Security Council extends UN Sahara Mission term for three months
Morocco-UN, Politics, 10/30/2003

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Tuesday Resolution 1513 that extends by another three months the MINURSO term (French acronym for the UN mission in the Sahara), that is until 31 January 2004.

The resolution asks UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to submit a report on the situation to the Security Council before the end of the new term.

Morocco hailed the new resolution voicing hope that the new deadline will help find a realistic and final political solution that respects its sovereignty and territorial integrity over its southern provinces retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid Accord with Spain, the former occupying power and Mauritania.

Morocco had rejected the plan mooted by Annan's personal envoy to the Sahara, James Baker, on the grounds that it undermines the territorial integrity of the kingdom. The adoption of the new resolution came after a visit of US assistant secretary of state William Burns to Maghreban countries notably Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. At the end of his tour, the American official said his country encourages Morocco and Algeria to engage in direct talks for a political settlement of the Sahara issue.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco pleads for adoption of a UN reform strategy   (10/29/2003)
  Morocco-EU informal working group on 'advanced status' to meet early next year   (10/28/2003)
  Moroccan political parties reject Baker's plan for sahara as dangerous escalation   (10/27/2003)

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