Complete implementation of resolution 1359 will allow lasting solution to Sahara Issue, Morocco Says
Morocco has emphasized that only a complete implementation of (UN security council) resolution 1359 will allow for a final and lasting solution to the Sahara issue.
"The Kingdom of Morocco remains convinced that only the complete implementation in good faith of resolution 1359 will allow for a final and lasting solution to this question of the Sahara, on which depends the revival of cooperation in the Maghreb region," Morocco's permanent representative to the United Nations, Mohamed Bennouna, told MAP news agency.
The diplomat was speaking to MAP news agency following the adoption of resolution 1380 (2001) dated November 27th, 2001, whereby the U.N Security Council responds to the letter of the Secretary General S/2001/1067 of November 12th, 2001, in which he considers that his Personal Envoy, Mr. James Baker, needs more time in order to bring all the parties to the conflict to negotiate on the basis of the Framework Agreement on the status of the Sahara.
On June 29th, 2001, the Security Council resolution 1359 encouraged "the parties to discuss the draft Framework Agreement and to negotiate any specific changes they would like to see in this proposal" while fixing a deadline of five months for this exercise.
Bennouna underlined that "Morocco has, since the adoption of resolution 1359, expressed its full readiness to negotiate on the basis of the Framework Agreement while the other two parties, Algeria and Polisario, have displayed a systematic refusal."
"This position having been maintained throughout the last period, the new deadline of three months, which has just been agreed by the Security Council, aims at bringing these two parties to comply with resolution 1359 by engaging in the recommended negotiations and also by releasing the 1479 persons detained in camps for more than twenty years," he said.
Bennouna equally stressed that Morocco will continue to support the efforts to be undertaken to this effect by Mr. Baker during the forthcoming three months.
