Sahara: Beyond the “Resolution”

With a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the Sahara conflict, the UNSC's Resolution 1754 calls upon the parties and States to enter into negotiations without preconditions and in good faith.  This is a resolution of substance that constitutes a crucial turning point in the search for realistic and workable solution of the issue.
Morocco should take credit for trying to find a solution to the conflict; for improving the human rights situation in the territories and elsewhere in the country; for spending billions of dollars to develop the region…the Sahara is among the most developed region in morocco.
After a year-long national discussion, after a worldwide touring of senior officials delegations to explain and muster up international support, morocco proposed to the United Nations, a plan to establish the Western Sahara as an autonomous region under Moroccan sovereignty that would provide effective self-determination for the Sahrawis, allowing for local decision-making and control over economic, social, linguistic and cultural issues. Algeria for political and strategic reasons helped create and lent armed support to a separatist movement the "polisario" pushing it to claim independence of the Western Sahara, but it is worth noting that Algeria would gain a great deal by dominating an area with phosphate reserves and an Atlantic coastline.

Without Algeria supporting the Polisario, the Sahara conflict would have long found a solution.  Algeria has been fueling the conflict since the very beginning.
The "Resolution" is a crucial turning point in the search for a realistic and workable solution of the issue.  The parties and states of the region have to cooperate fully with the United Nations and with each other to end the current impasse and to achieve progress towards a political solution.  The conflict prevents the economic integration of the Arab Maghreb Union.  The people of the region are facing stalemate due to the Sahara conflict.  The Moroccan initiative will create a new dynamics for building the "U.M.A", boosting economic and social development and promoting security and stability in the region.
Morocco is a strategic partner of Europe, and is called to play a major role in the region of the southern shore of the Mediterranean.  Settling the Sahara dispute would open the way for reinforced cooperation between the Europe Union and the Maghreb Union.  A reinforce cooperation with the five countries of the Union- Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia- is the aim of the European Union.  Solving the issue would also develop the human and economic ties between the countries of the region.
The French head of State, Mr. Sarkozy, voiced hope to build, along with the countries of the Mediterranean, a "union to succeed in taking up together the common challenges."
The aim of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership is to turn the region into an area of dialogue, exchange and cooperation guaranteeing peace, stability and prosperity; strengthen the political dialogue, development of economic and financial cooperation, social, cultural and human dimension, and by 2010, establish a free-trade area…The priorities are to be decided taking into account the stage of the development of Morocco and Algeria.  The blockage of the region is due to the Western Sahara conflict witch paralyses relations between the two countries.  We must overcome our differences and move toward regional integration… work must be done toward reconciliation.