New York, October 8, 2016 (SPS) - Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to the United Nations, His Excellency, Wilfried I. Emvula, has called for bring an end to the Saharawi decolonisation process, before the UN Special Political And Decolonization Committee.
“Namibia calls on Morocco to demonstrate their respect for and adherence to the principles and institutions of the United Nations through their implementation of the United Nations Resolutions, particularly Resolution 1541, and all other relevant decisions, in order bring an end to the Saharawi decolonisation process,” said the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to the United Nations before the UN Special Political And Decolonization Committee.
“The people of Western Sahara should be allowed to enjoy their inalienable rights to self-determination. The legitimacy of any claim over Western Sahara, should be decided by the Saharawi people themselves, and not by any outside power, including Morocco. The people of Western Saharan must be allowed to choose their own future.”
“We assure Morocco that Namibia will most certainly accept whichever way the referendum goes. The fairness and legitimacy of such a process would need to be closely monitored in order to prevent non-qualified persons from influencing the results.”
“We are gravely concerned about the recent increased troop movements in the Gargarate buffer strip. During the last few months we have watched how Moroccan and Polisario forces have moved closer to each other. Current reports indicate that a war could be triggered at the slightest mishap as they are standing within eyesight of each other. We remind the belligerent Member State to respect the 1991 cease-fire brokered by the United Nations.”
“It was a wretched day for us when UN staff were expelled from an occupied territory. Furthermore, it is sad to see that UNSC remained indecisive for quite some time and that resolution 2285 (2016) was not strong enough on this point leaving some Security Council states unable to support its weak language. We call for the re-admission into that area of the expelled UN personnel attached to MINURSO.”
“Namibia, also calls on the UN Security Council to work with the Moroccan Government to ensure the implementation of the referendum.”
“Namibia equally calls on countries such as France and Spain to work with Morocco to encourage them to implement the said UN Resolutions and to impress upon Morocco that the time for the implementation of the referendum has come.”
“Namibia reaffirms full and unequivocal support for the inalienable rights of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and national independence if they so desire. In this context, we once again call upon the United Nations and in particular, the Security Council, to assume its full on the question of Western Sahara. We equally call for the urgent implementation of all Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, aimed at the holding of a free and fair referendum in Western Sahara,” added the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia to the United Nations. (SPS)
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