Bir Lehlou (liberated zones), Feb 5, 2015 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz, said that the holding of Crans Montana Forum in the occupied Saharawi city of Dajla “violates” international law, adding that it undermines the ongoing UN to find a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict of Western Sahara.
In a letter addressed to the UN Chief Ban Ki-moon, President of the Republic draw urgent attention to plans by Morocco and the Swiss-registered Crans Montana Forum to hold an international meeting in Dakhla, Western Sahara, from 12 to 14 March 2015.
As an illegal occupier, stated the letter, Morocco is not entitled to enter into any arrangements with third parties regarding the use of the Territory.
Following is complete text of the letter:
“H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General
United Nations
760
United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
5th of February 2015
Your Excellency
On behalf of the Frente POLISARIO and the Saharawi people of Western Sahara, I am writing to draw your urgent attention to plans by Morocco and the Swiss-registered Crans Montana Forum to hold an international meeting in Dakhla, Western Sahara, from 12 to 14 March 2015.
As you are aware, Western Sahara is listed as a Non-Self-Governing Territory under the Charter of the United Nations, and the last remaining colony on the African continent. My Government nevertheless proclaimed the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) on 27 February 1976 as the sovereign state and authority over the Territory of Western Sahara. With the support of our African neighbours and friends, the SADR was admitted as a member of the Organization of African Unity in 1982, and then became a full founding member of its successor organisation, the African Union (AU).
Since 1976, the Kingdom of Morocco has illegally occupied a significant portion of the Territory of Western Saharan, including the city of Dakhla. In doing so, Morocco has acted in defiance of the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and international law, including the clear finding of the International Court of Justice in 1975 that no sovereign or territorial ties exist between Morocco and the Territory of Western Sahara. There is not one country anywhere in the world that has recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
For more than 30 years, the Saharawi people have been denied the right to live peacefully in their own nation, while also being subjected to human rights abuses, and the theft of their natural resources. Morocco has systematically reneged on previous agreements, including those endorsed by the UN Security Council, and has hindered all efforts of the international community to secure the decolonization of Western Sahara through the self-determination of the Saharawi people.
As an illegal occupier, Morocco is not entitled to enter into any arrangements with third parties regarding the use of the Territory. By actively supporting and facilitating a meeting that is being misleadingly and mischievously promoted as hosted in “Dakhla (Morocco)”, Morocco is once again engaged in activities that violate international law and the clear stance of the international community in favour of self-determination for the Saharawi people.
Our African friends view the situation so seriously that Leaders at last week’s African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, held on 30 and 31 January 2015, declared the following:
“DECLARATION ON THE ORGANIZATION OF CRANS MONTANA FORUM IN THE OCCUPIED CITY OF DAKHLA, WESTERN SAHARA
[…]
“[WE] CONSIDER that the organisation of any international conference in the current circumstances in Western Sahara is in contradiction with the efforts made by the International Community to resolve the conflict in Western Sahara, and can only create an atmosphere of confrontation in the territory;
[WE] URGE the Swiss International Organization “Crans Montana” and all other organizers to cancel the meeting planned in the occupied city of Dakhla (Western Sahara), as it is a grave violation of the International Law;
[WE] CALL UPON the AU Member States, African Civil Society and all Organisations not to participate in this Forum, scheduled from 12th to the 14th March 2015 in the occupied city of Dakhla (Western Sahara);
[…]”
I recall that United Nations officials have in the past attended and participated in meetings of the Crans Montana Forum. I respectfully urge you to ensure that no UN official participates in this meeting, and to use your good offices to convince Morocco and the Crans Montana Forum, through its Chairman Mr Jean Paul Carteron, that the holding of the meeting at this time would make a mockery of the organisation’s so-called commitment to “a more humane and impartial world”.
The holding of such a meeting would also risk undermining the ongoing efforts by your Personal Envoy, Ambassador Christopher Ross, to find a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, as mandated by numerous resolutions of the UN Security Council.
I look forward to your cooperation on this important matter. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Mohammed Abdelaziz
Secretary-General of the Frente POLISARIO.” (SPS)
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