U.S. Senator in Algeria Secures Release of Moroccan Prisoners
18 August 2005
Committee Chair Richard Lugar's mission also includes visits to Morocco, Libya
Senator Richard Lugar, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has traveled to Algeria at the request of President Bush and facilitated the release of 404 Moroccan prisoners held by the Algerian-backed Polisario movement, according to a statement from the White House August 18.
"Their release is the product of quiet and intense diplomatic efforts among the United States, Morocco, and Algeria," the White House said.
A statement from State Department spokesman Sean McCormack urged the parties “to seize this positive development as an occasion for Morocco and Algeria to re-engage with each other in order to improve their bilateral relations and create a regional climate conducive to resolving the dispute over the Western Sahara.”
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan also welcomed the release of the prisoners and expressed his hope that it would lead to better relations between the parties.
After meeting Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in Algiers, Lugar issued a statement in which he "reaffirmed the growing importance of our relationship of Algeria and the United States." Lugar said his talks with Bouteflika covered a wide range of issues, such as Algeria's accession to the World Trade Organization and cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
After leaving Algeria, Lugar traveled to Morocco to ensure the safe homecoming of the former Moroccan prisoners, the White House statement said.
From Morocco, Lugar will travel to Libya as part of President Bush's initiative to improve relations with Tripoli following Libya's renunciation of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, the White House statement said.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton issued a statement expressing his gratitude to Lugar for his work in securing the release of the former Moroccan prisoners and his appreciation for the cooperation of the Algerian and Moroccan governments in "this important humanitarian effort."
The Polisario insurgency has been seeking independence for the Western Sahara, an area rich in mineral resources, since Morocco annexed the area in 1976 following Spain's withdrawal from its former colony. The Polisario leader, Mohamed Abdelaziz, operates in exile in Algeria.
Algeria's backing for the insurgency has been a cause for poor relations between Morocco and Algiers for decades. Some of the prisoners released August 18 are reported to have been held for nearly 20 years.
A cease-fire was agreed upon in 1991, and in 2001 former Secretary of State James Baker brokered a U.N. plan to resolve the dispute through a referendum. The plan was accepted by the Polisario and approved by the U.N. Security Council in 2003, but was rejected by Morocco. In 2004, the Security Council reaffirmed its support for the plan, but it remains unclear how and when a referendum could be held.
Following are the texts of the statements of the White House, Senator Lugar, the State Department, Ambassador Bolton and the U.N. secretary-general’s spokesman:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Crawford, Texas)
August 18, 2005
STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY
At the request of the President, Senator Richard Lugar traveled to Algeria today to facilitate the release of all remaining 404 Moroccan prisoners of war held by the Polisario. Their release is the product of quiet and intense diplomatic efforts among the United States, Morocco, and Algeria. This humanitarian success was achieved in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United States Department of Defense, which procured the aircraft that are returning the prisoners to Moroccan soil.
Senator Lugar met this morning with President Bouteflika for a wide-ranging discussion on bilateral relations, the global war on terror, and other regional issues. Senator Lugar is now en route to Morocco to ensure the safe homecoming of the former prisoners. There he will meet with Moroccan officials to reaffirm strong U.S.-Moroccan ties, discuss continued U.S.-Moroccan cooperation on counterterrorism and promoting democracy in the region, and congratulate Morocco on the success of its diplomatic efforts to win the release of the prisoners.
Senator Lugar will also travel to Libya for official meetings as a part of the President's initiative to move toward more normal relations reflecting that country's renunciation of terrorism and abandonment of its weapons of mass destruction and longer range missiles.
The President is grateful to Senator Lugar and his staff for undertaking this mission and for delivering important messages to our friends in the region.
(end text)
(begin transcript)
Remarks by Senator Richard Lugar
Algerian Presidency, Algiers, Algeria – August 18, 2005 – 1200 Local Time
Lugar: Well let me say that I am delighted to be in Algeria and very honored to have this opportunity to visit with His Excellency President Bouteflika. I am extremely pleased to carry the high regards of President Bush, from whose instruction I visit the region in humanitarian efforts.
We had an excellent discussion today of bilateral, regional, and multi-lateral issues and we reaffirmed the growing importance of our relationship of Algeria and the United States. The desire to expand our cooperation is based on mutual benefit and respect and our shared beliefs in reform of democracy and open markets. The United States strongly supports Algerian accession to the World Trade Organization as well as our continued readiness to help in that accession. We believe that accepting international trade norms and joining the WTO is one of the keys to economic modernization -- to increase investment and a greater prosperity for the Algerian people.
We discussed the challenges posed by international terrorism and the need for strengthened regional and international cooperation to combat these threats. I reaffirm the prestige of the United States for Algeria’s outstanding cooperation in the war against terrorism and express our deep condolences for the tragic deaths of the two diplomats in Iraq.
On the Western Sahara and Algerian-Moroccan relations I reaffirm United States support for a political solution within the framework of the United Nations. I express the importance that we attach to improved relations between Morocco and Algeria with a view to creating a regional climate conducive to a settlement of these issues.
We also shared views on a number of international issues. On Iraq we agreed on the importance to Iraq and the region of supporting Iraqi efforts to advance democratic process. We also discussed Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, a number of countries whose relationships are important to Algeria and the United States.
I mentioned to the President in the beginning of our conversation that I have come to learn and I deeply appreciate his thoughtful consideration on so many issues and his good counsel. Thank you very much.
(end transcript)
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
August 18, 2005
Statement by Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Presidential Mission of Senator Lugar to Algeria and Morocco
On August 17-18, Senator Richard Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, undertook on behalf of President Bush, a Presidential Mission to Algeria and Morocco for the humanitarian purpose of overseeing the release of the remaining 404 Moroccan prisoners held by the Polisario Front in the Tindouf camps in Algeria. The United States welcomes the success of Senator Lugar's mission and the release by the Polisario Front of these prisoners, as called for in numerous UN Security Council resolutions. We extend our deep appreciation to Senator Lugar, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Governments of Algeria and Morocco for facilitating this important humanitarian effort.
The success of this mission offers an opportunity to advance the cause of Maghreb unity and stability. We call on all parties to seize this positive development as an occasion for Morocco and Algeria to re-engage with each other in order to improve their bilateral relations and create a regional climate conducive to resolving the dispute over the Western Sahara. We strongly urge the parties to continue to work together in the context of the UN and with the UN Secretary General's Personal Envoy, Peter van Walsum.
(end text)
(begin text)
RELEASE # 151 (05) August 18, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement by Ambassador John R. Bolton, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Release of the Moroccan Prisoners by the POLISARIO Front in Algeria, August 18, 2005
We are pleased to learn of the release of 404 Moroccan prisoners of war held by the POLISARIO Front in Algeria.
We are deeply grateful to Chairman Lugar for his work in securing the release of these POW's and his tireless effort to bring the Algerian and Moroccan Governments to an agreement. Chairman Lugar's Presidential Mission is of the highest importance and interest to the U.S. Government. His personal efforts on the prisoners' behalf and his willingness to undertake this travel was of enormous value.
I am personally grateful in the progress made this week because I worked with former Secretary James Baker on this issue many years ago. Today's announcement is a culmination of Secretary Baker's invaluable efforts over the years. Some of the prisoners have been held for twenty years, and their continued imprisonment has been a long-standing obstacle to improving the bilateral relationship between Algeria and Morocco and resolving the dispute over Western Sahara. We extend our appreciation to the Governments of Algeria and Morocco for facilitating this important humanitarian effort.
(end text)
(begin text)
The United Nations
New York, August 18, 2005
Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
Western Sahara
The Secretary-General welcomes the decision by the Frente POLISARIO to release all remaining 404 Moroccan prisoners of war, who are being repatriated today to the Kingdom of Morocco by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). He expresses his appreciation to all parties involved, in particular the ICRC and United States Senator Richard Lugar.
The Secretary-General considers the release a positive step, and expresses his hope that it will serve to foster better relations between the parties and contribute to overcoming the present political impasse.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call on the Kingdom of Morocco, and on the Frente POLISARIO to continue cooperating with the ICRC to account for those who are still missing.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
