The Algerians say the Spanish government, in talking about a change in position regarding Western Sahara (a change, by the way, which pales to what Gonzalez did back in the 1980s with NATO), told them Spain, that is the Zapatero administration, could never accept the right of self-determination. The Polisario Front won’t have its support to establish, once and for all, a United Saharawi Republic. 

 

It goes without saying that the Moncloa’s pro-Moroccan turn, due to the Prime Minister idiotic foreign policy and his Foreign Minister’s personal obsession, has left Algerian leaders feeling betrayed, or worse. But this isn’t the problem now. The problem is the right to self-determination our socialist government is denying the Saharawis, is the same one it is ready to concede to Montenegrins and Kosovars. Why? Because it doesn’t bother the King of Morocco. 

 

Even worse, the Algerians could have asked the Spanish government why it is denying something to Sahara that it is willing to negotiate with the Basques and Catalans. Now that ETA is publishing the minutes from its meetings with representatives from the Aznar administration, some light could shine on its version of the conversations held concerning a possible truce, even though it is ridiculous we have to turn to a terrorist group to find the truth.

 

The concession Moratinos is making over Western Sahara could have served to demand compensation from Morocco. And if he doesn’t want to defend Spain’s direct interests, he could have at least pushed for Morocco to respect human rights. But Moratinos embrace of the Arab and Muslim world is so strong, he couldn’t even allow himself to consider that possibility. So, to the shameful actions Spain carried out on behalf of Cuba in the EU we can now add its veto of EU member states desire to censure Morocco’s lack of a free press. But there are only a few Spaniards who might benefit from the right to self-determination. And they don’t live in Western Sahara or Morocco.