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| Zapatero calls for ’decisive’ UN role in WSahara |
| 2004-07-15 |
| The UN has to take on a decisive role in resolving a dispute between Algiers and Rabat over the Moroccan territory of Western Sahara, Spanish Prime Minister Jose-Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said here Wednesday. "It is up to the United Nations to run the process... with the agreement of all parties" involved, Zapatero told a news conference in the Algerian capital at the end of a brief visit to the north African country. Algeria supports the Polisario Front independence movement in the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara located on its western border, and is home to thousands of Sahrawi refugees. Morocco - which annexed the region in 1975 after Spanish settlers left - has disagreed with the movement over plans to hold a United Nations-sponsored independence referendum following a five-year period of autonomy. As a result UN special envoy James Baker resigned last month after years of fruitless talks. "After several years of failure... all the parties have to negotiate, the United Nations must explore all options," Zapatero said following talks with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, adding that to be legitimate a "road map" had to involve the UN and the international community. Zapatero received backing from Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem, who said both sides wanted a "just and definitive solution within the framework of international law" for Western Sahara. "We want the process to remain with the United Nations and that it does not become" anyone else’s responsibility, neither other Mediterranean, north African or Arab countries, Belkhadem stressed. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
#7 Zapatero calls for ’decisive’ UN role in WSaharaSo the western Sahara can go even further down the tubes? What did they do to make Zappy hate them so much? |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-07-15 11:43:42 PM |
| #6 Zapatero hasn't asked for US help on the matter... He reminds me of Boy Dictator Assad. Both have that glazed "thrust unprepared into power" look about them. |
| Posted by: Classical_Liberal 2004-07-15 10:45:11 PM |
| #5 Shipman, that song will be at the top of the charts! :) If Rowen Atkinson ever needs a double for Mr. Bean ...Zap is it! |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-07-15 10:41:58 PM |
| #4 We're kinda busy. Handle it. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2004-07-15 10:28:38 PM |
| #3 Zapatero can bite the big one. Your on your own. You stabbed us in the back don't expect our help. You must be new here the UN has been trying to solve this for years with no luck. You and you asshat friends the French what to play like you are big kids who can "counterweight the US" send you troops into Sudan and stop the genocide. Either wise STFU you littel cockroach. |
| Posted by: FlameBait93268 2004-07-15 10:15:43 PM |
| #2 Don't hold your breath for US support, Z-Man. We're busy picking up the slack from your last bug-out. Besides, right about now, Morocco looks like a more reliable ally than you. FOAD. |
| Posted by: RWV 2004-07-15 9:46:47 PM |
| #1 This sand is your sand! this sand it my sand! From the Atlas Mountains to the Berber border! This sand was made for you and me! |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-07-15 8:23:30 PM |