Morocco hopes for Algeria parley

Press, 22 August 1979, Page 9

Morocco hopes for Algeria parley

NZPA-Reuter Fez (Morocco) Morocco hopes Algeria’s more moderate new leadership will agree to a negotiated settlement of their bitter Western Sahara dispute, but will hold on to the territory at all costs, senior Moroccan Government officials have said. The officials, close to King Hassan, were commenting on one of the King’s rare press conferences, at which he said the chances of a meeting between the two sides were better than in the past. They drew attention to the fact that during his 30-min-ute press conference, he did not attack the new Algerian leadership. Until now, the main thrust of Morocco’s verbal attacks over the Western Sahara i: -.U3 has been directed at Algeria, but at his press, conference King Hassan singled out Libya as the main culprit. Both Algeria and Libya back the Polisario Front guerrilla organisation which is fighting for independence for the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony that Mauritania and Morocco carved up between themselves after Spain pulled out five years ago. Despite his conciliatory tone, King Hassan made it clear that Morocco would go to the limit to keep the phosphate-rich area, including the southern portion, which it took over after Mauritania signed a treaty with the guerrillas and withdrew from the area. Asked whether war or negotiation with Algeria was more likely, the King said he would be able to answer the question in four to six weeks.

Apparently hinting at a possible meeting with the Algerian President (Mr Chadly Benjedid), who replaced the late Houari Boumedienne earlier this year, he said the new Algerian leader was still completing work on domestic affairs. But he said: “The chances of a meeting are not less. I would even say they are more favourable.”

King Hassan said the Libyan, would like nothing better than a war between Morocco and Algeria which would so enfeeble them that Libya would be able to take over the leadership of North Africa.