STATEMENT OF MR. MAHFUD ALI BEIBA
Head of the Delegation of the Frente POLISARIO
18 March 2008
The Sahrawi delegation is delighted to be afforded the op****tunity, during
the fourth round of negotiations between the Frente POLISARIO and Morocco,
to present more clarifications regarding the proposal that was submitted
to
the Security Council on 10 April 2007, which constitutes a courageous and
generous effort for a just and lasting settlement of the decolonisation
question of Western Sahara. The Sahrawi delegation reaffirms its readiness
to continue to discuss and negotiate with Morocco with a view to reaching
a
mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the
self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in line with the
desire
of the Security Council.
The Sahrawi delegation is equally pleased that it has been able to explain
and detail its vision on the organisation and operation of the national
institutions in the framework of a Sahrawi independent state that is
democratic and oriented towards modernity as well as the rights and
guarantees that could benefit the Moroccans residing on its territory.
It is also satisfied with being given the op****tunity to express its
conception of a justice that aspires to be modern, effective and
responsive
to the concerns of the people, which will be delivered on their behalf,
and
to share its vision regarding the management of the natural resources of
Western Sahara.
It deplores that the Moroccan delegation, as in the previous rounds, has
continued to assert certain preconditions, although the Security Council
has
underlined that the negotiations should be conducted without
preconditions,
and to repeat that there is no solution apart from autonomy.
It also regrets that Morocco has rejected almost all the
confidence-building
measures that were proposed by the Personal Envoy. This rejection violates
the spirit and letter of the Security Council resolution 1783 that calls
for
establi****ng an atmosphere propitious to the negotiation. In the meantime,
Morocco persists in its policy of repression and denial of the fundamental
human rights of the Sahrawi population in the occupied territories.
In this context, the Frente POLISARIO and the Government of the SADR call
on
the United Nations to assume its responsibility for protecting the Sahrawi
people subjected to brutal repression, and for ensuring that the media
blackout imposed on the territory by Moroccan authorities is lifted.
The Frente POLISARIO is hopeful however that the Moroccan delegation would
see reason again and engage, in good faith, in the negotiation with a view
to reaching a just and lasting solution to the conflict in Western Sahara
that allows the Sahrawi people to exercise their legitimate right to
self-determination and independence.
As far it is concerned, the delegation of the Frente POLISARIO is
determined
to sup****t the efforts of the United Nations with a view to finding a
solution that provides for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people
and
to work, in good faith, for the rigours implementation of resolutions 1754
and 1783. It is in this context that it has accepted the proposal of the
Personal Envoy of holding a fifth round of negotiations between the two
parties to the conflict in Manhasset.
______________________________________________________________
For further background, see also:
- Polisario's opening statement, Manhasset negotiations IV, Mar 17, 2008
- CSIS: Western Sahara After Three Negotiating Rounds: What Is To Be
Done?,
Mar 5, 2008
- AFP: UN envoy not satisfied with WSahara talks: re****t, Feb 15, 2008
- Spero News: No progress at latest Western Sahara talks, Jan 17, 2008
______________________________________________________________
Forwarded by:
Norwegian Sup****t Committee for Western Sahara
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