ELAP urges UN to hold self-determination referendum in Western Sahara

Quito, October 2, 2016 (SPS) - The 3rd Latin American Progressive Meeting (ELAP) adopted a final declaration calling for the United Nations to take urgent action for the holding of a referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara, as a decisive step to eradicate the last vestiges of colonialism in the world.

The meeting, held September28-30, in Quito under the slogan: "'For an ethical political Latin American Pact", was opened by the president of the Ecuador Mr. Rafael Correa along with former Presidents Mr. Pepe Mujica and Ms. Cristina Kirchner, in presence of leaders, intellectuals, politicians, journalists and social organizations, and more than 90 parties and movements in Latin America and the world, including the Polisario Front.

Invited by the PAIS Alliance of Ecuador (organizer of the event), Saharawi Ambassador to Quito Dr. Ali Salem Sidi Zein, hosted a conference under the theme: "the conflict of Western Sahara and the media", attended by more than 200 people.

On the sidelines of this event, the Saharawi diplomat had several meetings with delegations and participating officials during which he informed his interlocutors of the latest developments of the Saharawi question at the level of the United Nations and the human rights violations in the occupied territories by Morocco and its illegal looting of natural resources in collusion with some foreign companies.

The meeting witnessed the organization of conferences, round tables, debates and other activities. (SPS)

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