Obama supports the UN- led negotiations to WS issue

BY Terry Batcher

Polisario has launched a new meaningless and badly calculated Propaganda, interpreting the letter sent by the newly elected American president Barack Obama to King Mohamed VI as a shift in the American foreign policy towards the Western Sahara issue by backing a Polisario State. This desperate media propaganda was published in an American newspaper ‘World Tribune .com’. An article without any mention of the name of the author, nor his sources. The unknown author based his unconvincing analysis on “diplomatic sources” without naming his diplomatic sources, to make his article genuine and objective.

In fact there is no mention whatsoever in Obama’s letter about a shift of the American administration towards the Sahara issue, nor the creation of an independent state in the area, contrary to what the Polisario and its supporters propaganda machine are trying hard to prove through the electronic media .

In his letter Obama gave priority to the Middle east crisis , and the role that King of Morocco can play being the chairman of “Jerusalem committee”, but as far as WS is concerned the American president said the following : “ I realize the importance of the Western Sahara issue for you , your kingdom and all the populations who have suffered because of the conflict, I share your commitment to the UN-led negotiations as the appropriate framework leading to a mutually accepted solution, and I hope that Christopher Ross an experienced Diplomat, with a substantial experience in the area, will promote a constructive dialogue between parties concerned” he added : “ My government will work with yours and other parties in the Region , in order to achieve an outcome that meets the people’s need for transparent governance , confidence in the rule of law, and equal administration of justice”.

As to the US interests in the area, contrary to the Propagandist article which appeared on the pages of “world Tribune .com” last week, the US interests are ranging from the region strategic geographic position on the Mediterranean, to the economic opportunities and resources it offers to the US, in addition to the treaths posed by the increase of terrorism in the area of North Africa.

The new American administration is in the process of elaborating a policy by taking the lead in promoting a resolution to the WS conflict, based on the proposal of a large autonomy within Moroccan sovereignty now on the table at the UN, and supported by a bipartisan consensus in the US congress. This is the conclusion reached by " Potomac institute for policy studies" and " the Johns Hopkins University "in a 15 page report handed over to the White house and state department on the 31st march 2009 , titled : “ Why the Maghreb matters“.
As the Obama administration considers its priority in the Middle East and North Africa, President Obama× and his administration know that regional integration in North Africa will support the US interests, which are vital to the strategic pursuit of the region’s stability, security and economic aims, but regional integration can not be realized without resolving the WS conflict. Given the current position of The US administration, that substantial autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only realistic solution to encourage regional economy, and to increase counter- terrorism cooperation that will bring prosperity and opportunity to the peoples of the Maghreb, and security for US interests.

The article did not take into consideration the chronology of events concerning WS conflict, as the UN has come to the conclusion that a creation of state, or even a referendum is out of question, Kofi Anan made it clear and his special envoys agree with him. The international community including the most influential UNSC permanent members sees the Moroccan proposal as a very advanced form of self –determination , the United kingdom’s experience for instance is the most striking example as both wells and Scotland are enjoying a large autonomy which includes local parliaments and governments and even local currencies under the sovereignty of the United kingdom. As to the recent events in the region The UN secretary General’s personnel envoy Christopher Ross, expressed his optimism to the outcome of his latest visit to the area, especially that both Morocco and Polisario front supported by Algeria agreed in principle to held unofficial talks in Vienna during the coming days.

To conclude, although the Polisario will not stop its propaganda attempts to mislead the international opinion public, the fact of the matter is that The Moroccan proposal is in line with the international standards, and respects the regional specifities and the expectations of local populations; it is an open and constructive response to the expectations of the UN Security Council. Most of the world countries welcomed with interest the autonomy proposal, as to the United Nations the message was crystal clear, through its resolutions 1754,1783, and 1813 “welcoming serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward towards resolution”. The international community would like to see “entente” takes shape between all the parties; it does advocate political dialogue because it is the shortest path so that peace and harmony prevail in the North African country, and definitely the new American administration will follow suit , and will not advocate an independent state in the Maghreb region.