Algiers, 9 December 2020 (SPS) - Russia's ambassador to Algeria, Igor Beliaev, expressed Tuesday the "convergence of views" between Moscow and Algiers on the crisis of El Guerguerat, Western Sahara, reiterating the position of his country which calls for restraint.
In an interview with Russian news agency Sputnik, Beliaev said "that after the recent escalation of the conflict in Western Sahara, we continue the dialogue with Algeria at different levels."
"Discussions have led to a convergence of views between the two countries on this crisis."
"Algeria and Russia call for restraint, a return to the 1991 ceasefire agreement, the continuation of direct negotiations and the appointment of a personal representative of the UN Secretary-General as soon as possible," he said.
The Russian diplomat praised "the level of direct, transparent and constant dialogue between Russia and Algeria around all issues of common interest."
Expressing his wish "to see the Saharawi people reach a peaceful agreement to put an end to this crisis," the representative of Russia had previously stressed that "the only way to achieve a peaceful solution is to relaunch the negotiations."
The Russian diplomat had also called on the United Nations to "appoint, as soon as possible, a special envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara", replacing Horst Köhler who had resigned in May 2019, for the resumption of the political process."
Moroccan occupation forces carried out a military aggression on November 13 against Saharawi civilian demonstrators in El Guerguerat buffer zone, in the far south-west of Western Sahara, in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
The agreement was signed in 1991 by the two parties to the conflict, namely the Polisario Front and Morocco, under the aegis of the United Nations. (SPS)
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