Western Sahara conflict: Europe must play effective role for just, lasting solution, says Kheddad

Sahrawi Coordinator to the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso) Mohamed Kheddad said that "Europe must play an effective role in the search for a just and lasting solution to Western Sahara conflict."

Kheddad, also a member of the Polisario National Secretariat, who received a delegation of the Socialist Group at the European Parliament, hoped that this visit will have a "positive impact" for the Sahrawi cause in the European Parliament, reported the Sahrawi news agency SPS Thursday.

He also recalled that "the Sahrawi people will continue its struggle to recover their legitimate rights to self-determination and independence," calling on the international community to "put pressure on Morocco so to bring it to comply with the international law and honor its international commitments."

The Sahrawi diplomat informed the EP delegation of the latest developments of Western Sahara issue, notably tensions in the liberated zone of Alguergarat (Western Sahara) due to Morocco’s repeated breach of the ceasefire agreement signed between both parties in 1991 under the UN auspices.

Furthermore, a meeting on the MINURSO is being held Thursday at the UN Security Council.

UN Deputy Secretary-General for Peace-keeping Operations, Herve Ladsous, will present a report on its last visit to the MINURSO headquarters in the occupied city of Al-Ayun and the Sahrawi refugee camps.