SAHARA PRESS SERVICE

Sidney, 07/03/2004 (SPS) Australian Senate urged its government to persuade Morocco to accept UN's peace plan, presented last February 2002 to the parties by Mr. James Baker, UN Secretary General's Personal envoy to Western Sahara, according to a motion unanimously adopted by the Senate that SPS received.

The motion sponsored by Senators, Lyn Allison (Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats Party) and Kerry Nettle (of the Greens Party), deplored the ''13 years'' delays of ''the original peace plan'', and urges the Australian Federal Government to "use its best efforts to persuade Morocco to sign the latest UN peace plan that is based on the organisation of a referendum of self-determination in Western Sahara''.

Taking note of the ''28th anniversary of the proclamation of the Saharawi republic'', the Senate appealed the government to ''provide humanitarian assistance to the Saharawi refugees who need food and medicine urgently''.

Finally, the Senate noted with satisfaction the Moroccan government acceptance of the ''exchange of family visits for Saharawis separated by war, occupation and the 2 720 km long military rampart erected by Morocco''. (SPS)

010/090/610/TRD 071325 Mar 04 SPS