UN extends mission in the Sahara for two more months
Morocco, Politics, 2/28/2002

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday decided to extend the mandate of MINURSO ( UN mission in the Sahara) for an additional two months until next April 30 and to consider proposals for the territory outlined by the secretary general in his latest report.

The Council unanimously adopted the resolution providing for the MINURSO mandate extension and asked the Secretary General to provide a report on the situation in the Sahara before the end of the mandate.

In his latest report submitted on February 19 to the Council, Annan outlined four options for the Sahara Issue: resume attempts to implement the settlement plan, revise the draft framework agreement, hold discussions over a possible division of the territory, or terminate the UN mission in the Sahara.

Morocco has rejected the idea of partitioning the territory and has renewed in a letter to the U.N. security council categorical rejection of any proposal meant to harm its territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces while renewing commitment to negotiate a fair and lasting solution on the basis of the draft framework-agreement.

Morocco also drew the international community's attention to the fate of more than 1,362 prisoners held by the Algeria-backed Polisario separatists, some of whom for more than 20 years, and to the dire living conditions of population sequestered in the Polisario camps, in western Algeria.

On Tuesday, the Security council shared Morocco's concerns over the situation of Moroccan prisoners in Algeria and urged for their immediate release.

The Council president Adolfo Aguilar Zinser (Mexico) said the council members, who heard a report by Hedi Annabi, assistant secretary general for peacekeeping operations, urged the separatists to release all prisoners of war and urged the parties to avoid any action that can aggravate the situation.

Annan had also in his report deplored that to date some 1,362 Moroccans are still detained on Algerian soil, most of whom for more than 20 years and invited the council members to join him in calling for their immediate release. He also reported on the precarious situation in which the population sequestered in the Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria) is living and the frequent food shortages facing them.

Here follows the full text of Resolution 1349 adopted on Thursday by the Security Council:

"The Security Council,

"Reaffirming its previous resolutions on the Sahara and its commitment to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution,

"taking note of the report of the secretary general of February 19, 2002,

"1. Decides, as recommended by the secretary general in his report of February 19, to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the referendum in western Sahara (MINURSO) until April 30, 2002 and to consider actively the options described in his report, addressing this issue in its program of work;

2. Requests the secretary general to provide a report on the situation before the end of the present mandate;

3. Decides to remain seized of the matter."

Previous Stories:
  Security Council expresses concern over humanitarian situation of Moroccan prisoners in Algeria   (2/27/2002)
  Morocco denies Spanish information on readiness to discuss Sahara partitioning   (2/26/2002)
  Morocco renews to UN rejection of sahara partitioning idea, commitment to negotiate   (2/26/2002)

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