SPS SADR/UN/REPORT/REACTION Ahmed Boukhari:
Self-determination is the legal and political requirement to resolve
the conflict of Western Sahara
26.03.05
Washington (United Nations),
26/04/2005 (SPS) Polisario Front's Representative to the UN, Ahmed
Boukhari, considered Monday in Washington that "self-determination is
the legal and political requirement established by the United Nations
for resolving the conflict of Western Sahara".
Here is the complete text of a letter addressed Monday by the Saharawi
diplomat to the President of the Security Council, Mr. Wang Guangya, in
response to the UN Secretary General's last report addressed to the
Council last Thursday.
" Ab/e/sc/1/04/05 His Excellency Mr. Wang Guangya President of the Security Council
New York, April 25, 2005
Mr. President,
I have the honour of addressing to you
this letter that contains the observations of the Frente POLISARIO to
the content of the report of the Secretary-General S/2005 / 254 of 19
April 2005, concerning Western Sahara:
1- The United Nations has from 1986 to
2004 been undertaken tireless efforts to peacefully resolve the
conflict of Western Sahara, on the basis of the right of the Saharawi
people to self-determination. The Settlement Plan, complemented by the
Houston Agreements, and the latest Peace plan for self-determination of
the people of Western Sahara, are the fruits of these efforts, which
were endorsed by the Security Council.
2-The report, unfortunately, has
chosen to ignore the above mentioned peace plans. By doing this, it is
exonerating, if not encouraging, the party whose deliberate attitude of
obstruction, deception and lack of good faith has placed the
credibility of the United Nations with regard to Western Sahara peace
process in a very serious situation.
3-Indeed, Morocco refuses to accept
the principle of self-determination of the Saharawi people, a principle
she has formally accepted for more than 10years. Furthermore,
self-determination is the legal and political requirement established
by the United Nations for resolving the conflict of Western Sahara.
4-Consequently, the fundamental
disagreement is not between the parties; it is, in fact, between
Morocco and the Charter of the United Nations, and between this country
and the numerous resolutions of the Security Council and the General
Assembly.
5-In this context, and while sincerely
sharing the concerns voiced in the report about the fragility of the
cease-fire that is now in force, the Frente POLISARIO considers that
this aspect should not become an end in itself or the only goal of the
United Nations’ involvement in the question of Western Sahara.
The parties should commit themselves
to respecting the terms of the military agreements they signed with
MINURSO, but they should also respect their commitments undertaken as
to the holding of a self-determination referendum. In conformity with
all peace plans endorsed by the Council, both pillars are intimately
linked.
6- With regard to other questions
covered in the report, the Frente POLISARIO would like to point out the
following:
a) The contingent of the 46 citizens
of Bangladesh, referred to in paragraph 12, belongs to a group that
landed in Casablanca’s airport carrying passports with entry visas to
Morocco. Just as in the past, the Moroccan civil and military
authorities transported the contingent in buses and later on in
four-wheel drive vehicles all the way to the defensive berm, within
Western Sahara territory. From there, and following inhuman treatment,
they were forced, at the beginning of April, to embark on their desert
journey where they were located by Saharawi military units that have
hitherto taken charge of providing them with accommodation, food and
other related services.
The group of 46 was preceded by
another group of Asian citizens, equally expelled from the berm by
Morocco authorities last year. They were saved from death in the desert
by Polisario military unites.
In any case, Moroccan behavior
demonstrates that its proclaimed policy to stop illegal migrants, as a
pretext to request from some European countries new military equipments
and radars and to introduce them into Western Sahara, has been denied
by the facts.
b.- Finally, the confidence-building
measures constitute a humanitarian operation that was successful.
However, its resumption is being hindered by Morocco that has resorted
to dilatory tactics that should not deceive anybody. Mr. President,
The Frente POLISARIO is firmly
convinced that the Security Council has the possibility of
reinvigorating the peace process with a view to holding the
self-determination referendum as it was stipulated in the Settlement
Plan and in Houston Agreements as well as in the latest peace plan
endorsed by resolution 1495 (2003). Morocco should cooperate with the
United Nations for achieving this objective that lies within the
framework of the responsibilities to be assumed with regard to the
eradication of colonialism.
The current stalemate is not an option
that should be allowed to continue. Its consequences are negative for
the credibility of the United Nations and for peace, stability and
regional development.
I should be grateful to your
Excellency if you would bring the content of this letter to the
attention of the Members of the Council.
I avail myself of this opportunity to
renew to you the assurances of my highest consideration.
Ahmed Boukhari Representative of the Polisario Front." (SPS)
SAHARA
PRESS SERVICE