Rabat – Spain’s government has made available an airplane to enable the new UN envoy for Western Sahara to visit the region and maintain contacts with the main parties to the Sahara conflict.
Europa Press reported on Saturday that the Spanish government announced the news in a written parliamentary response to a question from far-right party VOX.
According to the Spanish government’s written response, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares has offered De Mistura “logistical support that Spain has provided to its predecessors, with the provision of a plane of the Spanish air force to travel to the region.”
The response also recalled Spain’s invitation to the new UN envoy for Western Sahara.
In its report, Europa Press emphasized that Spain renewed its commitment to the UN-led political process.
Albares had his first meeting with De Mistura on December 3 in Rome, in which the Spanish FM emphasized that Spain supports the UN’s efforts toward a lasting compromise-based settlement to the Sahara dispute.
Spain also reiterated its readiness to collaborate closely with De Mistura to promote the search for a mutually acceptable political solution.
The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, officially appointed de Mistura as his new envoy for Western Sahara on October 6.
De Mistura replaced former envoy Horst Kohler who resigned in 2019 for health issues.
With 40 years of experience in diplomacy, it remains to be seen whether de Mistura will be able to convene the parties to the conflict – Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front – to salvage the momentum achieved under Kohler.
The Algerian-backed separatist group of Polisario has repeatedly expressed its rejection of the latest UN resolution, saying it will not take part in roundtable peace talks.
The Western Sahara conflict has been ongoing for over 46 years.
