The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Saad Dine El Othmani, who chairs the Moroccan delegation also comprised of Mr. Mohamed Yassine Mansouri, Director General of Studies and Documentation (DGED) and Dr.Maouelainin Benkhalihanna Maouelainin, Secretary General the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS), reiterated on Tuesday, "the strong will" of Morocco to contribute effectively to an innovative solution that goes beyond classical paths to find a way out to the Sahara issue, regretting that other parties "cling to their position, especially on the identification of populations" in Tindouf camps.
Mr. Ross Speaking at the end of talks
The next round of informal meetings will take place in Europe in June and in a place to be determined in July, according to a statement issued by Christopher Ross, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara.
The United Nations envoy for Western Sahara announced today following three days of informal talks with the parties that he will embark on a regional tour starting in mid-May, including an extensive visit to the disputed territory.
Discussions during the just-concluded talks, held outside New York City, took place in an atmosphere of "serious engagement, frankness and mutual respect," said Mr. Ross.
The parties continued to deepen the discussion on their respective proposals, he added, while noting that each party "continued to reject the proposal of the other as the sole basis for future negotiations, while reiterating their willingness to work together to reach a solution."
They also deepened their discussion on demining, natural resources and environment, without prejudice to the definitive status of the territory, and welcomed the progress accomplished on these topics.
Regarding trust measures, the personal envoy said the focus was placed on the results of the second evaluation meeting with the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva on January 24-25, 2012 and parties confirmed "their willingness to participate in two seminars organized by UNHCR, which may take place in June and October 2012."
Mr. Ross is expected in the region next May.
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas