New UN resolution on Western Sahara gets positive reaction

24/10/2008

The United Nations General Assembly's Fourth Committee issued a new resolution on the outstanding Western Sahara issue between Morocco and the Polisario. Each party claims it serves their interests.

By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 24/10/08

[Getty Images] Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi-Fihri said a new UN resolution on Western Sahara supports Morocco's autonomy proposal.

The United Nations General Assembly's Fourth Committee approved Tuesday (October 21st) a draft resolution that would have parties to the Western Sahara dispute "continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to enter into a more intensive phase of negotiations".

The Assembly would also support the process of negotiations "with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that would provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara".

Morocco welcomed the resolution, claiming the document supports the kingdom's initiative for Saharan autonomy.

"By taking this resolution, the UN Fourth Committee... is deemed to have conducted a real re-formulation of the resolutions that it has taken since 1965," Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi-Fihri told the press.

Fassi-Fihri said the decision supports a "fact that the entire international community has confirmed; that autonomy is a modern form of self-determination according to the provisions of international law and UN practices".

The resolution confirms the centralisation of negotiations kicked off under UN Security Council Resolution 1754, the minister said, which was issued in April 2007 in support of Morocco's submission of the autonomy initiative.

The Polisario Front interpreted the new resolution in a different way, claiming it represents an endorsement by the international community of the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.

"Through this resolution," said Polisario member Mohamed Ould Salek, "the international community has reiterated that any just political solution must guarantee the exercise of the right to self-determination and independence by the Sahrawi people in conformity with the principles and resolutions of the UN regarding decolonisation."

The Front called on Morocco to "stop practicing its status quo policy and its blocking of the self-determination referendum, which represents the only and realistic way that can lead to a just and permanent settlement."

Algeria praised the resolution for its support of the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.

In a communiqué published by the Sahrawi News Agency, Algeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Algeria welcomes the release of the new resolution which clearly reiterates the correctness of the resolution taken by the General Assembly, which conforms to the UN Charter, and Security Council Resolution 1514 which calls for independence for colonised peoples and states."

Polisario leader Mohammed Abdelaziz said last Tuesday that he would meet UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on November 4th in New York "in order to enter into constructive and fruitful negotiations with Morocco".

"In the meeting, we shall discuss the possibility of holding a free, just and fair referendum for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people," Abdelaziz said.

"The Front is ready to negotiate," he stressed, adding that his group has accepted the proposed new UN envoy, Christopher Ross.

According to Mohammed V University law professor Taj Eddine El Houssaini, the importance of the new resolution is in its "framework of agreement, and also in the framework of deciding on a demand aimed at conforming to previous resolutions passed by the Security Council".

"It has also won the support of both the United States and the European Union," he said.

Regarding future negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario, he added: "The next stage will feature difficulties for the two sides with the approaching announcement of new UN special envoy Christopher Ross, who has won the acceptance of both Algeria and Polisario, while Morocco is still expressing some reservations."

"This is because Morocco doesn't want the negotiations to start from square one," El Housseini said, "as it considers what the negotiations have reached under the auspices of former envoy Van Walsum as some sort of gains, especially considering the demand for the Sahara independence as unrealistic."