Rabat – The 15 members of the Security Council issued a press statement after holding a meeting on the Western Sahara conflict on January 29.
In the statement issued by Council President Jose Singer Weisinger, the members reiterated their support for the UN-led political process and the efforts of the Secretary-General’s personal envoy, Horst Kohler, who is committed to convening the parties involved in the conflict for a second time in March.
The statement said that the council members welcome “the Personal Envoy’s briefing and stand ready to continue to support the Personal Envoy in the fulfilment of his mandate.”
The statement also recalled Resolution 2440, which called on all parties to work constructively with the envoy to find an agreed upon and mutually acceptable political solution to end the conflict.
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“In line with resolution 2440 (2018), the members of the Security Council welcomed the participation of Morocco, the Frente Polisario, Algeria, and Mauritania in an initial round-table discussion on 5 and 6 December 2018.”
The Security Council also confirmed that Kohler will convene the parties in another roundtable of talks in the first quarter of 2019.
The council “voiced support for their ongoing and constructive engagement with the Personal Envoy.”
The statement of the Security Council further explained the importance of the involvement of all parties in the talks to resolve the conflict.
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Kohler is set to meet with senior officials from all the parties to discuss the date for the second roundtable.
Ahead of the meeting, the Moroccan government announced its firm position that its Autonomy Plan is all it can offer for the conflict.
Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN, Omar Hilale, said that Morocco is ready to negotiate but only within the framework of its Autonomy Plan, introduced to the UN in 2007.
“That is everything, and within the sovereignty of Morocco,” Hilale added.
