W Sahara talks 'cordial'

2004-11-26 22:42

Madrid - Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Friday held "constructive and cordial" talks with Polisario Front leader Mohamed Abdelaziz about the future of Western Sahara.

Abdelaziz said both men had agreed to keep in "permanent contact" on the issue, with Madrid agreeing to "facilitate" contacts between Polisario and Rabat as the United Nations strove to reach a deal on Western Sahara.

Abdelaziz, whose movement is seeking independence for the desert territory which was annexed by Morocco in 1975 when it gained independence from Spain, accused Madrid of having an "ambiguous" position.

He said Zapatero's administration had "fluctuated" in its diplomacy.

Rabat rejects the UN's Baker Plan

On Friday, Abdelaziz said he had made his position clear in his first meeting with the Spanish leader, who took office in April.

"I insisted to Zapatero that the Spanish governement engage itself effectively in efforts to reach a durable peace deal for Western Sahara based on the right to self-determination."

Traditionally, Madrid has backed Polisario, but recent pronouncements appeared to suggest a rapprochement with Morocco on what should happen to the territory.

By contrast, Morocco's neighbour Algeria has backed Polisario's independence claim.

Rabat rejects the UN's Baker Plan for the territory.

- AFP