Reactions of representative ambassadors of France and the United States to the United Nations were as follows.

 France's ambassador to the united Nations, Gérard Araud, reaffirmed, Friday before the Security Council, "the importance of Morocco's Sahara autonomy initiative, which allowed for the re-launch of credible, open, constructive negotiations that respect the principle of self-determination."
 

 "This proposal deserves the attentions of the different parties," Araud insisted following the unanimous adoption by the members of the Security Council of the resolution on the extension of the MINURSO mandate.

The French ambassador, who deemed the settlement of the Sahara conflict a necessity for the Sahrawi population  and for stability and security in the Maghreb region, said it was "unacceptable for the civil population to be under the mercy of political considerations."

The new Sahara resolution, he said, stresses the importance of the political process, calling "all the parties to show further political will to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution."

The UN Security Council adopted on Friday a resolution extending the MINURSO mandate, and reaffirming its call on the parties to "demonstrate further political will" and to  resume negotiations for a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara conflict. 

 The United States said Friday in New York that the Sahara conflict hinders cooperation on urgent and emergent issues facing North Africa.
 
"This conflict, which has languished for too long, has hindered regional cooperation on urgent and emergent issues facing North Africa," said U.S. ambassador the UN,  Brook D. Anderson, calling on the countries involved to "come to the table without pre-conditions."

 "We believe it is essential that the parties demonstrate the political will to identify a mutually acceptable solution, and we hope that neighbouring states will assist the parties in doing so," added the U.S. diplomat.

Anderson, who was speaking at the voting session of the SC's latest resolution to extend the MINURSO mandate in the Sahara, reaffirmed her country's full support for the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross in their efforts to find a peaceful, sustainable, mutually agreed  political solution to the Sahara conflict.

She said “we welcome the fact that during Ambassador Ross recent trip to the region, all of his interlocutors confirmed their commitment to cooperate with the UN to reach a solution to the conflict as soon as possible.”

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