March 2013

El Aaiun (occupied territories), March 24, 2013 (SPS) - UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy Christopher Ross met Saturday in occupied El Aaiun, capital of Western Sahara, with members of the Committee of Families of Gdeim Izik Detainees, in the context of his second visit to the occupied territories of Western Sahara.


Representatives of the Committee informed Mr. Ross about the procedures of the unfair trial and heavy sentences pronounced by Moroccan martial court in Rabat against the Saharawi political prisoners of Gdeim Izik.

Shaheed Al Hafed (refugee camps), March 24, 2013 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Frente POLISARIO Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz sent today, March 24th, a letter of condolence to family of the deceased Lushaa Mohamed Lamin, SADR Ambassador in Angola, who passed away on last Sunday, March 16th, after a struggle with an incurable disease.

El Aaiun (occupied territories), March 24, 2013 (SPS) - More than 50 Saharawis injured Saturday after Moroccan occupying forces dispersed a peaceful demonstration in the occupied city of El Aaiun, capital of Western Sahara, while they demanded the independence of their country, informed Sunday diplomatic source.


As the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara Christopher Ross visits in the area, several people were arrested during the demonstration, said the source.

Saint-Denis (France), March 24, 2013 (SPS) - A delegation of the Saharawi Workers Union (UGTSARIO), led by Najem Shiaa, participates at an international conference under the theme “for alternative trade union action”, taking place from March 22nd to 24th in Saint-Denis, France.


Addressing the Conference, the representative of UGTSARIO Mr. Najem Shiaa expressed thanks for the invitation, recalling to the suffering the Saharawi people in occupied Western Sahara experience at the hands of Moroccan occupation, especially workers.

El Aaiun (occupied territories), March 23, 2013 (SPS) - In the wake of the visit by the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy Christopher Ross to occupied Western Sahara, Moroccan occupation forces violently intervened against peaceful demonstrations by Saharawi citizens, leaving unknown number of victims, informed Saharawi media sources shortly before.

El Aaiun (occupied territories), March 23, 2013 (SPS) - The UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy, Ambassador Christopher Ross, met Friday evening at MINURSO HQ in the occupied city of El Aaiun, capital of Western Sahara, with a delegation representing the Collective of Saharawi Human Rights Defenders (CODESA), as part of a regional tour from March 20th until April 3rd, 2013.


The meeting with CODESA is the first in a series meetings Ross expected to hold with components of the Saharawi civil society.

Brussels, March 22, 2013 (SPS) - The European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Mr. Štefan Füle has asked Morocco to show “more credibility” in its relations with the European institutions, in the wake of the recent expulsion and prevention of four MEPs from entering to the occupied territories of Western Sahara, during the presentation by European Commission of the latest reports on the neighbourhood policy with Morocco, as published by the Moroccan media sources.

Brussels, March 22, 2013 (SPS) - The Republic of Taiwan has offered a financial donation of 100,000 U.S. dollar for the benefit of Saharawi refugees.


The assistance is devoted to support the projects undertaken by the Spanish non-governmental organization “Mundubat” to reduce malnutrition among the Saharawi refugees.

Shaheed Al Hafed (refugee camps), March 22, 2013 (SPS) - Office of the POLISARIO National Secretariat has welcomed the visit initiated by the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy Mr. Christopher Ross to the region, reiterating POLISARIO’s readiness to cooperate with UN efforts aimed at the decolonization of Western Sahara, through a free, just and impartial referendum on self-determination for the Saharawi people.

Rabat, March 22, 2013 (SPS) - The UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Mr. Christopher Ross, who is in Morocco since Wednesday as part of a regional tour, said Thursday in Rabat that the Security situation in Sahel makes settlement of Western Sahara issue “more urgent than ever.”


“The situation in the Sahel region and its neighborhood makes a solution to Western Sahara issue more urgent than ever,” Ross told the press at the end of a meeting with the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

Shaheed Al Hafed (refugee camps) March 22, 2013 (SPS) - The UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Mr. Christopher Ross expected to arrive today in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, as part of a regional tour which will last till April 3.


The visit is the second of its kind since his appointment in 2009 as a personal envoy of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara.

Algiers, March21, 2013 (SPS) - Indonesia's ambassador in Algiers, Ahmed Haj Salem, said Wednesday that his country's position on Western Sahara comes from its principles towards decolonization issues.
 

"Indonesia's position on the question of Western Sahara which registered at the Commission on Decolonization of the United Nations, is in line with the resolution adopted by the international community," said Salem Ahmed Haj an interview with Algerian newspaper 'Ashab '.
 

Kampala (Uganda) March21,2013(SPS) the Ugandan Minister for Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa ,reaffirmed the firm and clear position that Uganda has for so long adopted and will continue to in favor of the Sahrawi people and their right to self determination and independence, according to the  Saharawi Embassy to Uganda.
 

 Shahid Al Hafed (refugee camps), March 21, 2013 (SPS) The President of the Republic, SG  of the Polisario Front, Mohamed Abdelaziz said Wednesday that "the visit of Christopher Ross will be essential in the preparation of the report of SG UN Ban ki-moon "in a interview with  the Algerian National  radio.
 

"The visit to the region of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General in Western Sahara will make a detailed report on the question of Western Sahara, in particular on the situation of human rights," said the President of the Republic.
 

Canberra (Australia) March21, 2013(SPS) the Australian Senator from the Democratic Labor Party John Madigan, called on the Australian Government to use its voice at the United Nations to solve to Western Sahara conflict, during his intervention at the Senate Speech on Wednesday in Canberra.
 

“Western Sahara remains a trouble spot, with the Sahrawi people deprived of their right to self-determination through occupation by Morocco,” he said adding that “Australia must use its voice at the United Nations to work towards a resolution,”
 

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.”
 

Beirut (Lebanon) March19, 2013 (SPS) a delegation of the Saharawi Youth Organization (UJSARIO) participated in the Congress of Youth of Arab spring, took place from 15 to 17 March in the Lebanon capital Beirut and was  organized in collaboration between  the  Socialist  Youth Union and  the Britain Lobour Party.
  

Brussels, March19,2013(SPS) over 60 MEPs  from the European Parliamentary intergroup Western Sahara ,representing all politically groups ,including the Rapporteur for the European Parliament’s resolution on the external dimension of EU  fisheries policy Isabella Lovin, expressed on Monday their concern  regarding the ongoing negotiations between EU and Morocco  for a fisheries partnership agreement which includes waters of  the occupied Western Sahara.
 

Sofia (Bulgaria) the Bulgarian Socialist Party Monday has expressed concern about the Moroccan Military trial and its unfair verdicts against 25 Saharawi political prisoners became known as Gdeim Izik group.
 

 “I have learned with great concern about the sentences of the Moroccan military court against the Sahrawi political prisoners of Gdeim Izik.” said foreign Affairs Secretary of the Party Kristian Vigenin, in a statement reached SPS.
 

Algiers, March19,2013(SPS)-A meeting, which brought together donors for the Sahrawi refugees, took place in Algiers at the initiative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the Algerian  Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday.
 

The meeting, held Sunday at the Foreign Ministry’s headquarters in Algiers, was attended by the Ambassador of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic and the presidents of the Algerian and Sahrawi Red Crescents.