Algiers, 7 October 2021 (SPS) - Algeria has noted with interest the decision of the United Nations Secretary General to appoint Staffan De Mistura as personal envoy for Western Sahara and will support his efforts for the effective reopening of direct negotiations between the two sides to the conflict, Morocco and the Polisario Front, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad said on Wednesday.
“Algeria notes with interest the decision of the UN Secretary General to appoint Staffan De Mistura as special envoy for the Western Sahara,” said the spokesman in his statement.
“While deeply deploring the delay, attributable to the Moroccan side, for the replacement of his predecessor Horst Kohler, who resigned in May 2019, Algeria notes that the appointment of De Mistura occurs in a sharply deteriorated and risky context, marked by the resumption of hostilities following the brutal violation of the ceasefire by the forces of the Moroccan occupation which are illegally staying, since 13 November 2020, in the buffer zone of El Guerguerat, in blatant breach of the military agreements, signed by the two sides and endorsed by the Security Council,” he added.
“The demilitarization of this zone, enshrined by the agreements in question, is the cornerstone of every credible political process aimed at reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict,” according to the official.
“Algeria praises the recognized and appreciated personal and professional qualities of De Mistura,” he said, stressing that it “will support his efforts” and “expresses the wish that they could contribute to an effective and serious reopening of direct negotiations, in good faith and without prerequisites, between the two parties to the conflict, namely the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front, in order to reach a solution guaranteeing to Western Sahara’s people to freely and authentically exercise their inalienable right to self- determination.”
“This approach favoring direct and frank talks, without any prerequisites, between the two sides is part of the faithfulness and compliance with the decision adopted in March 2021 by the summit of the AU Peace and Security Council,” he added.
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