New York, March20, 2013(SPS) - Several permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (USA, France, UK and Russia) in addition to Spain, hailed Tuesday the visit of UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Christopher Ross to the region which will be held from March 20 to April 3, while expressing their hope to put “an end to the current impasse.”
Representation of the United States to the United Nations, led by Susan Rice, issued a joint statement by 5 countries, called'' Group of Friends of Western Sahara'', in which they expressed their satisfaction to this new tour of Mr. Ross.
'' The Group of Friends of Western Sahara has welcomed the announcement of the forthcoming visit of the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, to the region, including Western Sahara,'' said the statement.
In this regard, members of the Group of Friends of Western Sahara'' expressed their support for the mediation efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for the next step in their engagement with the parties (of the conflict) and neighboring states,'' the statement said.
In addition, the five countries of the Group stressed that'' encourage the parties to be flexible in their dealings with the Personal Envoy and between them, in the hope of ending the current impasse and progress towards a political solution,''
The spokesman of the UN, Eduardo del Buey, had said last Friday that the next visit,'' comes within the mandate of Mr. Ross and resolutions of the Security Council, aims to prepare the next step in the process of negotiations and a possible resumption of direct talks to reach a mutually acceptable political solution, which will ensure the exercise of the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.''(SPS)
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