The Spanish diplomat deemed that "the most important is to know how to give new impetus to the (ongoing) negotiations," in an allusion to the UN-led talks on the Sahara. So far, four rounds were held in Manhasset (New York) in a bid to settle the 32-year Sahara dispute between Morocco and the Algerian-backed separatist movement of Polisario.

    "The process is primarily in the hands of the parties, but we should be able to help them, the Security Council, the Secretary-General and of course his Personal Envoy, to forge ahead on this path," he said.

    As to the ongoing discussions within the Group of Sahara Friends (USA, France, Russia, UK and Spain) to elaborate a draft resolution that will be submitted to the Security Council next Monday for vote, the Spanish ambassador voiced hope to elaborate a substantial text to advance the negotiations process.

    In the same vein, the Spanish Popular Party (PP) -opposition- considers that there is no contradiction between the reports of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and his Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Mr. Peter Van Walsum.

    “I do not really believe that there are contradictions. On the contrary, the Personal Envoy has been chosen and appointed by the Secretary-General himself. He represents the official and general view and position of the United Nations,” PP spokesman for Foreign Affairs, Gustavo De Aristegui, told MAP on Thursday.

    “The position of Spain and of course of the Popular Party has always been clear” about the Sahara issue, said Mr. De Aristegui. “We have always wanted a solution to the Sahara conflict based on international law and under the UN sponsorship, which is acceptable to both parties,” he explained.

    For him, van Walsum’s statements “clearly and obviously fall within this scope.” “If the United Nations adopts an approach and an analysis in this sense, it is clear that Member States, Spain among others, should clearly respect the decisions made by the United Nations,” said De Aristegui, noting that the position of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy is part of this.

    The United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, called, in his latest report to the Security Council, on the negotiating parties to the Sahara dispute to show realism and compromise.

    For his part, his Personal Envoy called on the Security Council to recommend the continuation of the negotiations taking into account the political reality and international legality, asserting that the option of the independence of the Sahara is neither “realistic” nor “attainable”.

    Mr. van Walsum’s report was deemed “worthy of consideration” by the United States, while Great Britain described Morocco’s autonomy proposal as deserving “serious consideration.”

   The north African country proposes substantial autonomy to its Southern provinces, The Sahara, in a bid to settle the dispute over the former Spanish colony. Morocco retrieved the territory in 1975 under the Madrid Accords, but the Polisario, backed by Morocco’s eastern neighbor, continues to claim its independence.