on the international stage.
Once again, the Commission reaffirmed the right of peoples to self-determination. It should be noted that many members of civil society, parliamentarians and lawyers in Spain have taken part in the Fourth Committee in New York where they pleaded for the application of a free self-determination referendum in the Sahara Occidental.
The English delegation also denounced the daily violations of human rights in the occupied Saharawi territories and invited the international community in general and Spain in particular, as the former colonial power in Western Sahara, in fulfilling their international obligations towards the territory and the Saharawi people under Moroccan military occupation.
The Socialist government of Zapatero that will withstand international pressure, accentuated by the calls of the 35th European conference of solidarity and support for the Saharawi people (EUCOCO) held recently in Barcelona strongly reaffirming the right to self-determination for the Saharawi people, until November, following the bursting of the case Haidar, the "Sahrawi Gandhi."
The last event which has thrown its weight on the awareness of the Saharawi cause in the world, was without question the hunger strike of 32 days of the Sahrawi activist, following his expulsion El Aaiun, occupied by Moroccan authorities for his refusal to "recognize as Moroccan.
This event had two impacts overall political and diplomatic significance: the virtually unanimous condemnation of Morocco at international level and the bankruptcy of the pro-Moroccan position of the English government for avoiding talking about the "autonomy plan" Moroccan while reaffirming however, more clearly its support for self-determination for the Saharawi people.
Finally, the refusal to allow Rabat Aminatou Haidar to return home to Western Sahara has resulted in "serious friction" between Spain and Morocco.
For many media commentators, it is clear that Aminatou Haidar managed to cause tension between Spain and its southern neighbor, even though the English government wanted to avoid at all costs that this tension will lead to a diplomatic crisis with Morocco.
The English Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE-in power) felt, however, caused a sharp bitterness by the Moroccan attitude notwithstanding, it was said, "everything we have done since 2004 for Morocco," as wished to emphasize, the head of the foreign policy of the Socialist Party, Elena Valenciano.
A bitterness that will reflect on Spain in its relations with its southern neighbor, note the analysts of the Maghreb. (SPS) 020/090/700 291400
December 9 SPS
