” The polisario, security and terrorist threats: from international law to geopolitical challenges “is the subject of the fourth direct broadcast organized by the CCME web TV Awacer as part of its programming on the occasion of International Migrants Day.
Mr José Maria Gil, expert in terrorism issues, international security and director of the International Observatory of Security in Spain, Mr Lorenzo Penas Roldan, international terrorism and security lawyer, were the hosts of this meeting that was moderated by Mr. Hatim Bouazza, research professor at the King Juan Carlos University in Madrid (Spain).
The contributions of the panelists identified the historical dimensions of the sahara “issue” since 1976. They especially highlighted the contribution of Morocco in the region’s development, its capacity to defend its national sovereignty in peace and the respect of international law. The focus was on the latest developments of the United States recognizing the Moroccan Sahara.
Lorenzo Penas Roldan, who is the only Spanish lawyer to have been involved in the legal defense of the families of the 11 victims of Gdeim Izik, asserts that his country has never recognized the “polisario state”. “There is a fundamental problem, and it is reflected in the sahrawi population’ s confusion with the polisario. This is the main problem that we are facing in Spain. Adding, there is no proper media and propaganda that would enable our citizens to understand that a terrorist armed group like the polisario front has no connection with the sahrawis,” he explained.
“The exploitation of events by the polisario is a historical fact. It happened this year, for example, in Guerguerat, coinciding with the date of the Green March, and I also remember the incident that occurred during the visit of the United Nations Committee, these are actions that have been repeated every year for decades”.
For Lorenzo Penas Roldan, recognizing the Morocco’s Sovereignty today is the realization of justice and truth and the crowning achievement of a historical process that attests that the polisario has only fomented unrest and hatred for decades while Morocco has acted in accordance with the provisions of international law as a sovereign and respectable state.
Regarding the U.S. recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces, he commented: “Everyone recognizes the weight of a country like the United States on the international political scene. Their recognition of the Moroccan sahara is a support for the position of King Mohammed VI, a historic and legitimate position. More than that, it is a decision that implies that the international community will take a step forward to finally reach the one and only possible solution from a legal point of view, that of the autonomy plan”.
For Lorenzo Penas Roldan, recognizing the Moroccanness of the Sahara today is the realization of justice and truth and the crowning achievement of a historical process that attests that the Polisario has only fomented unrest and hatred for decades while Morocco has acted in accordance with the provisions of international law as a sovereign and respectable state.
Regarding the US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces, he commented: “Everyone recognises the weight of a country like the United States in the international political arena. Their recognition of the Moroccanness of the sahara is a support for the position of King Mohammed VI, a historical and legitimate position. More than that, it is a decision that implies that the international community will take a step forward to finally reach the one and only possible solution from a legal point of view, that of the autonomy plan”.
Mr José Maria Gil, as an expert on terrorism issues, explained that “the Polisario is acting to maintain a violent situation that will eventually erupt throughout the region. If the situation worsens from this point of view, we have to ask ourselves the following question: what experience have we gained today in this region? The answer is that jihadist terrorism has been able to interfere in the conflicts in the region”.
In this context, “Morocco is the only actor in the region capable of ensuring stability and security”. According to the Spanish expert, “this explains the decision of the United States of America which has formally recognised that the Moroccan position is the most reasonable and concrete”.
For him, “the recognition of the Moroccan nature of the Saraha by the American Administration is strong, but in order to explain it we must remember the context of the historical relationship between Morocco and the USA”: “this is the oldest relationship that America has had. Morocco was also the first country to recognise the independence of the United States, hence this extremely important relationship”.
CCME
