In its new resolution, adopted unanimously, the Council makes, once again, a note of "the Moroccan proposal presented on April 11, 2007 to the Secretary General of the United Nations" and welcomes "the serious and credible efforts made by Morocco to move forward towards a solution."

   It urges "parties to continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere favourable for dialogue in order to engage more firmly in substantive negotiations and guarantee the implementation of its resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007 ), 1813 (2008) and 1871 (2009) as well as the success of negotiations."

       In this sense, the Council reaffirmed its “full support for the commitment made by the Secretary General and his Personal Envoy to work towards a solution to the Sahara issue, calling once again on “parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General, while taking into account the efforts made since 2006 and developments occurred since then, in order to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.”

       “Recognizing that the consolidation of the status quo is not acceptable in the long term,” the Council urges anew “the parties and regional states to cooperate more closely and fully with the United Nations and with each other to end the current impasse and move forward towards a political solution.”

       The Council also welcomes “the parties’ commitment to continue the process of holding informal and restricted talks in preparation for a fifth round of negotiations, and stresses that it is essential that the parties show realism and a spirit of compromise to achieve progress in the negotiations.”

   In this regard, the Council’s members reiterated their “support for the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Ambassador Christopher Ross and his action to facilitate negotiations between the parties.”

       In his report to the Security Council, the Secretary-General had recommended that the Security Council reiterates its call upon the parties to negotiate under the auspices of his Personal Envoy, and to show the political will required to enter into substantial” talks and ensure the success of negotiations. 

Morocco's reaction

Morocco welcomes with "satisfaction" resolution 1920 adopted recently by the United Nations Security Council on Friday to renew the MINURSO Mandate.
 
   This resolution, adopted unanimously, reaffirms, once more, the preeminence of the Moroccan autonomy initiative, which constitute the appropriate framework to settle the artificial conflict over the Moroccan Sahara, said Morocco’s ambassador to the UN, Mohamed  Loulichki at a press briefing in New York following the adoption of the resolution.

Morocco's efforts considered as "credible and serious"

   Loulichki  said  the text "reaffirms a lot of conclusions, calls and provides answers."

   The first conclusion is the consideration as "credible and serious" of Morocco's efforts to elaborate this initiative. This is due partly to its participative approach which evolves the political players and representatives of the southern countries in the making of this initiative, and also the consultation with the Kingdom’s partners.

   The second conclusion is the interest by the SC and the international community in the autonomy initiative as an appropriate framework for a final settlement of this conflict.

   This resolution reiterates the need to pursue more intense and substantive negotiations, said the diplomat, deeming such conflict settlement mechanism as the best means to peacefully end conflicts around the world.

   It also reaffirms call for the polisario and Algeria to show political will without which the negotiation process is doomed to failure.

   The resolution also highlights the human dimension of the conflict and Algeria’s implication in the issue at the national and international levels, he said, adding that its responsibility involves mainly its refusal allow the UN bodies to  conduct a census of the people sequestered in the camps of Tindouf, he noted.

   The SC resolution is a clear message to Algeria and to adhere to the negotiation process and cease the obstruction policy it has always adopted, the diplomat went on to say.

Census of populations sequestered

At the national level, by ensuring "the exclusive application of its own laws on its entire territory," and at the international level, by filling "fully its obligations under the UN convention on refugees, whose main issue is to conduct by Algeria the population census and granting facilities "to the High Commissioner for Refugees for this purpose.

Besides, says Mr. Loulichki, references to pertinent paragraphs of the Secretary General report over the Sahara in the resolution refers mainly to the call of Mr. Ban Ki-moon "who demands that we should seriously think about the idea of conducting a census of refugees and implementing a program of personal interviews.

In addition, he said, the Security Council, by extending "as is", the MINURSO mandate has made an " eloquent denial to attempts  by Algeria and the Polisario to expand this mandate to issue of human rights ". In so doing, the Council has left no room for abuse " neither by Algeria, nor by Polisario, or by those who set themselves up to give lessons, while their record in violation of these rights is evidenced by international NGOs of observation and supervision of human rights," said the diplomat.

For Mr. Loulichki, «this Resolution is a strong message to Algeria and Polisario to abandon their practice of deviation and obstruction and integrate a firm and irreversible negotiations process with realism and political will to contribute positively to their solution. "   

This renewed call " by Security Council is relevant and timely for the Maghreb region as it is facing real threats of terrorism and trafficking of all kinds synonymous with insecurity and instability for all peoples of the Maghreb, "he said.

The Kingdom hopes, Loulichki said, that such appeal "will not remain a dead letter" and that "the negotiating process in motion for the autonomy initiative can find a decisive impulse that can bring us closer to a realistic political solution to the dispute that continues to frustrate the aspirations of the peoples of the Maghreb, their unity, integration and common future ".

Source: MAP
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas