Fez - Morocco rejected on Tuesday the decision of the Swiss government to accept the accession of the Polisario Front, the separatist movement that calls for the independence of the Western Sahara, to the Geneva Convention.
In a letter sent to the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Salaheddine Mezouar, Moroccan Foreign Minister, stressed that “Polisario” is a “secessionist movement established by Algeria to hit the stability of Morocco and its territorial integrity” and should, therefore, not be included as a member of the Geneva Convention 1949.
The letter considers the decision of Switzerland “null and void, and unacceptable”. It also criticizes the Swiss government for failing to announce the consideration of its membership to the other members, and for failing to objectively study the legitimacy of any party wishing to join the convention. The letter also described the procedure as “not based on legal grounds and politically dangerous."
Morocco defends its disapproval of the decision by highlighting that the war between the Kingdom on one side, and the Polisario with Algeria on the other side, ended more than twenty five years ago.
“The absence of an armed conflict should be sufficient for sponsors to refuse the Polisario Front’s request”.
The letter also condemns Switzerland’s portrayal of Sahraoui citizens as being in armed conflict against Morocco and specified that the only legitimate representative of Sahraoui citizens is Morocco. The Polisario, the letter reminded, is not recognized by the United Nations.
The Geneva Convention was established after the Second World War to guarantee the humanitarian treatment of war prisoners.
Edited by Miriam El Ofir
© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed without permission
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy
The post Morocco Slams Switzerland for allowing Polisario to Join the Geneva Convention appeared first on Morocco World News.