"Over the past three years, he has worked with the parties, neighboring countries and other stakeholders to convene four rounds of negotiations," spokeswoman, Marie Okabe, said in a press release.

   The appointment of a new envoy "will be made soon," Okabe added.

   The UNSG "remains committed to offering the parties in the region his good offices as they prepare for the fifth round of negotiations this fall," she affirmed.

   Ban Ki-moon "firmly believes that there is a need to revitalise the negotiation process in order to attain a peaceful solution" to the Sahara issue, the official said.

   In its latest resolution on the Sahara issue, the Security Council of the UN has stressed the need for the parties to show realism and a spirit of compromise to maintain the momentum triggered by the talk process.

   The council had called upon the parties to "continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to engage in substantive negotiations.”

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