Brussels, Feb 10, 2013 (SPS) - European Parliament voiced, in a motion submitted Saturday to the 22nd session of the Human Rights Council, concern over the continued violatins of human rights in Western Sahara.
“Given the continued violations of human rights in Western Sahara, the European Parliament expresses concern and calls for protection of the basic rights of the Saharawi population, including the freedoms of association and expression as well as the right to demonstrate,” stated the motion.
The EU Parliament demanded the release of all the Saharawi political prisoners, welcoming the appointment of a special envoy for the Sahel region and stressing the need for an international follow-up to the situation of human rights in Western Sahara.
It, therefore, reiterated support for “a just and durable settlement to the Western Sahara conflict, on the basis of the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination in accordance with the pertinent UN resolutions.”
The Saharawi Minister Delegate for Europe Mr. Mohamed Sidati, in the same regard, said that this motion “reaffirms the previous resolutions taken by the European Parliament, especially its report of 13th Dec 2012. It also reflects the position of the highest European body on the Saharawi cause and its commitment to the respect and implementation of international law in Western Sahara, by opposing the Moroccan policy of occupation and repression.”
“European Parliament’s motion should be read as a message of condemnation and denouncement to the repressive policy pursued by Morocco government in Western Sahara,” he underlined. (SPS)
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