Spain "did not recognize Moroccan sovereignty" over Western Sahara

MADRID, December 23, 2009 (SPS) - The Spanish Foreign Ministry affirmed that Spain "did not recognize any kind of sovereignty" of Morocco over Western Sahara, refuting statements by Moroccan authorities the day after the return of Sahrawi activist Aminatou Haidar.

In a statement by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs published Tuesday, affirmed that this later "did not recognize any kind of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, or any legal assessment on any exercise of any power by Morocco on this region."

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that the Spanish Government " merely called for negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations for a solution to the conflict still exists since decades in light of the suffering of the Saharawi people."

Secretary of Organization of the Socialist Party Leire Pajin affirmed in a press conference after the recent cabinet meeting that the position of this later on the question of Western Sahara "has been to search for a just and final solution to enable the Sahrawi people to exercise its right to self-determination in accordance with UN resolutions."

the House of Representatives (lower chamber of the Spanish Parliament) has recently approved a list proposed by the Socialist Party requesting the Spanish government to support resolution of Representatives confirming "the need to respect the final status of international legitimacy and free will of the Saharawi people to self-determination through a referendum According to the Charter of the United Nations and resolutions of the Security Council."(SPS)

062/090/000 241030 DEC 09 SPS