UN calls on Polisario, Morocco to resume talks

United Nations is preparing a formal proposal for the relaunch of negotiations between the Polisario Front and Morocco on occupied Western Sahara, the deputy spokesman of the UN chief Farhan Haq said Monday. 

"A formal proposal is being made to the parties and the neighbouring states," namely the Polisario Front and Morocco, Haq said at his daily press briefing.

The UN Security Council said in a resolution adopted in April that the parties to the conflict must prepare for a fifth round.

Last Tuesday, the Security Council called for the resumption of talks between the Polisario Front and Morocco culminating in the holding of a referendum on Western Sahara people's self-determination.

Farhan Haq said UN envoy Christopher Ross has had several contacts with the two parties to the conflict and the neighbouring countries, over the past weeks, to re-invigorate the Western Sahara negotiation process.