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Buenos Aires, April 22, 2012 (SPS) - A group of human rights and political personalities from Argentina has called on the Security Council to expand mandates of MINURSO (United Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) to include the monitoring and protection of human rights in Western Sahara, in a letter sent to U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN and current President of Security Council, Ms. Susan Rice.

Pretoria, April 22, 2012 (SPS) - “South Africa is expected to conclude the Agreement on Political Consultations with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and is committed to continue its humanitarian assistance programme,” reveals 2010-2011 report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of South Africa.

Moscow, April 21, 2012 (SPS) - “Moscow supports a just and lasting solution to the conflict of Western Sahara respecting right of the Saharawi people to self-determination in compliance with international legitimacy and resolutions of the Security Council,” said Wednesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in a meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister.

Brussels, April 21, 2012 (SPS) - The European Deputy from the Spanish United Left Party, Mr. Willy Meyer, has described the position taken by the European Parliament in favour of the Saharawi people, at a key moment when the decolonization process of Western Sahara being discussed at the United Nations, as “just”.

The position, which drafted by British MEP Richard Howitt, approved by 580 votes in favor, 28 against and 74 abstentions.

Algiers, April 21, 2012 (SPS) - The Secretary General of the Arab League, Mr. Nabil al-Arabi, expressed support to the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination like the rest of peoples, in an interview published Saturday by Algerian El Khabar newspaper.

Buenos Aires (Argentina), April 20, 2012 (SPS) - A Saharawi delegation composed of Saharawi Woman Union’s Secretary General Ms. Fatma Mehdi and Saharawi Ambassador Salem Bachir received Thursday by the President of Union Block for All, Deputy Patricia Bullrich.

During the meeting, the two sides examined different issues relating to woman and the worrying issue of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

Zagreb (Croatia), April 20, 2012 (SPS) - Croatian Parliamentarians expressed Friday their support and solidarity with the legitimate claims of the Saharawi people to self-determination “through a just and democratic referendum,” during a meeting held in Zagreb, capital of Croatia, with POLISARIO Representative to Balkan, Mr. Malainin Mohamed Bagada, informed a statement of the POLISARIO Representation to Balkan.

Dili, April 20, 2012 (SPS) - Ambassador of the Saharawi Republic (SADR), Mr. Mohamed Slama Badi, received Friday at Timorese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation by its Director General, Francisco Tilman Cepeda.

A number of issues discussed including the latest developments on the situation in Western Sahara, especially human rights violations committed by Moroccan repressive organs against the Saharawi citizens in occupied Western Sahara and south of Morocco, systematic looting of Saharawi natural resources and.

Algiers,April 19, 2012 (SPS) - The Director General of the Algerian Television, Taufig Khaldaui, expressed full readiness of the institution to cooperate with the Saharawi Television (TV -RASD), during a meeting with Sahrawi Ambassador to Algeria, Ibrahim Ghali, held Wednesday at  Algerian TV headquarters.

both sides discussed ways to deepen and develop cooperation between the two institutions. (SPS)

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Madrid, April 19, 2012 (SPS) - Amnesty International (AI) has launched a campaign to demand France "to not block a component of human rights monitoring" within MINURSO mandate.

AI aims at sending petition to French Foreign Minister, Alain Juppe, in which it "urges France to not block component of human rights monitoring in the next vote on renewing the mandate of MINURSO."

Amnesty International considers that "the events in Gdim Izik and Laayoune in November 2010 illustrate the ongoing tension and the need for supervision."

Brussels, April 19, 2012 (SPS) -European Parliament (EP) called for the need to respect the right of Saharawi people to self-determination in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions.

in its report on "Human rights worldwide and the EU policy in this area", adopted on Wednesday 18, April, the European Parliament recalled its resolution of 25 November 2010 on the situation in Western Sahara.

Brussels, April 18, 2012 (SPS) - Member of the National Secretariat of the POLISARIO Front, Minister Delegate for Europe, Mohamed Sidati, welcomed on Wednesday the position taken by the European Parliament (EP) in its report on "Human rights worldwide and the EU policy in this area", adopted on Wednesday 18, April .

New York (UN), April 18, 2012 (SPS) - The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon denounced in a report Tuesday to the Security Council, the obstacles posed by Morocco to the United Nations Mission for the organization Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

In his report, he regretted that the "barriers" still prevent Minurso to fulfill its mission and fulfill rightly its mandate in the occupied Saharawi territories.

Saheed Elhafed (Refugee Camps), April 18, 2012 (SPS) - The annual roundtable on promoting the operational capacities of Saharawi Red Croissant (SRC) in managing food aid in favor of Saharawi refugees began today at UNHCER headquarters in Saheed Elhafed.

The event organized by SRC in cooperation with Spanish Red Cross and The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), with the participation of humanitarian aid organizations working at the Saharawi refugee camps.

Pretoria, April 18, 2012 (SPS) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, on Tuesday held meeting of coordination and cooperation with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Africa, Mr. Ibrahim Ibrahim, at the MFA headquarters in Pretoria.

The meeting,  attended by SADR Ambassador to Pretoria Salha Alabd, discussed the situation in Western Sahara, Africa, cooperation as well as upcoming summit on Diaspora.

Brasilia, April 16, 2012 (SPS) - Women's International Democratic Federation (WIDF) has expressed concern on the Moroccan violations of human rights and looting of natural resources in Western Sahara, condemning Morocco’s illegal occupation of Western Sahara, in a motion concluded its fifth conference held from April 8 to 12, 2012 in the Brazilian capital.

London, April 16, 2012 (SPS) - The British Foreign Minister, Mr. Alister Burt, reiterated Monday, during talks held in London with Moroccan Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs Youssef Omrani, commitment of the United Kingdom to respect human rights in Western Sahara.

British Minister assured hat the UK “remains engaged on human rights, and will continue to support the political negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Western Sahara, Ambassador Christopher Ross.” (SPS)

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Pretoria (South Africa), April 16, 2012 (SPS) - The personal envoy of the President of the Republic, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, received Monday in the city of Durban by the President of South Africa, Mr. Jacob Zuma, along with Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

New York, April 16, 2012 (SPS) - The Polisario Front denounced Monday the actions being done by the French representation to the UN to influence the content of the next resolution on Western Sahara expected to be adopted by the Security Council before the end of this April.