All

Algiers, Oct 29, 2011 (SPS) - The 2nd international conference on the peoples’ right to resistance: cases of the Sahrawi people opened its works Saturday with the participation of 1200 delegates from 35 nationalities and distinct media presence.

In his inaugurating speech, the President of the Algerian National Committee of Solidarity with Sahrawi People (CNASPS), Mr. Mahrez Lamari, considered the conference as an opportunity for the Algerian civil society to shed light on the peoples’ right to freedom and independence.

Abuja, Oct 29, 2011 (SPS) - The President of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Mr. Dauda Mohammed, renewed “unwavering solidarity of NANS with the struggle of the Saharawi people for freedom and independence, from its historic commitment in supporting the causes of the African peoples.”

During a meeting held last week with the Saharawi ambassador in Abuja, the Saharawi official expressed “determination of the Association to support cause of the Saharawi people, according to a statement of the SADR Embassy in Nigeria.

Bogotá (Colombia), Oct 29, 2011 (SPS) - The Latin American Parliament (Andino) has decided to grant an observer membership to the Saharawi National Council, dispatched Thursday the Department of State in the Saharawi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The membership decision has reached during the 34th ordinary session of the Andino Parliament held on Wednesday Oct 26, 2011 in the Colombian capital, Bogotá, in order to “strengthen ties of friendship and cooperation between the two institutions.”

Madrid, Oct 29, 2011 (SPS) - Spanish government sources has indicated that there is no solid evidence about the involvement of Saharawi elements on the kidnapping of members of European humanitarian organization on Oct 22, 2011 in the Saharawi refugee camps, reported the Spanish radio “Cadena Ser”.

The same source noted that Spanish government sources confirmed “there is no solid evidence until now that indicates the involvement of Saharawi elements in the kidnapping incident.”

Banjul (Gambia), Oct 29, 2011 (SPS) - The Saharawi Republic (SADR) is taking part in the works of the 50th ordinary session of the African Union Commission on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR) held in the Gambian capital, Banjul, from Oct 25 to Nov 4.

Speaking during the opening session, Mr. Abba Haisan, secretary general of the Saharawi Jurists Union, informed the AU Commission about the criminal act on three foreign cooperators working in the humanitarian field in the Saharawi refugee camps, who kidnapped by an armed terrorists on Oct 22, 2011.

Lisbon (Portugal), Oct 29, 2011 (SPS) - The fifth international conference on trade union solidarity with the Saharawi workers wrap out Friday, by voicing support to the Saharawi cause.

During their interventions in the closing ceremony, Member organizations from Portugal, Spain, Italy and France in the preparatory committee stressed on the need to put the decisions and terms taken by the Conference into action.

Addis Ababa, Oct 29, 2011 (SPS) - The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AU), Dr. Jean Ping, has strongly conmdemned the kidnapping of three humanitarian aid workers in the Saharawi refugee camps by terrorist group.

“The AU continues to follow developments relating to the kidnapping, on 23 October 2011, by militants of Al‐Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), of three European aidworkers (two Spanish and one Italian) in Rabouni in the Sahrawi Refugee camps in Tindouf,” said Firday Dr. Ping in a press release.

London, October 28, 2011 (SPS) - The annual meeting between the SADR and the oil and gas companies which have signed agreements with the Saharawi government took place this year in London on 28 October 2011.

The meeting was an occasion to review the relationship between the Saharawi Republic and the companies as well as to assess the latest developments of the issue of Western Sahara.

The Saharawi delegation included Mr. Emhamed Khadad, member of the Saharawi leadership and Mr. Kamal Fadel, Polisario Representative to Australia.

Algiers, October 28, 2011 (SPS) – Algeria and Mali renewed their strong support for the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence, in an official statement sanctioning a working visit led the Malian President, Mr. Mamadou Toumani Toure, to Algeria, and ended Thursday.  

New York (UN), October 28, 2011 (SPS) - The Personal Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations to the Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, told Wednesday the UN Security Council that Morocco "blocks" a UN new round of negotiations between the parties to the conflict (Front Polisario and Morocco) since 2007 to enable the Saharawi people to self-determination, according to a diplomatic source.

Shaheed El Hafed (Refugee camps), October 28, 2011 (SPS)  – The Sahrawi Council of Ministers decided to take a series of security measures to protect people in solidarity with the Sahrawi people in the Sahrawi refugee camps and liberated areas, said a statement released following an emergency meeting held late Tuesday under the chairmanship of Mohamed Abdelaziz President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and Secretary General of the Polisario Front.

New York (UN), October 28, 2011 (SPS) - Polisario Front Representative to the United Nqtions, Ahmed Bukhari, declared Wednesday that the Polisario Front considered "positive" that the Security Council members have expressed concern about the lack of progress in the peace process in Western Sahara.

Washington, DC, October 27, 2011 (SPS) - The US-Western Sahara Foundation called for increased cooperation from the international community to work with the Sahrawi Republic to gain the release of three humanitarian aid workers abducted from the refugee camps on Saturday and to respond to this act of terrorism with an increased commitment to help the refugees.

Bir Lehlu (Liberated Territories), October 27, 2011 (SPS) - The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, sent Tuesday a congratulatory message to Mrs.Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on her re-election as the President of the Argentine Republic.

"It is my pleasure to convey to you my warmest congratulations for winning the Sunday presidential elections in this brotherly country," wrote President Mohamed Abdelaziz in his letter to Mrs. Cristina Fernandez, a copy of it received by SPS.

Shaheed El Hafed (Sahrawi refugee camps), October 27, 2011 (SPS) - The Sahrawi government blamed Wednesday the terrorist organization AQMI (al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb for the abduction of the three European aid workers.

 Copenhagen (Denmark), October 26, 2011 – Afrika Kontakt – Western Sahara group strongly condemns  the terrorist attack on the Saharawi refugee, on last week-end that resulted in the kidnapping of three European  international aid workers and the injury of two, the Spanish hostage, Enric Gonyalons and a Saharawi security guard.

Madrid, October 26, 2011 (SPS) - The kidnapping of three European partners in the humanitarian field in the Saharawi refugee camps "is to intimidate all solidarity with the Saharawi people and its just cause in the world," said Tuesday the Minister of Culture, Mrs. Khadija Hamdi, in a statement received by SPS.

"The kidnapping of three European partners in the Saharawi refugee camps, designed to intimidate peace activists around the world with the Saharawi people and its just cause," she added.

Algiers, October 26, 2011 (SPS) - The director of the Italian Council for Refugees (CIR), Christopher Hein, expressed Tuesday in Algiers concern on the situation of three international aid workers abducted in the Sahrawi refugee camps, calling on their kidnappers to release them quickly.

Madrid, October 26, 2011 (SPS) – The Observatory of Human Rights of the Bar of Badajoz condemned "vigorously " the terrorist act of kidnapping of international aid workers, Fernandez Coin Aino of Spanish nationality, member of the Association of Friendship with the Saharawi people in Extremadura (Spain), Enrico Gonyalons, a Spanish citizen and member of the Spanish NGO Mundubat and Rossella Urru from Italy, member of the Italian NGO CCISPP.

Brussels, October 26, 2011 (SPS) - The European Union (EU) condemned Monday the kidnapping of three aid workers, two Spaniards and an Italian in the night from Saturday to Sunday by terrorists in the Residence of foreigners in Shaheed El Hafed (Saharawi refugee camps).

The EU "strongly condemns this incident and calls on those responsible to release immediately and safely the three hostages," declared the spokesman for the European Commission (EC) for foreign policy, Maja Kocijancic in a press conference .