New York, Jun 16, 2012 (SPS) - “South Africa will continue to support efforts to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara,” said Friday Mr. Maniemagen Govender, Counselor at the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the UN in statements on the matter of Western Sahara within the UN Special Committee of Decolonization in New York.
“South Africa reiterates the indisputable fact that Western Sahara remains the last colony on the African continent, listed as a non-self governing territory by the United Nations. South Africa will continue to support efforts to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara,” said Mr. Govender.
In this regard, the South African diplomat indicated that his country “supported the adoption of UNSC Resolution 2044 extending the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.”
South Africa maintains that the Security Council should continue to support the political process underway between the parties concerned in an unbiased manner and ensure that the UN –mandated mission, MINURSO, is able to complete its mandate for the 3 critical purposes for which it was intended namely; as an instrument of stability in the event that the political stalemate continues; as a mechanism to implement a referendum on self-determination in the event that the political negotiations are successful; and to provide independent information on conditions in the Territory to the Secretariat, the Security Council, and the international community.
“We urge this Committee to conduct within its mandated powers, the required measures that will in the interim address the interests and well-being of the Sahrawi people,” confirmed Mr. Govender.
South African diplomat asked the Committee of 24 to “ensure that proper safeguards are in place in order to prevent the further transgressions of international law by some members of the United Nations who seek to exploit the natural resources of the territory through bilateral agreements.”
“It is therefore critical and necessary that this Committee, in accordance with its mandate, informs the membership of the United Nations on the steps that have been taken to improve the conditions of the Sahrawi peoples in the social, economic, political and educational spheres,” underlined the South Africa counselor.
“The United Nations, through the Charter requirements, is obligated to protect the rights of the Sahrawi people belonging to the non-self governing territories,” he said, adding it is an obligation that must be fulfilled whilst the relevant parties work towards a “just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara” as required by UNSC resolutions.
“It stands in the way of the vision of a united Africa that seeks closure to the liberation of the Continent, the affirmation of a common identity and a unity in collective action that shapes our relations with the rest of the world,” indicted South African diplomat, confirming that the unresolved matter of Western Sahara “also constitutes a major impediment to the socio-economic development of the continent”
He finally called for the need to “promote peace, security and stability as a prerequisite for the implementation of our development and integration agenda.” (SPS)
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