USA urges the two parties to constructively work with Baker

The United States urged the parties to the Sahara issue (Morocco and the Polisario) "to work constructively" with the U.N Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, James Baker to Bring a "Comprehensive conclusion" to the Sahara issue.

"We urge the parties to work constructively with him (James Baker) to bring this long-standing dispute to a comprehensive and mutually-agreeable conclusion," Peter Burleigh, Charge D'Affaires of the United States Mission to the United Nations, said.

The U.S Diplomat made the statement following the extension of the mandate of the U.N. Mission for the Referendum in the Sahara (Minurso) until next October 31.

"The United States would like to congratulate the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Ambassador Charles Dunbar, and his staff, for their tireless efforts in completing the registration of all the non-contested applicants," Burleigh said.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a recent report that with the identification of 147,350 applicants, the identification of would-be voters in the referendum had now largely been completed except for members of three contested tribal groupings, H41, H61 and J51/52.

Those are tribes that fled the Spanish occupation and that are denied eligibility by the Polisario (an Algerian-Backed secessionist movement claiming sovereignty over the Moroccan southern provinces).

The referendum is to decide whether the Sahara should be incorporated into Morocco or become independent, as sought by the Polisario.

Burleigh also voiced Washington's backing to the engagement of James Baker in the settlement process.

"We continue to strongly support the further engagement on the part of the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Mr. James Baker, in the settlement plan process," he added.

Annan's latest report to the security council announced that James Baker is planning to hold contacts with the parties to settle the issue of contested tribes.

following the mission, Baker "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."