"The EU commends the adoption by consensus of a resolution on the issue of the Western Sahara, and salutes the parties for their efforts," said ambassador of France to the UN, Jean-Maurice Ripert, whose country holds the EU presidency, following the adoption of this resolution.
Ripert said “the European Union expresses its full support for the Manhasset negotiations which were launched in 2007 with the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1754. It also gives its full support to the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1813 adopted on 30 April 2008, which inter alia calls on the parties to show realism and a spirit of compromise and to engage in substantive negotiations."
The declaration, backed by Turkey, Macedonia, Albania, and Ukraine, welcomes "the commitment of the parties to continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue, in order to enter into a more intensive phase of negotiations, in good faith and without preconditions, taking note of efforts and developments since 2006, thus ensuring implementation of Security Council resolutions 1754, 1783 and 1813 and the success of negotiations."
"The European Union believes that a return to the situation prior to the adoption of Resolution 1754 of 30 April 2007 would be a major setback for hopes of resolving this conflict and would prolong an unacceptable situation for the population, especially in refugee camps," ambassador of France added, noting that that the construction of a united, stable and integrated Maghreb is largely dependent on finding a solution to the Sahara conflict.
When Morocco and the EU signed, on October 13, the Advanced Status, the latter "hailed the serious and credible efforts made by Morocco to move ahead toward a political negotiated among the parties under the auspices of the United Nations."
In a statement issued in Luxembourg, the EU countries deemed it important that the negotiations, led by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General, could achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.
Source: MAP
News and events on Western Sahara issue/ Corcas