New York (United Nations) 04 November 2020 (SPS)- Algeria's permanent representative to the United Nations, Mr. Sofiane Mimouni, reiterated Algeria's consistent position in favour of Western Sahara people's inalienable right to self-determination in line with the international legality, warning against any unfair approach to the solution that may jeopardize UN previous efforts to resolve this case of decolonisation.
Speaking before the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly Tuesday November, Algeria’s representative stressed that the resolution of the Western Sahara question must involve the people on the ground, warning that any other approach would fly in the face of the Security Council and undo international efforts for the Territory’s decolonization.
He regretted that the peace process has stalled since the former Personal Envoy’s resignation, stressing that inertia hovers over the work of the United Nations in Western Sahara, jeopardizing the implementation of the peace process and settlement of this last case of decolonisation in Africa.
He further warned that the Sahrawi people are losing patience and appealed to the Secretary-General to urgently appoint a new Special Envoy as soon as possible, stressing that peace discussions must entail an environment of trust between the two parties to the conflict in Western Sahara, The Frente Popular depara la Liberacion of Saguia el-Hamra e Rio de Oro (Polisario Front) and the Government of Morocco.
He further indicated that the United Nations must honour its responsibility to protect the legal status of Non-Self-Governing Territories, shore up efforts and proliferate initiatives to complete the decolonization process.
The status of Western Sahara, he recalled, has been confirmed by numerous United Nations resolutions that recognize the legitimate right of its people to self-determination, pointing out that both the International Court of Justice and the European Union Court of Justice confirmed that position by recognizing the separate legal and political status of Western Sahara.
The African Union also has an important role to play, he added, recalling that Algeria has always acted as a facilitator of peace in the region, supporting the Secretary-General’s efforts to find a solution to the conflict.
He finally recalled that his country has contributed as a humanitarian actor helping Sahrawi refugees and cooperating with United Nations organizations to provide assistance to these oldest African political refugees in the continent. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)