Santander (Spain), November 9, 2011 (SPS) – “The only possible solution to the conflict in Western Sahara is the organization of a "referendum on self-determination including the option of independence," reiterated Sunday the Polisario Front Representative to the United Nations, Ahmed Bukhari.
Morocco "continues to block this issue, so the UN negotiations have been stalled," and have not yet resumed, "Bukhari indicated in a press briefing on the sidelines of the forum of human rights in Western Sahara, jointly organized by the Sahrawi support Committee, "Cantabria por el Sahara occidental " and the Spanish NGO "Mundubat", held in Santander (Spain).
"The negotiation process is stalled because Morocco cannot support the results of these negotiations as long as they do not lead to legitimize its autonomy proposal," he specified in an interview granted to the journal DEIA.
Regarding the resumption of negotiations, Mr Bukhari said that Morocco had requested a postponement of the date due to elections in Morocco. For this the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara has decided to tour the capitals of Friends of Western Sahara (Madrid, Paris, Moscow, London and Washington), he added.
Moreover, the Saharawi diplomat said that "Spain has an important role (...) and must assume its responsibilities in the decolonization of its former colony, like what was done in Portugal, East Timor. (SPS)
062/000