Mhamed Khadad: We’re making our way towards a slow death of autonomy
15/01/2008

Mr. Mhamed Khadad, member of POLISARIO Front’s National Secretariat spokesperson of the Saharawi negotiating team in Manhasset III (7 to 9 January) estimated that things are progressing towards "the slow death of autonomy", in an interview published on Monday by the Algerian newspaper, El Watan.

"I think that the third round of negotiations had opened the possibility to have a visit by the Secretary General’s Personal Envoy to the region", he affirmed, underlining that "the most important in all this is that Morocco’s plan is buried despite everything".

As long as the Personal Envoy continues to think that there is a possibility to push things to progress through a visit to the region. These elements push us to say that it is necessary to give more chance to the negotiation. Anyway, "we are witnessing a slow death of the autonomy project proposed by Morocco, since the latter is illegal and does not answer the spirit of the Security Council’s resolutions", he added.

"The only solution that comes within the perspective fixed by the UN Security Council is POLISARIO Front’s proposition, he added, stressing that "self-determination means to offer many options to the Saharawi people".

The Saharawi party does not ask for the impossible, it demands that the Saharawi people be democratically consulted over its future.

"We do not accept a solution that does not pass through the popular vote, the democratic vote by the people of Western Sahara. But if the Saharawis vote tomorrow for the integration or autonomy, we will respect the free will expressed by them. Nevertheless we are convinced that they will vote for independence".

With regard to the possible abandon by POLISARIO Front of the negotiations, the Saharawi diplomat said that, "when we ill find out that the mediator, the UN, is trying to deviate the implementation of the resolutions 1754 and 1783, which aim is the self-determination for the people of Western Sahara", it will "be in that moment, a recalling point for us to assume our responsibilities", Khaddad asserted.

"We have the duty now to present the results of Manhasset III to POLISARIO Front leadership, which will decide the way forward", he indicated.