Senator Urges Algeria, Morocco To Resolve Western Sahara Dispute
19 August 2005
Richard Lugar urges parties to take advantage of good will from prisoner release
Senator Richard Lugar, who played a key role in securing the release of 404 Moroccan prisoners from the Algerian-backed Polisario insurgents, has urged Algeria and Morocco to take advantage of the goodwill from the prisoner release to try to resolve their dispute over the Western Sahara.
"The United States is not going to pressure Algeria or Morocco. But we are respectfully asking that they go back to the United Nations, that they take advantage of this new opportunity of goodwill and good faith," Lugar said in an interview with Abu Dhabi television in Rabat, Morocco August 19.
Lugar said the United States does not have a particular formula to resolve the dispute but would like to see a reopening of the Algerian-Moroccan border, an exchange of high-level governmental visits and trade between the North African neighbors.
Lugar said the United States considers both Algeria and Morocco friends and is willing to lend its support to help them resolve their dispute, which erupted in 1976, when Morocco annexed the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara after Spain's withdrawal. Western Sahara’s Polisario movement, which operates in exile in Algeria, has sought independence for the mineral-rich region.
A ceasefire 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.
Lugar said the United States has taken a keener interest in North Africa following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and views cooperation between Algeria and Morocco to be to the benefit of all three countries.
In addition to Algeria and Morocco, Lugar also is visiting Libya on his trip to North Africa to convey President Bush's wishes for better relations with Tripoli following Libya's renunciation of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.
Following are the transcripts of Lugar's interview with Abu Dhabi television, his comments to a reporter after meeting with the Moroccan prime minister, and his press conference in Agadir, Morocco, where he greeted the returning former prisoners:
(begin transcript)
SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR
Abu Dhabi TV Interview (w/Imane Aghoutane)
Rabat
August 19, 2005
Ms. Aghoutane: What was the role played by the United States in this prisoner release operation? What type of pressure have you asked to be exerted on those who detained those POWs?
Senator Lugar: The United States noted that Algeria and Morocco—I’ll begin my comment again—the United States saw an opportunity to work with our friends in Algeria and Morocco to effect a prisoner release that both felt was important. So as a result, I was asked by President Bush to come to the area and to work with both governments to witness the actual transfer from the Polisario. I would simply thank profusely all, in Algeria and the leadership there, and the leadership in Morocco, the Polisario, the International Red Cross that facilitated the humanitarian aspects and the United States armed forces that provided two large planes that carried 404 Moroccans to Agadir last evening where I greeted them along with the Ministers of this government.
Ms. Aghoutane: What pressure is being exerted on Algeria? Is it real pressure or simple mediation?
Senator Lugar: It was simply a conversation. The Algerians understood the possibilities for initiating a dialogue again. And they desire to do so. My hope and it is my impression that Morocco likewise would like to see a resolution of the Western Sahara difficulties. Now the hope of the United States is that our friends can come together and find a formula in which that type of conversation translates into action. We saw the release of the prisoners as being an extremely important spur to that activity. It has focused the eyes of the world on this area and on the importance of those negotiations.
Ms. Aghoutane: What has actually made this most recent approach to be very efficient, knowing that this matter was actually addressed for a long, long time?
Senator Lugar: Well for some time Algerians and Moroccans have, from different perspectives, been deeply concerned about the fate of the 404 prisoners. Therefore for some time the prisoners have been wanting the release. There have been editorials all over the world about this issue. Members of Congress who have visited have been concerned about it; but it was not until about a few weeks ago that this appeared to be possible. And that is why President Bush asked me to become involved and to bring at least some focus from the standpoint of the United States to show our interest. But ultimately it was the interest of (Algerian) President Bouteflika, likewise the Polisario people who are preparing for the release, and likewise the preparation by the Moroccan government to receive these prisoners and to warmly congratulate them upon their return. I am here today in Rabat to visit with the Prime Minister and ultimately with the King to try to think through “what now?” In other words, “what spur does this give us?”, because the United States would like to be helpful, but ultimately the two major parties, Algeria and Morocco, must be involved and we hope will carry this to the United Nations and the international community. I would just emphasize that we are not putting pressure upon the parties to come to a specific agreement; but we are asking them to move back into the international community and into the dialogue that the UN Security Council provides.
Ms. Aghoutane: And the impact of this prisoner release, will it actually have an effect on Moroccan-Algerian relations?
Senator Lugar: My hope is that it certainly will. I think it already has. But still this formula for agreement has been very elusive. The United Nations has been seized with this issue, as you know for sometime, and without success. A new United Nations envoy has been appointed to have specific focus. I understand that he will be visiting the area before long. The United States has additional objectives shared by Moroccans and Algerians. We are fighting against terrorists. And we believe that cooperation between the two friends that we have here is imperative for all of us. Likewise the United States has become a great deal more interested in the Maghreb area. Perhaps we should have been much more interested for a long time; but after 9/11 we’ve become intensely interested. So that has brought a confluence of attitudes, that somehow or another, now we are thinking along many of the same lines in ways that perhaps were not true before.
Ms. Aghoutane: This prisoners’ release is actually a triumph for human rights. What about the political aspect of the issue?
Senator Lugar: Well let’s celebrate first of all the humanitarian side. This was why I was appointed, to try to work to make sure that a humanitarian breakthrough occurred for 404 persons - many of whom who have been in prison for as long as 20 years. It was extremely moving to shake the hands of the prisoners as they came off the plane last evening and I was joined by the ministers of the Moroccan government who found it equally moving. However, as I have indicated, we hope that the emphasis, the drama of these events now will bring some momentum towards a solution in the Western Sahara. This is an outstanding issue which plagues relationships between our friends. We would like to see a reopening of the border between Algeria and Morocco, for example. We would like to see an exchange of the prime ministers, of the foreign ministers, or responsible people in government. We would like to see just regular people in Algeria and Morocco in a much more friendly status of trade. We believe that this smuggling going back and forth now does not benefit either country. As a matter of fact, law and order disintegrates, as opposed to people who really want to have the rule of law. So all of these things we are hopeful will be products of this dramatic humanitarian event.
Ms. Aghoutane: According to the United States, what would be the most efficient solution to the Sahara Issue?
Senator Lugar: Well, we do not have a proposed solution, and I emphasize that. We want the parties involved to go back to the international community, the United Nations being an example of the forum in which that dialogue could occur. But this is going to require perhaps some imagination, some new proposals, as opposed to perhaps going back over traces of things that have not been agreed to. But we think it is fully within the diplomatic capabilities of Morocco and Algeria to fashion a compromise.
And we think it is in their best interest. We also think it’s in the best interest of the United States, because when our friends are working together we have much greater possibilities to be helpful.
Ms. Aghoutane: You did intervene to resolve the humanitarian aspect of the issue. Does it mean that you will act as soon as possible so as to address the political aspect?
Senator Lugar: Well once again, the United States is not going to pressure Algeria or Morocco. But we are respectfully asking that they go back to the United Nations, that they take advantage of this new opportunity of goodwill and good faith. And likewise the friendship of the United States, because we are here physically working with them and we believe that may count for something. We think that the momentum coming from this is important.
Well, thank you very much.
(end transcript)
(begin transcript)
SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR
PRESS STATEMENT
August 19, 2005
Following a Meeting with the Prime Minister
Rabat
Reporter: What were the topics that you have addressed with the Prime Minister?
Senator Lugar: The Prime Minister responded to our questions about economic progress in Morocco. About how the Millennium Challenge Account is working. How the free trade agreements are working, likewise the microenterprise funds that make it possible for people with low incomes, 600,000, I’m advised, to take advantage of that. Of the agriculture changes, of the ability of the country to sustain itself. These are exciting developments. So we talked really about the economy, how the poor people of this country can advance, and become a part of the democracy-built institutions. We also talked about the fact that I came as an ambassador of goodwill from our president, George Bush, with the liberation of the Moroccan prisoners yesterday. We flew with them over to Agadir where they were released, on United States Government planes with Marines helping them and all. And this was an exciting opportunity for Algerians, Moroccans, the Polisario, the International Red Cross, the United States Government all to participate in a humanitarian gesture. My hope, as I expressed to the Prime Minister, is the impetus of this. The momentum of goodwill, may it lead back to the United Nations from Morocco and Algeria to solve the Western Sahara problem. We have no particular ideas as to how that is to be done. Those will have to come from Moroccans and from Algerians. But we hope that will be the case and I expressed that today.
Thank you so much. Thank you for coming out.
(end transcript)
(begin transcript)
SENATOR RICHARD LUGAR
PRESS CONFERENCE
August 18, 2005
Agadir, Morocco
Senator Lugar: US Ambassador to Morocco …[background noise] … I am honored to be asked by President Bush to come here … [background noise obliterates recording]
Reporter: How was the mediation; was it very difficult?
Senator Lugar: We had remarkable cooperation from the governments of Algeria, Morocco, the Polisario, International Red Cross, and the US military which furnished two planes at the right time. I am honored to have been asked by President Bush to come and to help with all of this. This is an emotional moment that we just had as the prisoners got off the plane here in Agadir. I saw them before they made the flight and had a chance to really cheer them on. Now we need to take the initiative that this gives us in a humanitarian way to move diplomatically, I hope, back to the United Nations. The international community would like for Algeria and Morocco and the Polisario and perhaps others to come together in some ways so we can bring about a good solution to the Western Sahara.
Reporter: Will the United States continue its mediation concerning the disappeared people and those sequestered in Tindouf?
Senator Lugar: Well my mission today is humanitarian. I have indicated to you that I am hopeful that this will initiate a process including the United States as we move toward more humanitarian missions and more diplomatic success in the political realm.
Reporter: Senator, how would you regard your mission to Algeria today?
Senator Lugar: It was a humanitarian mission in which I had an opportunity. President Bush asked me to work with the governments of Algeria, Morocco, Polisario, the International Red Cross, and the US military that provided these two planes and it all came together. And not by chance.
I would say we want to seize upon this moment of humanitarian triumph to say that politically there is work to be done. I hope that the parties will move back to the United Nations. They will begin to think again how to strengthen relations between Algeria and Morocco as well as the people of Western Sahara. That is not my mission today in negotiations, but I am grateful for the opportunity to see the eyes of the world on Algeria and Morocco and the success of these prisoners coming back to their families.
Reporter: Now that the Americans have successfully done this job today, can we expect the United States to put, say, more pressure on both sides to end this conflict which has been going on for nearly 30 years now?
Senator Lugar: Well, I will not describe our diplomacy in one way or another. I would hope that after our conversations with our able diplomats, our ambassadors, our so able Mr. Erdman and Mr. Riley, that we are going to make headway; but ultimately the parties themselves (tape unclear) that it’s an international community situation, not a United States pressure. I want to emphasize that we’re a part of the international community that is deeply interested in this situation.
Reporter: But this is a triumph for American diplomacy today, we can’t deny this.
Senator Lugar: Well I think it was a very good day for the United States but I would also say for Algeria and Morocco. And we are excited about the progress in both Algeria and Morocco. Likewise, the work that they are doing together, we would like to see more of it and really stronger ties.
Reporter: Thank you very much indeed for your time.
Senator Lugar: Ladies and gentlemen, I undertook this mission to the region on behalf of President George Bush in order to see if we could help in some way to bring about the release of Moroccan prisoners of war. Some of these prisoners have been held as you know for more than 20 years. I am honored to have had an opportunity to oversee their release. The United States has consistently called for the unconditional release of prisoners of war on humanitarian grounds. Their detention benefited no one. It is in everyone’s interest to put this humanitarian problem behind us. I am pleased to announce that the Polisario leadership, responding to humanitarian concerns that have been expressed, agreed to release all remaining 404 Moroccan prisoners. I am pleased that the long imprisonment of these men has come to an end and they will be able to rejoin their families and their loved ones back home in Morocco. While this is indeed a purely humanitarian mission, I would urge that Morocco and Algeria seize the opportunity presented by the release of all the remaining prisoners to create a regional climate conducive to a settlement of the Western Sahara issue. I would also hope that the successful resolution of this humanitarian issue would inspire renewed efforts by the parties to work for a political solution within the framework of the United Nations. I want to thank our host today and all others involved including the international commission of the Red Cross who made this mission possible. I want to take this occasion to express our appreciation for the wise decision of the Polisario leadership to resolve this longstanding issue. I want to express my appreciation to President Bouteflika for his strong leadership and help in facilitating the successful outcome of our humanitarian mission. I want also to express my admiration for Moroccan dedication in bringing this humanitarian situation to my attention and to that of my colleagues in the Senate. I am pleased to be a part of this program to bring humanitarian relief to hundreds of men. Today, in a world where there is all too much suffering and violence, the values of humanity, compassion, and mercy have scored a victory, and all those who have played a role in this have reason to be proud. I thank all of you.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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