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1 May 2009 The Security Council today extended
for one year the mandate of the United Nations mission
tasked with organizing a referendum on
self-determination in Western Sahara and monitoring
the ceasefire between Morocco and the Frente Polisario.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council
called on the parties "to continue to show political
will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue
in order to enter into a more intensive and
substantive phase of negotiations."
Morocco holds that its sovereignty over Western
Sahara should be recognized, while the Frente
Polisario's position is that the Territory's final
status should be decided in a referendum that includes
independence as an option.
Several rounds of talks between the two parties
were held under UN auspices in 2007 and 2008 in New
York but did not result in any substantial agreements.
The 15-member body added that "realism and a spirit
of compromise" by the parties are essential to achieve
progress in the negotiations, which are led by
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Personal Envoy
Christopher Ross.
In his latest report on Western Sahara, Mr. Ban
welcomed the commitment by the parties to continue
their negotiations - as stated in the final communiqué
issued at the last round - but he accepted the advice
of his Personal Envoy that informal meetings be held
first.
The Council today welcomed the parties' agreement
with the Personal Envoy's suggestion to hold small,
informal talks in preparation for a fifth round of
negotiations.
The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
(MINURSO) has been in place since September 1991. |
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