UN envoy on Western Sahara finishes `intensive' talks in Algeria

Source: United Nations News Service

Date: 25 Feb 2009

As he left for Spain today to continue consultations on Western
Sahara, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Personal Envoy on the matter
said that his talks with Algerian officials had been "intensive,
frank and useful."

"These discussions dealt with Algeria's position toward the Western
Sahara issue and the best means to resume the negotiating process,"
Christopher Ross said before resuming a trip which has taken him to
Rabat, Morocco and Sahara refugee camps and which will continue in
Paris and Washington.

He recalled that negotiation between the parties –Morocco and the
Polisario Front –¬ were called for by the Security Council to find
a "just and lasting political solution…that provides for self-
determination for the Saharawi people," he said.

Morocco holds that its sovereignty over Western Sahara should be
recognized, while the Frente Polisario's position is that the
Territory's final status should be decided in a referendum that
includes independence as an option.

In Algeria, discussions were held with President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
and the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs by Mr. Ross, for whom
this is the first trip to the area since taking up his post last
month.

At this stage of his trip, he said, he had "arrived at a clear
understanding of the positions and points of view of the two parties
and one of the neighbouring states and have found them to have a
sincere desire to continue down the road and support my efforts."

He added that he also intends to visit Mauritania at the earliest
possible opportunity.

Mr. Ross, who replaced previous Personal Envoy Peter van Walsum, is
expected to return to New York following the trip for further
consultations at UN Headquarters.

Several rounds of UN-led talks, bringing together representatives
from Morocco and the Frente Polisario, held last year resulted in the
parties agreeing to continue negotiations in good faith towards a
solution to the issue.

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Source: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/MYAI-7PM5E3?
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For related news, see also:
- AP: UN envoy commits to Saharawi self-determination, Feb 22, 2009
- AFP: UN envoy in Morocco over Western Sahara, Feb 19, 2009
- UN News Centre: Secretary-General names two new senior UN envoys +
biographical note on Ross, Jan 8, 2009