Algiers failed to have draft resolution on Moroccan Sahara adopted at the UN

Algeria failed to make members of the UN General Assembly 4th committee adopt its draft resolution on the Moroccan Sahara, as they preferred to put off making their decision 48 hours to allow parties reach a consensual text.

On a proposal of the European Union, backed by Canada, Senegal and Russia, the Committee decided to give parties additional time to reach a consensual draft resolution.

Morocco's permanent representative in the United Nations, Mohamed Bennouna expressed in the name of the Moroccan government gratitude to the president of the Committee and all partiers that called on the committee members to show clear-sightedness in the Moroccan Sahara dossier.

The goal, he said, is not to gather the maximum of votes but to reach a mutually acceptable political settlement to the Sahara conflict.

Morocco and Algeria are at loggerheads over the Moroccan Sahara because of Algiers' logistic, military and diplomatic backing of the Polisario separatists that are claiming the secession of this territory.

Bennouna asked the Committee to draw inspiration from the Security Council's report to the General Assembly, a report that Algeria has approved as a member of the Council. The document refers to last April's resolution 1541 and to the decision of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to appoint Alvaro de Soto, to go ahead with the political mediation mission after the resignation of James Baker.

A member of the Committee has expressed at the meeting astonishment that his country was mentioned as co-author of the resolution proposed by Algeria.