New York, 22 November 2020 (SPS) - The Permanent Mission of Timor-Leste to the United Nations has reaffirmed that the referendum on self-determination remains “crucial” as a mechanism guaranteeing “a just, free and democratic process” for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
In a letter addressed to the president of the Security Council, Timor-Leste deeply regretted for the “inappropriate and unacceptable” content of a letter issued by Morocco in New York, adding that its Permanent Mission rejected Morocco’s attempt to deny the sovereign right of a member state exercising its legitimate right to sovereignty in accordance with the UN Charter and Security Council regulations.
The letter recalled that Timor-Leste established diplomatic relations with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 2002, emphasizing that it recognizes the Polisario Front as the legitimate representative of Western Sahara people.
The Southeast Asian nation called for the resumption of negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front “without preconditions” on the basis of the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination, in accordance with the pertinent resolutions of the General Assembly and Security Council. (SPS)
089/090