Helsinki, 19 September 2015 (SPS) The Saharawi Coordinator with MINORSO, M'hamed Khaddad, held several meetings with officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives of Finnish political parties, as part of a four-day visit in Finland.
The Saharawi official met with the Finnish Deputy Foreign Minister, Raili Lahnalampi, former Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and representatives of political parties, trade unions and youth organizations, as well as parliamentarians and Finnish media.
The meetings focused on the latest developments on the question of Western Sahara, the need for the international community to assume its responsibility to restart the settlement process in Western Sahara to find a just and lasting solution that guarantees the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination traves a free and democratic referendum.
The Saharawi coordinator with MINURSO emphasized the need for the international community to take "urgent" measures to put an end to violations of human rights committed against Saharawi civilians by the State of Moroccan occupation and stop the illegal plundering of natural resources in the region.
He also stressed that the time has come for the UN to assume its responsibility to end the long suffering of the Saharawi people.
For their part, Finnish officials have expressed deep concern vis-à-vis the current status quo in Western Sahara, particularly in the occupied territories, calling, in the same context, to accelerate the decolonization of the last colony in Africa, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the international community.
M'hamed Khaddad was accompanied on this visit by the representative of the Polisario Front in Helsinki, Mana Hbibi. (SPS)
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