CEE Alliance calls on Security Council to consider UN resolutions on Western Sahara when reviewing MINURSO mandate

Budapest, April 23, 2012 (MAP) - The Central and Eastern European Alliance for Solidarity with the Saharawi People (CEE Alliance) called Monday on the Security Council to address the question of Western Sahara on the basis of the implementation of UN resolutions and international legality, when reviewing tomorrow the mandate of MINURSO, in a letter sent to UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

The letter asserted that since long CEE Alliance has been concerned about the adverse political developments in Western Sahara and expressed its opinion on several international forums, adding that it kept informed the EU Council, the European Parliament, the Hungarian government and leaders of the parliamentary factions about the worsening of the situation.

The letter noted that events took place in parts of the Middle East and North Africa “have demonstrated clearly that any political solution in Western Sahara must reflect the will of its people if it is to be credible, sustainable, and foster peace, security and regional integration in the long term.”

CEE Alliance reiterated its objectives in supporting the political process of decolonization of the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara through a self determination, underlying that Morocco’s unilaterally-imposed solution of Autonomy “is incompatible with the Security Council’s formula for a mutually acceptable political solution.”

The letter called Ban’s attention to the continued and systematic human rights abuses and plunder of natural resources by the Moroccan Kingdom in the occupied territory of Western Sahara.

It also indicated that the past three years “have demonstrated with clarity the negative consequences of the failure of the Security Council and the UN to take decisive action to monitor and provide independent and accurate reporting on the human rights situation in Western Sahara.”

CEE Alliance noted that Moroccan authorities “have instituted a significant crackdown on freedom of speech in the territory targeting Saharawi human rights defenders in a manner inconsistent with Morocco’s international human rights treaty obligations.”

Security Council will discuss the report submitted by the UN Secretary General on the situation in Western Sahara, and will consider in the function of MINURSO, UN Mission for the Referendum of Western Sahara