King informs Government, Parliament of autonomy proposal for Sahara
King Mohammed VI of Morocco, through his adviser Mohamed Moatassim, has informed the government and the Parliament about the progress made in preparing the autonomy project for the Sahara, during meetings held January 29,30, a communiqué from the Private office of the King said Tuesday evening.
"In keeping with His Majesty's democratic, participatory and inclusive approach regarding the autonomy project for the Moroccan Sahara," the monarch, according to the communiqué, "gave his instructions for meetings" with Prime Minister Driss Jettou, House of Representatives Speaker Abdelouahed Radi, House of Councillors Speaker Mustapha Oukacha, and the President of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS), Khali Hanna Quld Rechid. These meetings, aimed at informing these senior officials of "the progress made in preparing the autonomy project, and to seek their opinion in this regard."
They came, "as part of the ongoing intensive, broad-based consultations undertaken at national and local levels, involving political parties, the CORCAS, as well as the Shioukhs and dignitaries of the various tribes in the region, as a prelude to the forthcoming finalization of the Moroccan autonomy proposal", read the document.
The meetings took place after political parties and the CORCAS had submitted to the King their memoranda and views on the subject, the communiqué noted adding that participants hailed the king's "approach, and reiterated their full support for the Monarch's bold initiative concerning the Southern Provinces."
Morocco will soon make public the autonomy project for the Sahara as part of its efforts to put an end to the three-decade long dispute with the Algerian-backed separatist movement “Polisario” that claims independence of the Sahara. The former Spanish colony was retrieved by the North African country in 1975 under the Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania
