Morocco and the Polisario Front in Malta on Monday resumed informal talks sponsored by the United Nations to find a negotiated solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, the world body reported today. The UN spokesman, Martin Nesirky said that the delegations of both sides will meet for three days on the Mediterranean island next to the UN special envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross.
The talks also attended by representatives of Algeria and Mauritania, as neighboring countries, he added Nesirky. The meeting from 7 to 9 March in Malta was agreed by both parties after the informal meeting held with Ross last January in the town of Manhasset (Long Island), just outside New York, which once again failed to bring positions closer.
Nevertheless, both sides agreed last month in Geneva new confidence-building measures such as travel by land, which will increase the number of visits between Saharawi families living apart for 35 years between the area administered by Morocco and the camps Algeria. Between 2007 and 2008, Morocco and the Polisario held four meetings in Manhasset sponsored direct United Nations, without any of them achieve the minimum progress on substantive issues.
Given this deadlock, then resorted to the current formula for informal talks to try to rescue the process, something that has not been achieved so far. However, tensions between the two sides have been increasing, particularly since the violent dismantling the protest camp Gdaim Saharawi Izik last November, which led to serious riots and condemnations from organizations and governments.
Morocco says its autonomy plan is the only realistic way to conflict, while the Polisario supports the holding of a referendum in which independence is an option. 
The talks also attended by representatives of Algeria and Mauritania, as neighboring countries, he added Nesirky. The meeting from 7 to 9 March in Malta was agreed by both parties after the informal meeting held with Ross last January in the town of Manhasset (Long Island), just outside New York, which once again failed to bring positions closer.
Nevertheless, both sides agreed last month in Geneva new confidence-building measures such as travel by land, which will increase the number of visits between Saharawi families living apart for 35 years between the area administered by Morocco and the camps Algeria. Between 2007 and 2008, Morocco and the Polisario held four meetings in Manhasset sponsored direct United Nations, without any of them achieve the minimum progress on substantive issues.
Given this deadlock, then resorted to the current formula for informal talks to try to rescue the process, something that has not been achieved so far. However, tensions between the two sides have been increasing, particularly since the violent dismantling the protest camp Gdaim Saharawi Izik last November, which led to serious riots and condemnations from organizations and governments.
Morocco says its autonomy plan is the only realistic way to conflict, while the Polisario supports the holding of a referendum in which independence is an option.
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