New York, August 20, 2015 (SPS) -The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has called for an early settlement to the question of Western Sahara given the volatility in the region, the proximity of extremist and terrorist groups, increasing frustration of the young people and of tens of thousands of refugees losing faith in the political solution.
The remarks are part of the report submitted to the UN General Assembly, scheduled to open on 15 September 2015, by UN chief Ban Ki-moon concerning the development on the question of Western Sahara from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.
Following the most important conclusions concerning the Saharawi issue:
1- The Fourth Committee of the General Assembly (Special Political and Decolonization Committee) and the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples address Western Sahara as a Non-Self-Governing Territory and an issue of decolonization.
2- Describing factually the stalling and obstruction of Morocco to the deployment of SRSG Bolduc and to re-engaging PESG Ross, including the assurances given by the SG to Morocco over the phone. It is also good to see the view of the POLISARIO on the lack of progress in the negotiating process and the unequal treatment by the UN, including not being consulted by the SG’s office before his giving the assurances to Morocco.
3- Describing factually the decision of the POLISARIO to implement passport stamping in the east of the Berm by replicating the Moroccan practice in the West of the Berm. The issue is reported in a manner that shows that Morocco has been in contravention of the UN peacekeeping practices for a long time.
4- It is good to see that there is mention of the SG scheduling a visit to the region later in 2015, including the SG’s preference that the Parties should return to the table before his visit. This is the first official mention to Member States that the SG plans on visiting the region and it is the first time we see reference to a timeline (later in 2015). This is a positive signal indeed!
5- It is good to read that PESG Ross is seeking to give new impetus to the negotiating process, that he is calling on both parties to show flexibility (and move away from long held positions) if progress is to be made. This of course is nothing new but it is written in a way that shows that he is planning to move things forward in the next months.
6- And finally, the report lays out the rationale for why the conflict must be resolved as early as possible, including the volatility in the region, the proximity of extremist and terrorist groups, increasing frustration of the young people and of tens of thousands of refugees losing faith in the political solution that is going nowhere. (SPS)
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