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London,
26/03/2007 (SPS) The Australian Western Sahara Association (AWSA)
called on the UN General Secretary, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, to pay the
necessary efforts to enable the Saharawi people exercise their right
to self-determination, conforming to the UN pertinent resolutions,
estimating that "autonomy" plan, proposed by Morocco is "no more
than a manoeuvre to evade" this right.
In a letter
addressed by AWSA to the UN Secretary General, the President of the
Association, Mr. Nick O’Neill, called on the highest UN's official
to do his "utmost so to ensure that: the process of decolonization
of Western Sahara is completed within the shortest possible
timeframe, through the organisation of a referendum on
self-determination, the Saharawi population in the territories
occupied by Morocco is protected and is able to exercise its civil
and political rights, and the exploitation of the Saharawi natural
resources by Morocco is brought to an end".
Here is the
full text of the letter, of which SPS received a copy:
His
Excellency, Ban Ki Moon,
Secretary-General,
United Nations
Organisation
New York
NY 10017
USA
Your
Excellency,
I am writing
to you on behalf of the Australian Western Sahara Association (AWSA)
to congratulate you on your appointment as Secretary-General of the
United Nations Organisation and to wish you every success in
undertaking that enormously difficult role.
I am also
writing because, as you take up your new position, the fundamental
right of the Saharawi people to self-determination is seriously at
risk.
As you will
already be aware, the question of Western Sahara is one of
decolonization, in terms of the UN Charter and of Resolutions
1514(XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541(XV) of 15 December 1960 of the
General Assembly of the United Nations. Consequently, the
decolonisation of Western Sahara is a direct responsibility of the
UN.
For more than
30 years now the UN, through Resolutions of the General Assembly and
the Security Council, has repeatedly reaffirmed the right to
self-determination of the Saharawi people and has developed various
plans in settlement of the conflict, namely:
the UN’s
Settlement Plan approved by the Security Council through Resolution
658 of 27 June 1990 and 690 of 29 April 1991, the Houston Agreements
signed in September 1997 by both conflict parties, and the Peace
Plan for Self-Determination of the People of Western Sahara
elaborated by James Baker III, at the request of the Security
Council and approved by the Council through Resolution 1495 of 31
July 2003.
These
resolutions and plans, and the negotiations they reflect clearly
show that the settlement of the Western Sahara question cannot be
achieved except through a fair and just referendum on
self-determination, in which the Saharawi people can express,
without any restraint, their choice on their future.
We at AWSA are
aware of Morocco’s attempt to present a proposal, the details of
which have not yet been made public, for “autonomy” for Western
Sahara, but as part of Morocco. This no more than a manoeuvre to
evade the inalienable right of the Saharawi people to exercise their
right to self-determination. It is incompatible with international
law and unacceptable diplomatically.
Whatever the
international situation may be and however strong the pressure
exercised by Morocco and its allies, the right of the Saharawi
people to determine their own future through the UN’s decolonisation
processes remains the adamantine rule. It cannot be infringed either
by the occupying forces of Morocco, or by the international
community waiving its obligations.
AWSA is aware
that during April 2007, you will be reporting to the UN Security
Council on the progress made in relation to the resolution of
question of Western Sahara. We urge you, commencing with that report
and through your subsequent actions, to do your utmost so to ensure
that: the process of decolonization of Western Sahara is completed
within the shortest possible timeframe, through the organisation of
a referendum on self-determination, the Saharawi population in the
territories occupied by Morocco is protected and is able to exercise
its civil and political rights, and the exploitation of the Saharawi
natural resources by Morocco is brought to an end.
Yours
sincerely
Nick O’Neill
AWSA President".
(SPS)
020/090/700
261030 MAR 07 SPS
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