This Caribbean Seminar took place from 16 to 18 May 2017 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Moroccan Sahara issue was at the heart of the debate. The organization of a visit to the region, referred to by the very controversial Venezuelan President of the Committee, was considered by the majority of countries to be contrary to Article 12.1 of the Charter of the United Nations.
Indeed, it prohibits the General Assembly from deciding on any dispute as long as the Security Council fulfills its functions. The GA of the UN can intervene in the disputes only if the Security Council explicitly asks it.
The failure of this attempt has disappointed opponents of the territorial integrity of Morocco. This resulted in an incident that was a first in the history of diplomacy and the UN: the physical aggression of a Moroccan diplomat by the third personality in the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
An assault which necessitated the hospitalization of the victim and provoked protest of the number of participants in the meeting. A complaint has also been filed with the competent authorities.
Apart from this incident, the Committee recalled the UN process since 2007 for a mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara conflict.
-News on Western Sahara / Corcas-