Autonomy Plan, basis for reaching compromise solution (Las Palmas Manifesto) – The North Africa Post

The 1st International conference for Peace & Security, held in Las Palmas (Canary Islands) Sept. 22-23, wrapped with a manifesto affirming that the Autonomy Plan offered by Morocco for a lasting resolution of the Sahara issue is the starting point for reaching a compromise solution ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity.

The conference was organized by Saharawi Movement for Peace. This movement was founded by opponents to the polisario separatist front. Supported by Saharawi tribal chiefs, as well as other international personalities and non-governmental organizations, it also included several international personalities. It provided a roadmap to peacefully resolve the Sahara region conflict.

Participants stressed in their manifesto the need to build trust in UN Sahara envoy Staffan De Mistura to help them reach a compromise, support him and expand the dialogue to include other leaders such as Sahrawi notables in the search for peace.

They hailed the supportive stand of the Spanish Government of the autonomy plan described as the “most serious, credible and feasible” solution and called for enhancing the role of Sahrawi notables.

Participants warned of the negative effects of the stalemate in the stability of the region and condemned the sufferings of families that have been separated for decades by the intransigence of a minority.

Las Palmas brought together former diplomats from Spain, Sheikhs from other countries, and prominent Sahrawi tribal leaders.

Among the attendees, former Prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, who hailed the “serious & credible” Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara, while former Spanish Defense minister & ex-chief of intelligence, José Bono told the Algeria-backed polisario separatist group to be realistic as the referendum option has been dropped definitively by the UN Security Council because it is not doable and is unworkable.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco, Edward Gabriel, called on the UN Security Council to move towards a lasting political solution to the Sahara issue based on the autonomy plan proposed by Rabat. Edward Gabriel, former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco called on UN Security Council to find a lasting political solution for the Sahara question based upon the autonomy plan proposed Rabat.

Many Sahrawi Cheikhs and other notables insisted autonomy was the only viable solution for the Sahara regional conflict. They also claimed that the polisario which still holds onto outdated positions does not represent the Sahrawi populace.