Strasbourg, March 27, 2015 (SPS) -European Union's chief diplomat Federica Mogherini stressed Wednesday in Strasbourg the EU's support to the efforts of the UN Secretary General to achieve a "just" and "sustainable" political solution allowing self-determination of the Saharawi people.
Questioned by MEPs in the European Parliament, Mogherini stated the EU's support to the efforts of the UN Secretary General to achieve a "just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution, allowing self-determination of the Saharawi people in the context of arrangements consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter."
Mogherini said in this context the EU encourages the parties (Morocco and Polisario Front) to seek a solution to this conflict and supports the UN Mission's efforts to organize a referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and those of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General Christopher Ross.
In response to a question on the worrying situation of human rights in the occupied Saharawi territories and their violation by Morocco, as reported by several international NGOs working in this field, Mogherini said the European Union is closely following the situation in Western Sahara and expresses concern about the duration of the conflict and its impact on safety, respect for human rights and cooperation in the region.
She recalled in this context the EU has always expressed its support to the resolutions of the Security Council of the UN, n°2099 (in 2013) and n°2152 (in 2014) that emphasize "the importance of improving the situation of human rights in Western Sahara." (SPS)
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