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Addis Ababa, 03/02 / 2009 (SPS) The UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon announced Monday in Addis Ababa, that further negotiations will be resumed "soon" between Morocco and the POLISARIO Front.
"I will soon launch new negotiations" between Morocco and the POLISARIO Front, said Ban Ki-Moon, at a press conference hosted on the sidelines of the 12 AU summit in Addis Ababa, expressing wish to see this issue making progress.
As part of his "earnest hope" about the progress expected in the coming negotiations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon underlined the "large and varying experience of Mr. Christopher Ross, recently appointed new Personal Envoy to the region.
He indicated that Mr. Ross is currently touring the region, before visiting the Ethiopian capital where he will meet the President of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping.
Mr. Ban Ki-moon, appointed on 8 January, Mr. Christopher Ross to the post of special envoy for Western Sahara. "He will work with the parties and neighbouring countries based on resolution 1813 of the Security Council, the previous resolutions and the progress made so far, with the goal of achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution providing for self-determination to the people of Western Sahara ", he stressed.
Western Sahara is the last colony in Africa. It is considered non-autonomous territory by the UN since 1966. Morocco and the Polisario Front have begun in June 2007, direct talks, under UN auspices. Four rounds have been held in Manhasset, near New York, without achieving a real progress.
The aim of these negotiations, as defined by the Security Council, is to achieve a political solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, which respects the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people. A fifth round of talks will be held at a date which has to be determined. (SPS)
062/090/TRA 03 1300 FEB 09 SPS
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