Security Council extends MINURSO mandate in Western Sahara until 30 APRIL 2013.
The UN Department of Public Information issued the following statement yesterday.The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations mission in Western Sahara until 30 April 2013.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Security-Counci...
Unanimously adopting resolution 2044 (2012), the Council called on the parties to cooperate fully with the operations of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), including its free interaction with all interlocutors, and to take the necessary steps to ensure the security of, as well as unhindered movement and immediate access for, United Nations personnel in carrying out the mandate.
Today’s resolution came on the heels of the Secretary-General’s 5 April report, in which he recommended the extension because the Mission remained relevant as a guarantor for the stability of the ceasefire and as a visible commitment of the international community to achieve a resolution of the conflict.
The Mission’s ability to fully monitor and assess the situation on the ground — in a total area of 104,000 km sq. — and to interact with the full spectrum of interlocutors was essential, as illustrated in the context of recent violence following a sports event and of evidence of “simmering community tensions” in the west, which the Secretary-General said was another consequence of the absence of a peace agreement between Morocco and the Frente Polisario and the continuing status quo, the report stated.
Expressing concern about the violations of existing agreements and calling on the parties to respect their relevant obligations, the Security Council called upon 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.
It further called upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the efforts made since 2006 and subsequent developments, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Following the adoption of the resolution, Morocco’s representative said the text reiterated the importance and priority of the initiative of self-determination.
“There is no alternative to negotiations,” he said. “We will not move backwards. Since 2001, we have thought that the referendum approach could result in tension in a society which is still seeking to find solutions by consensus. We believe we will be able to live as neighbours in our neighbourhood.”
However, South Africa’s representative, also speaking after the vote, expressed concern over the resolution’s failure to more fully address human rights issues, especially in light of the Security Council’s recent bold steps in that field, particularly in northern Africa and the Middle East.
“The continuation of that trend will threaten to erode the Mission,” he cautioned. Still, his country voted in favour of the resolution because of the need to resolve the Western Sahara issue in a peaceful manner.
Today’s resolution came on the heels of the Secretary-General’s 5 April report, in which he recommended the extension because the Mission remained relevant as a guarantor for the stability of the ceasefire and as a visible commitment of the international community to achieve a resolution of the conflict.
The Mission’s ability to fully monitor and assess the situation on the ground — in a total area of 104,000 km sq. — and to interact with the full spectrum of interlocutors was essential, as illustrated in the context of recent violence following a sports event and of evidence of “simmering community tensions” in the west, which the Secretary-General said was another consequence of the absence of a peace agreement between Morocco and the Frente Polisario and the continuing status quo, the report stated.
Expressing concern about the violations of existing agreements and calling on the parties to respect their relevant obligations, the Security Council called upon 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.
It further called upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the efforts made since 2006 and subsequent developments, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Following the adoption of the resolution, Morocco’s representative said the text reiterated the importance and priority of the initiative of self-determination.
“There is no alternative to negotiations,” he said. “We will not move backwards. Since 2001, we have thought that the referendum approach could result in tension in a society which is still seeking to find solutions by consensus. We believe we will be able to live as neighbours in our neighbourhood.”
However, South Africa’s representative, also speaking after the vote, expressed concern over the resolution’s failure to more fully address human rights issues, especially in light of the Security Council’s recent bold steps in that field, particularly in northern Africa and the Middle East.
“The continuation of that trend will threaten to erode the Mission,” he cautioned. Still, his country voted in favour of the resolution because of the need to resolve the Western Sahara issue in a peaceful manner.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Security-Counci...