Paris,December 10, 2015 (SPS) - Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ramtane Lamamra said Wednesday in Paris that Algeria and the United States are "determined" to help (UN Envoy) Christopher Ross in his mission on Western Sahara, last colony of Africa.
"I believe that the American party and us share the impressions that were expressed by Christopher Ross to the UN Security Council and we are determined to help him to accomplish his mission," Lamamra told APS, after his meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, during which the issue was discussed.
The United States, which chairs the UN Security Council in December, and Algeria will "ensure, for the purpose of the UN Secretary General report to the Security Council next April, where the question of the renewal of the MINURSO mandate will be discussed, that significant progress be made on the ground with regard to the holding of a self-determination referendum for Western Sahara people."
The minister said that the Security Council, under the US chairmanship, held Tuesday a session of consultation during which Special Envoy of UN, Ambassador Christopher Ross presented a report about his activities and his latest tour in the region.
During this consultation meeting, Ross reiterated the position of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for a "political solution guaranteeing the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination."
He has stressed that "during my many exchanges, different interpretations about the purpose of my mission and the scope of my mandate were expressed. To restore clarity, the UN Secretary-General reiterated his understanding to the process in his declaration of November 4th.”
"He (Ban Ki-moon) stressed that the aim of the process is reaching an agreement on the final status of Western Sahara and he instructed me to intensify my efforts to facilitate entry of both parties (Morocco and the Polisario Front) in negotiations without preconditions and in good faith to reach a mutually acceptable political solution guaranteeing the right to self-determination for the Sahrawi people, " said Ross.
He announced that the UN Secretary General will visit the region next January. (SPS)
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