"In the end, Belkheir claimed, Hassan (with whom he met many times as a secret emissary) understood what had to be done to protect Moroccan interests vis-a-vis the Western Sahara. Accordingly, he had accepted a referendum and, subsequently, the autonomy approach Baker developed. Mohammed VI, by contrast, did not have his father's experience, was timid, and was surrounded by unhelpful advisers. As a result, Morocco has rejected previously accepted positions and lost an opportunity—via referendum voting procedures that would have allowed all Moroccan residents to participate—to assure the outcome it needed."