Security Council satisfied over progress in UN settlement plan in Sahara
Morocco-West Sahara, Politics, 8/27/1998

The UN Security Council expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved in some aspects of the UN settlement plan for the Sahara, mainly regarding the identification process of persons eligible to vote in the projected referendum.

The council chairman, Turk Danilo (Slovenia), noted that some progress has been achieved in some components of the UN settlement plan, mainly regarding the identification process which is "moving forward." He also noted some delays in other fields, adding that discussions will be held next September.

The council's chairman made the statement following the council's discussion of the latest UN secretary-general's report in which he said "there are excellent prospects for completing in August 1998 the identification of applicants from all tribal groups and sub-factions, with the exception of (contested) groupings H41, H61 and J51/52."

Annan said his special envoy, James Baker, "is considering contacts with the parties in early September 1998, following which he will assess the implementability of the Plan in its present form and examine whether there are any adjustments to the Plan, acceptable to both parties, which would significantly improve the chances of implementing it."

Regarding the issue of the contested tribes, the secretary general regrets that neither Morocco nor the Polisario have come up with any practical suggestions which would allow for a reconciliation of their points of view.

The report also notes that as of August 16, 1998, a total of 145,928 persons had been identified as potential voters in the referendum that the world body intends to hold in the territory to determine whether this former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords would stand on its own or incorporate with Morocco.

The report "welcomes the agreements of the Moroccan authorities to formalize the presence of UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees)."

Annan added that Baker's conclusions would determine his next report, expected by mid September, and the extension of the mandate of MINURSO (acronym in French for UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara).

The Security Council approved on July 20 a resolution extending the MINURSO mandate until September 21, 1998.

The UN mission, which supervises a ceasefire in force since September 1991, comprises 203 military observers, 10 staff officers, 248 troopers and 80 civilian police observers.

Previous Stories:
  Sahara identification process will be completed in August   (8/21/1998)
  U.N. mission identifies 80,476 would-be voters in Sahara referendum   (7/27/1998)
  U.N. opens new identification center in central Morocco   (7/21/1998)

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