Brussels, April 21, 2012 (SPS) - The European Deputy from the Spanish United Left Party, Mr. Willy Meyer, has described the position taken by the European Parliament in favour of the Saharawi people, at a key moment when the decolonization process of Western Sahara being discussed at the United Nations, as “just”.
The position, which drafted by British MEP Richard Howitt, approved by 580 votes in favor, 28 against and 74 abstentions.
Mr. Meyer indicated that the European Parliament “denounces the continuing persecution of Saharawis under Moroccan occupation, appeals to Morocco to release the 80 Saharawi political prisoners, particularly the 23 detained without trial since November 2010 in Salé prison after the dismantling of Gdeim Izik camp, and calling for adopting an international mechanism to monitor human rights in Western Sahara.”
EU Deputy, co-author of this resolution, indicated that the European Parliament “has done justice for the Saharawi people and sent a clear signal to the Kingdom of Morocco that it is aware of the abuses committed daily against the Saharawi population in the occupied territories,” and that “it recognizes the legitimate right of the Saharawi people to self determination, established by international law and repeated United Nations resolutions.”
Saharawi Minister Delegate for Europe, Mr. Mohamed Sidati, expressed Wednesday satisfaction of the Polisario Front for the position expressed by the European Parliament to support the right of the Saharawi people to self determination.
“This position is a clear message by the European Parliament to Morocco to live-up to its commitments and accept the application of the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination,” indicated Saharawi diplomat. (SPS)
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