Brussels, December 11, 2014 (SPS) – Mr. Mohamed Sidati, Minister and Representative of the Frente Polisario to Europe, welcomed Thursday the Conference of Presidents decision to ratify the creation of a formal intergroup on Western Sahara.
Mr Sidati said, “members of the largest Parliament in the world once again showed their commitment to championing the principles the European Union professes to hold - those of democracy, freedom and respect of human rights”.
The fact Western Sahara is the only intergroup to deal with a single territory, “is testament to the importance Europe places to finding a solution to the conflict”, Sidati continued.
An intergroup on Western Sahara has existed in the European Parliament since 1986. Mr. Sidati said “this shows Europe’s, for European Parliamentarians are representatives of the whole European population, support the legitimate rights of the Sahrawi people and the desire for a just and lasting solution to the Western Sahara conflict”.
The 112 members come from across the political spectrum highlighting, Sidati remarked, “the broad political support the Sahrawi people have. And not only political support, but geographical support with half of the member states represented in the intergroup”.
Mohamed Sidati took the opportunity to thank the MEPs saying,“those that have signed, and have worked so hard to once more make the intergroup a reality, receive the Sahrawi peoples upmost thanks and recognition for their efforts.”
“The hard works starts now, however” Mr Sidati added. The intergroup has four broad tasks. The first is bring the question of Western Sahara more prominently onto the agenda of the European Parliament. The second is to raise awareness of the problem facing Africa’s last colony. The third is to search for a solution to the conflict, via the resolutions. Finally, it must ensure Morocco respects fundamental human rights in occupied Western Sahara.
“For the next five years, the European Parliament can play a key role in motivating the European Union’s institutions and the international community in contributing effectively and positively towards finding a peaceful, democratic, fair and lasting solution to the Western Sahara conflict”, Mr Sidati ended with. (SPS)
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