SA, Algeria call for Sahara referendum
6 October 2004
President Thabo Mbeki and his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika wrapped up their two-day binational commission talks in Pretoria on Wednesday and called for a "free and fair referendum" in Western Sahara.
The two presidents said the matter was a "decolonisation issue" that could only be resolved if the Saharawi gained independence.
The former Spanish colony is under Morocco's control that has occupied it in defiance of the United Nations since 1975.
This has led to the North African country's suspension from the African Union, with its status reduced to that of observers.
However, South Africa has established diplomatic links with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which has an ambassador in Pretoria.
Foreign Affairs officials said the two leaders, whose countries are two of the five major financial contributors to AU coffers and institutions, reaffirmed their full support to the United Nations peace
plan adopted by the Security Council Resolution 1495.
The UN has been seeking a settlement in Western Sahara since the withdrawal of Spain in 1976.
The resolution calls for lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which the global body said must provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara consistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
Foreign affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said Mbeki and Bouteflika have emphasised the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination through a transparent, free and fair referendum, as the only way to a lasting and peaceful resolution of the conflict.
The two leaders also hailed the first sitting of the Pan African Parliament at its permanent home in Midrand as a major achievement in contributing to political unity and cohesion on the continent.
They also discussed, among others, post-conflict reconstruction and development in the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Burundi and peace processes in other areas.
At the same time, the two presidents urged business in their countries to find ways to work together in overcoming barriers to trade through the SA-Algeria Business Forum.
Mbeki said barriers such as language and divergent cultures should not stop business people from exploring trade opportunities in their respective countries.
"In many respects both our countries face similar challenges such as poverty and underdevelopment. It is important for both governments that both our business people address these challenges by conducting business among themselves," said Mbeki.
Bouteflika said there were many business opportunities in Algeria as his administration was undertaking economic reforms to remove blockages hindering economic development.
He decried the mention of language as a barrier saying: "If you do business in Japan, you are there to do business not to look at their language."
"There is
a political will to develop the Algerian economy and build partnerships between SA and Algeria. It's for this forum to produce practical solutions on how the two countries should do business," said Bouteflika.
The Business Forum will sign a memorandum of understanding between the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Business Unity South Africa, which will facilitate trade opportunities between the two countries.
Source: BuaNews
| 
