Western Sahara:
EU must end Morocco fishing accord
By SLOBODAN LEKICAssociated Press 2010-12-02
Western Sahara's main autonomy movement urged the European Union on Wednesday not to extend a controversial agreement with Morocco which allows European fishing fleets to operate in the disputed territory's waters.
Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, foreign minister for the self-proclaimed Western Sahara government, called on lawmakers in the European Parliament not to ratify any extension of the fisheries agreement when it expires next year.
"The EU does not recognized Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara, and therefore should not conclude agreements that rob its people of their resources," he said.
A deal concluded in 2006 allows EU fleets to operate in the rich fishing grounds off the Moroccan-occupied territory. Critics say it is illegal because it was concluded without the approval of the territory's indigenous inhabitants.
Fighting between Morocco, which occupied Western Sahara in 1975, and the pro-independence Polisario Front ended in 1991. The Moroccan government has proposed wide-ranging autonomy for the territory. But Polisario insists on the "inalienable right" of the people of the former Spanish colony to self-determination through a referendum on Western Sahara's future, and neither side has shown any signs of budging.
Salek also urged lawmakers to dispatch a fact-finding mission to investigate a recent outbreak of violence between local inhabitants and the Moroccan security forces in the regional capital.
He said Moroccan authorities had banned access to Western Sahara to members of the media and non-governmental organizations in an effort to conceal the depth of anti-Moroccan feeling in the region.
Earlier this month, Moroccan security forces tore down a tent camp set up by some 20,000 native Saharawi people outside the main city of Laayoune to protest discrimination and deprivation at the hands of the Moroccan government.
Morocco has defended the police action to break up the camp, saying there were no deaths among the native Saharawi people but 10 police officers died in the operation and the ensuing violence. The Polisario Front has claimed that 36 people were killed and over 700 injured.
Speaking to reporters after his meetings at the European Parliament, Salek named four civilians who he said had perished.
Also on Wednesday, Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri told France 24 television that the camp's dismantlement was "extremely peaceful." He said police had to face off against protesters with Molotov cocktails and machetes.
But he said he felt the efforts led by some members of the European Parliament were unfair and "politically motivated."
"Morocco is not asking for silence nor complaisance. It wants the truth, and a calm, lucid analysis with pertinent conclusions. We are not asking either for unconditional support," he said.
Associated Press writer Angela Doland contributed to this report from Paris.
By SLOBODAN LEKICAssociated Press 2010-12-02
Western Sahara's main autonomy movement urged the European Union on Wednesday not to extend a controversial agreement with Morocco which allows European fishing fleets to operate in the disputed territory's waters.
Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, foreign minister for the self-proclaimed Western Sahara government, called on lawmakers in the European Parliament not to ratify any extension of the fisheries agreement when it expires next year.
"The EU does not recognized Morocco's occupation of Western Sahara, and therefore should not conclude agreements that rob its people of their resources," he said.
A deal concluded in 2006 allows EU fleets to operate in the rich fishing grounds off the Moroccan-occupied territory. Critics say it is illegal because it was concluded without the approval of the territory's indigenous inhabitants.
Fighting between Morocco, which occupied Western Sahara in 1975, and the pro-independence Polisario Front ended in 1991. The Moroccan government has proposed wide-ranging autonomy for the territory. But Polisario insists on the "inalienable right" of the people of the former Spanish colony to self-determination through a referendum on Western Sahara's future, and neither side has shown any signs of budging.
Salek also urged lawmakers to dispatch a fact-finding mission to investigate a recent outbreak of violence between local inhabitants and the Moroccan security forces in the regional capital.
He said Moroccan authorities had banned access to Western Sahara to members of the media and non-governmental organizations in an effort to conceal the depth of anti-Moroccan feeling in the region.
Earlier this month, Moroccan security forces tore down a tent camp set up by some 20,000 native Saharawi people outside the main city of Laayoune to protest discrimination and deprivation at the hands of the Moroccan government.
Morocco has defended the police action to break up the camp, saying there were no deaths among the native Saharawi people but 10 police officers died in the operation and the ensuing violence. The Polisario Front has claimed that 36 people were killed and over 700 injured.
Speaking to reporters after his meetings at the European Parliament, Salek named four civilians who he said had perished.
Also on Wednesday, Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri told France 24 television that the camp's dismantlement was "extremely peaceful." He said police had to face off against protesters with Molotov cocktails and machetes.
But he said he felt the efforts led by some members of the European Parliament were unfair and "politically motivated."
"Morocco is not asking for silence nor complaisance. It wants the truth, and a calm, lucid analysis with pertinent conclusions. We are not asking either for unconditional support," he said.
Associated Press writer Angela Doland contributed to this report from Paris.
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