New York (United Nations), August 17, 2014 (SPS) - UN's main mission of the MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) was the holding of a referendum on Saharawi people's self-determination, Polisario Front's representative at the UN, Ahmed Boukhari, reiterated in New York.
The Saharawi diplomat made the comment in reply to "strange statements" by Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN, in which he requested the UN Secretary-General not to alter the MINURSO’s mission.
According to Morocco's interpretation, MINURSO's mission is to "ensure the ceasefire, reduce the risk of mine explosions and remnants of munitions of war, support the UNHCR Programme of confidence building, and exchange visits between the separated families."
"We want to remind the Moroccan party that MINURSO’s only mission is the organization of a referendum to complete the decolonization process in Western Sahara," Bukhari stressed.
"The referendum was accepted and signed by Morocco with the Polisario Front to make way for the implementation of the 1991 settlement plan, and hence the implementation of the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council on the territory."
"The obstruction of the efforts of the international community by Morocco to continue its military occupation, the exercise of the most terrible forms of repression against the Saharawi people and the plundering of its resources require the UN to assume its responsibility with seriousness and credibility, ending the illegal occupation of our country and guaranteeing the rights of our people," he added.
The statements of Morocco’s Permanent Representative "reflect irresponsibility and disregard for international law, for which only Morocco assumes its severe consequences." (SPS)
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