Gneva, July04, 2013(SPS) – A meeting between the United Nations refugee agency, the two parties Polisario Front and Morocco, as well as the neighboring counties Algeria and Mauritania was held yesterday in Geneva with agreement to expand a programme of family visits between Sahrawi refugees living in camps near Tindouf, Algeria, and their families in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.
The UN Secretary General, Banki-moon has expressed his support for the expansion of the program of confidence-building measures, recalling the United Nations commitment to a political solution, just and lasting mutually acceptable guarantees the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination, in a letter to participants.
“This is a welcome step as we work together towards a solution of the Western Saharan refugee situation, so that one day, refugees may be able to go home in dignity and honour,” said Athar Sultan-Khan, Chief of Staff at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR).
“These families have been separated for too long, and the family visit programme allows them to meet each other, often for the first time in over 37 years. One cannot overstate the value of the deep joy and hope, which these family reunions bring,” he said.
The visits are a key element in a UNHCR programme of confidence-building measures that has been underway since 2004, which also includes a series of seminars to build an environment of confidence and trust to complement the efforts of the UN in finding a political solution.
Discussions took place over two days in Geneva, reaching agreement on a new flight schedule for visits in 2014, and additional seminars – with the next to take place in October this year in Portugal. Nearly 20,000 people have taken part in family visits since the programme began.
The UN has been trying to help resolve the dispute over the status of Western Sahara through the efforts of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross.
Participants at the Geneva meeting noted that the option of voluntary return of refugees to their places of origin will be key in any future political solution reached with the parties under UN auspices.
The Polisario Front delegation that took part in the meeting included Mohamed Khadad, coordinator with MINURSO, Buhobeini Iahia, President of the Saharawi Red Crescent, Amaima Mohamed, Polisario Front representative in Switzerland, Mohamed Lamin, coordinator of the program and Gouth Laulad, deputy coordinator of the program of confidence-building measures(SPS)
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