New York (UN) January30, 2013 – The United Nations envoy for Western Sahara Christopher Ross, is on his way to the Russian capital, Moscow, as part of consultations designed to build international support for the negotiations aimed at resolving the long-running conflict.
“These consultations aim at building additional international support for the Western Sahara negotiations in preparation for the next phase of engagement with the parties and neighbouring States, foreseen for March,” UN spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey told reporters in New York.
Christopher Ross, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, met on Monday with senior officials from the US Department of State. Those meetings, along with the ones planned for Moscow, are the first steps in further consultations with the Group of Friends of Western Sahara.
In addition to the US and Russia, the Group includes France, Spain and the United Kingdom. During his trip, which runs until 15 February, Mr. Ross will also visit Germany and Switzerland.
Numerous rounds of negotiations between the Polisario Front and Morocco aimed at reaching a lasting ,Mutually acceptable political solution that guarantees the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination have taken place in the past few years under the auspices of the United Nations .(SPS)
080/090