Ireland – Irish authorities have provide explanation following the controversial visit of Brahim Ghali, the leader of the separatist Polisario group, to Ireland.
Ghali’s visit was private rather than official, despite what separatist propaganda claimed. Ireland stressed that the tour was arranged by a pro-Polisario micro-association that is active in Ireland and that the Irish government was not involved in any way or accountable for this endeavor in an official statement issued by its embassy in Rabat.
The statement claims that during their visit to Ireland, no Irish government official interacted with Polisario representatives. In spite of their efforts and the assistance of certain middlemen, the separatists never held formal or informal meetings with individuals like Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Martin or Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
There are rumors that the Polisario delegates were turned down by the Irish legislative body. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and the leaders of the two houses declined to meet with them. A handful of accommodating MPs agreed to meet with them in private instead of on behalf of the Parliament.
Additionally, Ireland has reiterated its unchanged stance on the Moroccan Sahara. Ireland fully supports the UN-led attempt to find a politically acceptable resolution and is against the so-called “SADR”.
In order to dispel any confusion, Ireland reiterates its support to an international framework and a long-term peace process for the Moroccan-Saharan conflict in this statement.
Photo credit: middle-east-online.com
