Cape Town (South Africa), Sept 1, 2012 (SPS) - A delegation of the POLISARIO Front is participating at work of the 24th Congress of Socialist International taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 29 Aug to 1 Sept, 2012.
The delegation is led by the Minister of State Mr. Bashir Mustapha Sayad and composed of the Minister for Europe, Mr. Mohamed Sidati, Minister for Africa, Mr. Brahim Mokhtar, Ambassador to South Africa, Mr. Salha Al-Abd, the POLISARIO Representative to Italy, Ms. Ammia Omar, and International Secretary of Saharawi Youth Union, Mahfud Salama.
The delegation held important meetings and talks with some participating delegations and with leaders of the Organization, a close source to the delegation informed SPS.
Addressing participants of Socialist International Congress, the Minister of State thanked South Africa, in particular the African National Congress, for hosting the event, calling for the actual embodiment of the Congress theme “for a new internationalism and a new culture of solidarity”, exploring nature of Western Sahara conflict, which is to enable the right to self-determination for the Saharawi people through a free and transparent referendum according to international charters.
“After Spain escaped from Western Sahara without assuming its responsibilities, Moroccan occupation opposed international legitimacy and law. This resulted in heinous crimes including the separation of the territory and people, hundreds of thousands of refugees, hundreds of disappeared and prisoners and pillaging the resources and wealth,” said Mr. Bashir Mustapha Sayad, speaking to the attendees.
He underlined that the peace series launched by the United Nations in Western Sahara being “constantly obstructed” by Morocco, last was withdrawing confidence from the UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy Christopher Ross “and this makes our call, this time, to the Socialist International stronger and higher for the effective contribution to secure the peace process and accelerate a political solution for the benefit of Arab Maghreb region and the world,” he added.
Over four hundred participants from more than one hundred political parties and organizations are attending the event.
The Congress was opened by the South African President Mr. Jacob Zuma.
It should be recalled that the Polisario Front is an observer member of the Socialist International. (SPS)
090/089/TRA