Bir-Lehlou (Liberated Zones), June 25, 2016 (SPS) – President of Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Jatri Adduh, has expressed the concern of the Polisario Front over the lack of progress after two months of the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2285(2016) on Western Sahara.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon, President of Republic said “I am writing to express our concern related to the fact that nearly two months after the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2285(2016) on Western Sahara, there is no progress on the UN political process to find a just, fair and peaceful solution that will ensure the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 1514(XIX) and the UN settlement Plan that was endorsed by the Security Council resolutions 658(1990) and 690(1991).”
“By adopting resolution 2285(2016), the Security Council has underlined the urgent need for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to return to ‘full functionality’, and has recognized that Morocco’s expulsion of the MINURSO civilian personnel constitutes a direct threat to peace and security in Western Sahara and the region. Morocco’s actions are a brazen attempt to shut down the UN’s role in Western Sahara, despite the legal obligations it had agreed to in accepting MINURSO’s presence in Western Sahara.”
“So far, not a single staff member has been returned nor has tangible progress been made to restore the full-functionality of MINURSO. Instead of holding Morocco accountable to implementing resolution 2285(2016) in good faith, it seems to us that the UN continues to allow Morocco to persist in its attempts to intimidate and undermine the independence and credibility of MINURSO, which was mandated to organize a self-determination referendum for the people of Western Sahara,” added the President of the Republic.
The President of the Republic called for return to full functionality of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and outlining a process for “direct, intensive, time-bound and high-level talks” between the Frente POLISARIO and Morocco.
Below is the full text of the letter:
“ 25 June 2016
To His Excellency, Mr. Ban Ki-moon
UN Secretary-General
United Nations, New York
Your Excellency,
a través de Polisario Front expresses concern over lack of progress after UN SC resolution 2285 | Sahara Press Service