Harare, April 15, 2015 (SPS) - Director for Africa, Asia and the Pacific at Zimbabwe Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr. Jonathan Wutawunashe, on Saturday reiterated his country’s “constant and strict” support to the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence, during a reception granted to Saharawi Ambassador Mr. Deich Mohamed Saleh.
Mr. Wutawunashe said Zimbabwe’s position in defending the legitimate right of the people of the Saharawi Republic (SADR) “is strict and unchangeable”.
“This position has long been expressed repeatedly by President Robert Mugabe… Zimbabwe will continue to defend publicly this right in all international forums,” stated the Zimbabwean official.
He deplored Moroccan government’s intransigence and its obstruction to organize a democratic and impartial referendum ending the long-standing suffering of the people of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic.
“The international community has to intensify its efforts to speed up the resolution of this conflict by conducting a free, fair and transparent referendum enabling the Saharawi people to enjoy their right to self-determination and independence,” underlined Mr. Wutawunashe.
Saharawi ambassador, for his part, informed his interlocutors about the Saharawi government’s concern at the state of ongoing impasse in the peace process in Western Sahara, due to the lack of genuine political will from the Moroccan part.
He also reiterated Saharawi government’s call on all international actors to exert further pressure on Morocco to accelerate the organization of the self-determination referendum of the Saharawi people.
He, therefore, hailed the positions of support expressed by the African Union and its Peace and Security Council with regard to the situation in Western Sahara. (SPS)
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