They blinked first
When two sides are on a collision course, one realises the consequences blinks and turns away to avoid the collision. In the case of the draft extension of the MINURSO mandate, good sense and the support of Morocco's allies in America, not least the outgoing US Ambassador Sam Kaplan, prevailed.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/They-blinked-fi...
There is much speculation on what happened on the American side but it seems that the US Ambassador to the UN the forthright and formidable Susan Rice,took the decision to put forward a draft which would have given MINURSO powers over human rights in the Moroccan Sahara. It seems she was delegated to put forward the draft whilst Secretary of State John Kerry was dealing with the ongoing crisis in North Korea and Syria.
One can reflect on the aftermath of the attack on the United States diplomatic mission in Benghazi and the death of the Ambassador and three diplomatic staff. Subsequent questioning over the incident and what the U.S. administration knew about it seemed to reveal a lack of corodination over the administration's communication especially over Ambassador Rice's statement that the attack was the result of a spontaneous demonstration which she later admitted to be wrong information based on briefing notes by the security services. The controversy over the draft proposal on MINURSO seems to reveal some elements of a lack of communication between key elements on the American side. Diplomacy is at least in part the art of the possible, or at least knowing what will work or not. It should have been obvious that Morocco would never accept the proposed extension of MINURSO's role to include human rights surveillance on what Morocco has always proclaimed as its sovereign territory .
Morocco has won a notable diplomatic victory but the challenge of a resolution of the conflict remains. The UN has acknowledged that Morocco has made considerable progress on human rights,more than any other country in the region, but both sides also acknowledge that more progress has to be achieved. The difficult balance of maintaining security in an insecure region whilst guaranteeing human rights is a challenge. Judicial reform which has been promised is an important element in this process as is more sensitive policing, sometimes in the face of provocation.The international concern on global human rights is growing as more conflicts produce more suffering and atrocities . This will not change and all countries will be affected by these concerns.
Compromises of some sort will have to be made if there is to be a solution to the conflict, Northern Ireland offers some examples in this respect although every situation is difficult. That a solution to the Sahara issue is vital is clear to all, given the rise of terrorism in the region which now threatens the whole of the Maghreb.
One can reflect on the aftermath of the attack on the United States diplomatic mission in Benghazi and the death of the Ambassador and three diplomatic staff. Subsequent questioning over the incident and what the U.S. administration knew about it seemed to reveal a lack of corodination over the administration's communication especially over Ambassador Rice's statement that the attack was the result of a spontaneous demonstration which she later admitted to be wrong information based on briefing notes by the security services. The controversy over the draft proposal on MINURSO seems to reveal some elements of a lack of communication between key elements on the American side. Diplomacy is at least in part the art of the possible, or at least knowing what will work or not. It should have been obvious that Morocco would never accept the proposed extension of MINURSO's role to include human rights surveillance on what Morocco has always proclaimed as its sovereign territory .
Morocco has won a notable diplomatic victory but the challenge of a resolution of the conflict remains. The UN has acknowledged that Morocco has made considerable progress on human rights,more than any other country in the region, but both sides also acknowledge that more progress has to be achieved. The difficult balance of maintaining security in an insecure region whilst guaranteeing human rights is a challenge. Judicial reform which has been promised is an important element in this process as is more sensitive policing, sometimes in the face of provocation.The international concern on global human rights is growing as more conflicts produce more suffering and atrocities . This will not change and all countries will be affected by these concerns.
Compromises of some sort will have to be made if there is to be a solution to the conflict, Northern Ireland offers some examples in this respect although every situation is difficult. That a solution to the Sahara issue is vital is clear to all, given the rise of terrorism in the region which now threatens the whole of the Maghreb.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/They-blinked-fi...