Bir-Lehlou (Liberated Zones), June 25, 2016 (SPS) - President of Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Jatri Adduh, has expressed the concern of the Polisario Front over the lack of progress after two months of the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2285(2016) on Western Sahara.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon, President of Republic said “I am writing to express our concern related to the fact that nearly two months after the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2285(2016) on Western Sahara, there is no progress on the UN political process to find a just, fair and peaceful solution that will ensure the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 1514(XIX) and the UN settlement Plan that was endorsed by the Security Council resolutions 658(1990) and 690(1991).”
“By adopting resolution 2285(2016), the Security Council has underlined the urgent need for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to return to ‘full functionality’, and has recognized that Morocco’s expulsion of the MINURSO civilian personnel constitutes a direct threat to peace and security in Western Sahara and the region. Morocco’s actions are a brazen attempt to shut down the UN’s role in Western Sahara, despite the legal obligations it had agreed to in accepting MINURSO’s presence in Western Sahara.”
“So far, not a single staff member has been returned nor has tangible progress been made to restore the full-functionality of MINURSO. Instead of holding Morocco accountable to implementing resolution 2285(2016) in good faith, it seems to us that the UN continues to allow Morocco to persist in its attempts to intimidate and undermine the independence and credibility of MINURSO, which was mandated to organize a self-determination referendum for the people of Western Sahara,” added the President of the Republic.
The President of the Republic called for return to full functionality of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and outlining a process for “direct, intensive, time-bound and high-level talks” between the Frente POLISARIO and Morocco.
Below is the full text of the letter:
“ 25 June 2016
To His Excellency, Mr. Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General
United Nations, New York
Your Excellency,
On behalf of the Frente POLISARIO, the legitimate representative of the Saharawi people, I am writing to express our concern related to the fact that nearly two months after the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2285(2016) on Western Sahara, there is no progress on the UN political process to find a just, fair and peaceful solution that will ensure the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 1514(XIX) and the UN settlement Plan that was endorsed by the Security Council resolutions 658(1990) and 690(1991).
By adopting resolution 2285(2016), the Security Council has underlined the urgent need for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to return to ‘full functionality’, and has recognized that Morocco’s expulsion of the MINURSO civilian personnel constitutes a direct threat to peace and security in Western Sahara and the region. Morocco’s actions are a brazen attempt to shut down the UN’s role in Western Sahara, despite the legal obligations it had agreed to in accepting MINURSO’s presence in Western Sahara.
Excellency,
So far, not a single staff member has been returned nor has tangible progress been made to restore the full-functionality of MINURSO. Instead of holding Morocco accountable to implementing resolution 2285(2016) in good faith, it seems to us that the UN continues to allow Morocco to persist in its attempts to intimidate and undermine the independence and credibility of MINURSO, which was mandated to organize a self-determination referendum for the people of Western Sahara.
In this regard, we take exception to the fact that a ‘technical meeting’ held between the UN and Morocco officials on 10 June 2016 was firstly held in El-Aaiun. There is no precedent of such meetings taking place in Western Sahara occupied territory over which Morocco has no sovereignty under international law. Secondly, Moroccan media have deliberately echoed that the UN technical delegation included an official of Moroccan origin who has no direct link to the Western Sahara dossier, thereby provoking in our public opinion legitimate interrogations about this fact and its implications on what should be a credible and objective process aimed at achieving the full return of MINURSO personnel as requested by the UN Security Council resolution. It is difficult to understand that this process has already taken two months while the expulsion by Morocco of MINURSO personnel has been carried out in 48 hours.
While we welcome all the efforts You have undertaken to make sure that MINURSO will get back its full capacity to enable it to implement its mandate as set forth by the UN Security Council resolutions 658 and 690, the information we have indicates that there is no formal acceptance by Morocco to the full return of MINURSO personnel expelled, despite the attempt made by the ‘technical mission’, and there is no convincing reason or facts which would lead Morocco to change its current position that can be summarized in two words: deception and procrastination.
Excellency,
We, the Saharawi people, the region, as well as the international community have received with great hope your historic visit of last march. We share with You your assessment and conclusions, mainly your repeated call to the two Parties to enter into serious negotiations that must take into account the ‘unshakable truth’ that the negotiations that started in 2007 on the basis of the two Parties proposals did not lead to the results You and the Security Council have been waiting for.
The UN Security Council resolution 2285(2016) refers to this sensitive and crucial element. You and your Personal envoy have received the mandate to call for a fifth round of formal negotiations between the Frente Polisario and Morocco. We cannot understand the reasons by which this essential element of the resolution has not yet been implemented. The entire process is once again a prisoner of delaying tactics since there is neither the full return of MINURSO personnel nor the resumption of negotiations. It is time to confront the reality. There is not much time left.
Excellency,
We have been drawing your attention, and that of your Personal Envoy, as well as the Council’s, on the need to protect the independence and credibility of your Mission in Western Sahara. The full return of MINURSO personnel should be taken as a new golden opportunity to fix what has been undermining both its independence and its credibility. It is well known that Morocco operates as if Western Sahara is a de facto part of its territory, rather than reaffirming its rightful status of a Non-Self-Governing Territory (NSGT) awaiting a process of decolonization. Beyond the fact that MINURSO has been unable to report on human right abuses that have been fully documented by independent international organizations, on a number of occasions the Frente POLISARIO has brought to your attention the many instances where Morocco’s treatment of MINURSO is unacceptable. Specifically, this includes stamping the passports of MINURSO personnel with Moroccan stamps, requiring UN vehicles to operate with Moroccan license plates (as opposed to UN license plates in accordance with standard practice for a UN peacekeeping mission), addressing UN correspondence for destinations within the territory with labels of ‘Morocco’ as place of destination rather than ‘Western Sahara’, and preferential treatment when it comes to arranging visits of UN personnel to the region, telephone calls with UN officials, and advance opportunity to edit reports written by the UN Secretariat.
The failure of the UN to properly address these breaches by Morocco and to ensure respect for its Mission and its mandates in Western Sahara has been a significant contributor to the current impasse in the political process to find a just and fair solution based on the right of the Sahrawi people to the self-determination.
Excellency,
By adopting resolution 2285(2016), the Security Council, in placing emphasis on the importance of the parties’ commitment to continue the process of preparation for a fifth round of negotiations, has recognized that the ceasefire will not hold in the absence of a substantive political process, and has recognized that Morocco’s ongoing circumventing, blocking and delaying tactics to prevent substantive progress in the UN political process must come to an end.
The Frente POLISARIO wishes to reassure your Excellency of its support for your Personal Envoy Christopher Ross in his work to facilitate the entry of the parties into formal negotiations that will ensure the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Nevertheless, we must say that in the face of Morocco's repeated and persistent demonstrations of bad faith in the many rounds of negotiations, the UN political process has reached a crisis point.
Accordingly, it is incumbent upon your Excellency, and the UN Secretariat, particularly your Personal Envoy, Ambassador Christopher Ross, and your Special Representative on MINURSO, Kim Bolduc, to adopt a more urgent and proactive approach in pursuit of the self-determination for the Saharawi people, including by taking steps to:
• Ensure that MINURSO returns to full functionality. This includes obtaining a commitment from the two parties to respect MINURSO’s original and ongoing role in Western Sahara, and that MINURSO must be allowed to continue to do its work free of interference or restriction of movement by upholding long-established principles and practices of UN peacekeeping.
• Outline a process for direct, intensive, time-bound and high-level talks between the Frente POLISARIO and Morocco, with the necessary decision-makers from both sides at the table, to be conducted within the framework of UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, in order to resolve the conflict by the end of 2016.
Excellency,
The UN’s full implementation of resolution 2285(2016) must occur on an equal and evenhanded basis, or it will only serve to reinforce the pattern of unequal treatment by the UN towards the two Parties to the conflict.
By failing to confront Morocco’s intransigence, including on its forced obstacles to the UN political process and the most basic principles for maintaining the independence and impartiality of a UN peacekeeping operation, the UN has lost it way on Western Sahara. This does not bode well for the people of Western Sahara and for the prospects for peace and security in the Maghreb region already shaken by instability and increasing threats posed by extremist, terrorist, and criminal elements.
I would be most grateful if you would transmit a copy of this letter to the members of the Security Council.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
JatriAdduh
Secretary-General of the Frente POLISARIO
BirLahlou, Western Sahara” (SPS)
062/090