New York (United Nations) 17 June 2021 (SPS)- Mozambique called on the UN General Assembly’s Committee on Decolonisation (C-24) to fully assume its responsibilty towards the Saharawi people with a view to enable them exercise their right to self-determination and independence, in a statement delivered last Monday before the meeting of the C-24 in New York.
The statement delivered by the First Secretary of the Mozambican Embassy, Mr. Inacio Virgilio, stressed the Mozambique’s firm belief “that the right to self-determination and independence is an inalienable fundamental right to all peoples in the World.”
For this, the Mozambican diplomat adds, “Mozambique continues to support efforts aimed at finding the acceptable solution to allow the people of Western Sahara to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the General Assembly resolution 1514.”
following is the full text of the statement as dilivered Monday 14 June 2021:
Statement by: Mr. INÁCIO VIRGÍLIO, Firs Secretary
The meeting of the Special Committee on the situation with regards to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
NEW YORK, 14 JUNE 2021
Chairperson,
At the outset, I would like to congratulate you and the entire Bureau for the excellent manner in which you have been presiding over our deliberations. We assure you the full cooperation of Mozambique.
I would also like to acknowledge the comprehensive working paper prepared by the Secretariat on the Western Sahara which we studied with keen interest.
Chairperson,
The third International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2011-2020), declared by the UN General Assembly, has just ended. Despite all efforts that have been carried out, there are still 17 non-self-governing territories to be decolonized. This includes the Western Sahara.
Mozambique strongly believes that the right to self-determination and independence is an inalienable fundamental right to all peoples in the World, as clearly enshrined in the UN Charter and other important documents of our Organization. It is in this context that Mozambique continues to support efforts aimed at finding the acceptable solution to allow the people of Western Sahara to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the General Assembly resolution 1514.
The lack of progress, three decades after the resolution establishing the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), is an unfortunate situation which perpetuates the suffering and deterioration of conditions of the people of Western Sahara.
Therefore, Mozambique calls on the Special Committee on Decolonization to assume its full and effective responsibility towards the self-determination of Western Sahara.
Mozambique also calls upon Morocco and the Frente Polisario to resume negotiations towards finding a lasting, fair and sustainable solution.
While supporting the international efforts to find peaceful and lasting solution to the question of Western Sahara, Mozambique would like to reiterate the importance of the role of the African Union in addressing this issue. We consider that the two parties, members of our continental organization, should give high priority to the decisions adopted by the African Union.
Chairperson,
As I conclude, I would like to reiterate Mozambique’s support to the global efforts for the settlement of the Question of Western Sahara, in compliance with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the provisions of international law. I thank you.” (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)