UN committee postpones debates on MINURSO financing
Morocco-UN, Politics, 2/26/1999

The UN consultative committee In charge of administrative and budgetary issues has decided to postpone to a later date studying the financing of the MINURSO (the UN Mission for the referendum in the Sahara).

At a meeting held early this week, the UN committee said it prefers to wait for the UN secretary general's report scheduled for next March 22 before looking into MINURSO's financial aspects.

Last November, the UN General Assembly approved $37.3 million to ensure MINURSO's continued functioning until June 30, 1999.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, reviewed Wednesday the evolution of the Sahara issue as well as the situations in Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, East Timor, Republic Democratic of Congo and Mynamar.

Morocco said Thursday that it accepts the postponement of the referendum in the Sahara, if the UN secretary general decides it and provided that the delay guarantees the respect of all Moroccan requests mainly the participation of all Sahrawis in the UN voting operation.

A week ago, the U.N secretary general said the referendum, which was scheduled for next December in the Sahara, may be postponed in view of the delays made in the implementation of the UN settlement plan.

The UN plan provides for the holding of a self-determination referendum in the Sahara to determine whether that former Spanish colony -- retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords -- sets up on its own, as claimed by the Polisario or is incorporated into Morocco.

The referendum, which was proposed by Morocco in the early 1980's, is trapped in obstacles sown by the Polisario, which seeks to limit the electorate.

The U.N Security Council extended lately the mandate of the MINURSO till next March 31. The MINURSO has been deployed in the Sahara since the early 1990's.

Previous Stories:
  Projected Sahara referendum will probably be postponed, UN chief says   (2/13/1999)
  Morocco, U.N. sign accord on MINURSO forces status, Security Council extends mission   (2/12/1999)
  Morocco renews wish to see Sahara referendum held   (2/5/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search