Washington, DC — Assisting "negotiations between Morocco and Algeria on a way forward," is what the Bush administration is emphasizing as a way to end the 20-year conflict over the phosphate-rich Western Sahara, Secretary of State Colin Powell said Wednesday in Marrakesh, Morocco on the second leg of a whirlwind visit to those two nations and Tunisia.
The best way forward in those negotiations is the "Baker plan," Powell said. That plan, developed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan's personal envoy, former Secretary of State James Baker, proposes a transition period of four to five years, during which Morocco and the independence movement, the Polisario Front, would share governing responsibilities before holding a referendum for self-determination.
United Nations Polisario representative Ahmed Boukhari has said that, despite misgivings, the rebel group is willing to explore the plan "as a road map toward a just and lasting resolution of the conflict....But for any Tango we need two."
Morocco, so far, has resisted the plan. In an October press conference held in Rabat, leaders of 14 Moroccan political parties rejected the plan "as a dangerous escalation in an artificial conflict." Any plan that undermines "the reality" that the Western Sahara is Moroccan territory was unacceptable, the groups said. Morocco wants direct talks with Algeria. Algiers, which backs the Polisario, takes the position that Morocco needs to talk directly to Polisario under the auspices of the United Nations.
"We believe this is a time for Morocco and Algeria to enter into serious discussions as to how to move forward," Powell said Tuesday in Tunis at the start of his visit to North Africa. However, said Powell, balancing that statement with support for the Baker plan: "We stand solidly behind the proposals of former Secretary of State James Baker."
In Tunisia, Powell extended President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali an invitation to visit the United States February 17, and it was accepted. One stated aim of Powell's trip is to encourage democracy. With regard to that issue, said Powell, he and Ben Ali had "extended discussion" about the right to education, women's rights and the need for an open press. He called the discussion "candid." Powell characterized the Tunisian president as "committed" to those goals and said he wants to move "at a pace that he believed was consistent with the aspirations and desires and expectations of the Tunisian people."
A State Department "background note" on Tunisia criticizes the lack of full political freedom, restrictions of the press and limits on freedom of expression in the country. According to this briefing, there are "frequent reports of widespread torture and abuse of prisoners, especially political prisoners, by security officers."
Powell said there is "an excellent partnership" with Tunisia in the anti-terror fight.
In the Moroccan tourist center of Marrakesh, Powell met with King Mohammed Ben Al-Hassan for an hour and with Prime Minister Driss Jettou for half an hour Wednesday morning. Human rights groups have accused Moroccan authorities of abuses that include torture of prisoners and kangaroo courts. Government action followinbg terrorist bombings in Casablanca last May left 33 dead.
Powell, however, was careful not to directly crirticize reported human rights abuses by this close U.S. ally in North Africa, and gave thanks for Morocco's support in the anti-terror fight. "As one cracks down on terrorism, it has to be with full understanding of basic principles of human rights." Powell told reporters.
"We have strongly supported the steps Morocco has taken to move into the future: successful elections at the parliamentary level and at the regional level, elections of the first female mayor, and bold reforms proposed for the family code."
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The U.S. is negotiating a Free Trade agreement with Morocco and a delegation from the North African nation left for Washington Wednesday night, "to continue those discussions." Powell said there are hopes for an agreement by the end of the year. Economic aid to Morocco is likely to quadruple over the next several years, Powell predicted.
A few hours after arriving in Morocco, the Secretary left for Algeria where he met with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Here, too, he praised Algerian cooperation in the anti-terror fight and told reporters that he was satisfied with Bouteflika's assurances on free elections and the provision of media access to candidates. "The message I gave to President Bouteflika was that we encouraged full and open participation to all who wished to participate in the electoral process, and that had to include free, fair and full transparent election procedures," Powell said.
