afrol News, 3 November - Western Sahara has appealled to European Union not to grant Advanced Status to Morocco unless occupied part of Western Sahara is excluded from cooperation agreement.

Morocco which has annexed Western Sahara territory since 1976, is currently in discussion with EU on deepening their ties through cooperation, though its not clear whether cooperation would include Western Sahara.

According to a petition letter to be presented to EU on Tuesday, if EU would grant Advanced Status to Morocco and its occupation in Western Sahara, it would be a clear indication of its support to Morocco annexation of the territory.

"It could also lead to EU damaging United Nations's efforts to decolonise the territory," said petition letter.

Letter said Morocco continues to occupy power Western Sahara, which is in violation of over 100 UN Resolutions which call for the Western Sahara's people's right to self-determination.

"A number of Resolutions point to the fact that Western Sahara is an occupied and annexed territory," it said.

It further indicated that International Court of Justice has rejected Morocco's claims over Western Sahara, adding that UN considers Western Sahara case as a decolonisation issue.

Petition appealed to EU to ensure that Western Sahara is unambiguously excluded from the territorial applicability of the Advanced Status cooperation.

"If the EU was to make such a precision, it would follow for instance the United States of Amrica, who in their free trade agreement with Morocco have specifically excluded Western Sahara," read a letter.

The letter further demands that an agreement coming out of the Advanced Status talks should clearly specify that its applicability shall not extend further south than to Morocco's internationally recognised southern border.

Morocco's annexation of Western Sahara has been a cause for concern and a feud on its neighbours and the country's main militant group, Polissario which claims to be fighting for its independence from Morocco.

Polisario waged a low-level guerrilla war in Western Sahara from 1975 until 1991, when United Nations brokered a ceasefire. The territory remains divided and many Sahara refugees live in camps in Algeria.

Both Morocco and Polisario are increasingly frustrated about the status quo. Polisario has been promised a referendum over independence since 1991, but Moroccan regime had squashed all hopes of such a solution.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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