Security Council extends by one month term of UN mission in Sahara
Morocco-UN, Politics, 3/31/1999

The U.N. Security Council approved on Tuesday a one-month extension of the mandate of the MINURSO, that was to expire on March 30.

The mandate of the MINURSO, the UN mission supervising the holding of a referendum in the Sahara, will thus be extended until April 30, to give sufficient time to all involved parties to reach an agreement on the implementation of protocols related to the identification and appeals procedures of persons of Sahrawi descent.

The Security Council asks the two parties, Morocco and the Polisario, an Algeria-backed movement claiming the independence of the Sahara, to carry on talks to reach an agreement on the repatriation of refugees.

In its resolution S/1232 The council also welcomed the signing by Morocco and the MINURSO of an agreement on mines and unexploded ordnance and invited the Polisario to make a similar move.

Last week, Secretary-General Kofi Annan recommended to the Security Council a one-month extension of the MINURSO in the hope that "by that time, it would be possible to assess with greater precision the prospects for implementing these activities within a reasonable period of time, and in a manner that would preserve the essence of the package of measures."

The issue of identification and appeals (of persons who consider that they were denied the right to be included in the voter lists) has been a major obstacle to the holding of a much-delayed referendum in the Sahara, as the Polisario is trying to shrink the electorate. The guerilla movement is claiming the independence of the Sahara, a former Spanish colony retrieved by Morocco in 1975 under the Madrid accords.

The vote, originally scheduled for January 1992 is now slated for March 2000. It is to determine whether the former Spanish colony would remain part of Morocco or become independent, as claimed by the Polisario.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco underlines positive tone of UN secretary general's latest report on Sahara   (3/26/1999)
  UN Secretary General recommends one-month extension of MINURSO mandate   (3/24/1999)
  Former UN special representative in the Sahara hails Morocco's efforts for MINURSO success   (3/23/1999)

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