Sahrawi coordinator with Minurso reaffirms in Moscow "Sahrawi cause is just"

MOSCOW-The Sahrawi coordinator with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso) M'hamed Khaddad called Friday in Moscow for "strict" compliance with the international legality to allow the people exercise the right to self-determination. 

Speaking at a joint press conference with other members of the Polisario Front delegation on a visit to Moscow, Khaddad said neither the long years of war nor Morocco's political manoeuvres undermined the determination of the Sahrawi people to regain independence."    

"The international community stresses a political settlement is essential as evidenced by the resolution 2285 adopted in April 2016 by the UN Security Council, which advocates the continuation of negotiations to allow the Sahrawi people exercise the self-determination of the Sahrawi people," stated Khaddad.

"The UN has a mission in Western Sahara since 1991, which is charge of holding the referendum. Morocco undermines UN's steps and measures to establish peace," he recalled.

As regards his visit to Morocco, the Sahrawi official called it "successful."

The Polisario Front delegation, made up of Brahim Mohamed Mahmoud, Secretary of State for Documentation and Security, Fatima Mehdi, Secretary General of General Union of Sahrawi women and Representative of the Polisario Front to Russia Ali Salem Mohamed Fadhel, held talks with the Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa Mikhail Bogdanov.

On this occasion, Bogdanov "reiterated Russia’s unchanging position on the need for a mutually acceptable political solution to this long-running problem, based on relevant UN resolutions, and emphasised Moscow’s desire to continue focused work in this area with all interested parties, in particular, with its partners in the Group of Friends of Western Sahara."