Morocco eyes W. Sahara development
The Moroccan government said it has set aside $912 million for development in Western Sahara and southern parts of the North African kingdom.
Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said the funding would support several projects designed to reduce poverty in the region and point out the country's sovereignty over Western Sahara, the Med Basin Newsline reported Tuesday. Benmoussa said Moroccan officials also would propose granting autonomy to the southern provinces.
"We are ready to continue negotiations in order to reach a final solution to this artificial conflict," Benmoussa said. "The kingdom of Morocco is prepared to pursue in-depth negotiations and is open to all
constructive proposals."
Spain ceded Western Sahara to Morocco in 1975, but since then the Algerian-backed Polisario, a Sahrawi rebel movement, has been fighting for independence of Western Sahara from Morocco.
Benmoussa said the economic and human development projects are in partnership with the private sector and are in accordance with the principles of the National Initiative for Human Development. // Copyright 2007 by United Press International
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