UN Security Council Pushes Saharawi People To Resume War To Gain Their Freedom - OpEd | Western Sahara Update

Written by: Pambazuka News

April 28, 2012

By Malainin Lakhal

The Security Council’s resolution 2044 adopted Tuesday 24 of April 2012 is an exact duplicate of the previous resolution 1979 adopted last year, with the only difference in mentioning few events that took place after the adoption of the last one, especially the organization of a seminar in Madera and reported progress in the implementation of the family visit exchange programme..etc.

The resolution, like the previous one, superficially touched the main question of current debate and concern: The serious human rights violations by Morocco in Western Sahara. Worse, the Security Council member states simply used the same paragraph used in last year’s resolution without changing a coma, which means that they opted for maintaining the status quo, and want to give Morocco another opportunity to keep up with what it is already doing: violating Saharawi people’s civil, political, social and economic rights with the benediction and protection of France.

South Africa, on behalf of African countries, has rightly denounced the UN Security Council’s attitude, which was influenced by the position of France and the fact that Morocco is a member of the Council this year.

South African Ambassador, Baso Sangqu, said after the adoption of the new resolution that “it is an anomaly that MINURSO is one of the few UN (peacekeeping missions) that does not have a human rights mandate,” Sangqu said. “This double standard creates an impression that the Security Council does not give priority to the human rights of the people of Western Sahara.”

He further estimated that “the selective approach to human rights by this council calls into question the motivation of those who have conveniently looked the other way while human rights abuses are committed in the territory of Western Sahara,” warning that if this continued, Security Council credibility would “erode.”

The UN attitude reveals a clear will to give Morocco an additional opportunity to control the situation in Western Sahara and impose its expansionist plans in the last colony in Africa in complete violation of international law and against the right of the Saharawi people to freedom and independence.

Despite of all international pressures calls and campaigns launched this year by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, many other human rights organisations, political parties, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the member states only “copied and pasted” the same paragraph they have already adopted last year in resolution 1979, and this fact alone is a proof on the superficiality and even deliberate ignorance of the serious human rights situation in Western Sahara.

The new resolution only “Stresses the importance of improving the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the Tindouf camps”, and encourages “the parties to work with the international community to develop and implement independent and credible measures to ensure full respect for human rights, bearing in mind their relevant obligations under international law”, in the two last resolutions this paragraph didn’t make any difference, because Morocco is still committing human rights violations in total impunity, and the UN Mission on the ground is still impotent and unable to monitor human rights and protect Saharawi civilians from daily abuses by Moroccan police and colonial authorities.

It seems that the Security Council is unwilling to resolve the last case of decolonization in Africa because of France influence and pressures. But the question is: Does the UN want by this attitude to push the Saharawi people and their political representative, POLISARIO, to resume war? It seems that this is the only option the so-called “international community” is leaving to Saharawis!

Malainin Lakhal is secretary general of the Saharawi Journalists and Writers Union.

alalwan sabaa.wmv - YouTube

allAfrica.com: Morocco: UN Security Council Pushes the Saharawi People to Resume War to Get Their Freedom | Western Sahara Update

ANALYSIS

After bitter debate within the Security Council, and strong pressures from France to avoid any kind of progress in the resolution of the conflict in Western Sahara, the member states of this "non-democratic" international body adopted a new resolution completely void of any sense or reason.

The Security Council's resolution 2044 adopted Tuesday 24 of April 2012 is an exact duplicate of the previous resolution 1979 adopted last year, with the only difference in mentioning few events that took place after the adoption of the last one, especially the organization of a seminar in Madera and reported progress in the implementation of the family visit exchange programme ... etc.

The resolution, like the previous one, superficially touched the main question of current debate and concern: The serious human rights violations by Morocco in Western Sahara. Worse, the Security Council member states simply used the same paragraph used in last year's resolution without changing a coma, which means that they opted for maintaining the status quo, and want to give Morocco another opportunity to keep up with what it is already doing: violating Saharawi people's civil, political, social and economic rights with the benediction and protection of France.

South Africa, on behalf of African countries, has rightly denounced the UN Security Council's attitude, which was influenced by the position of France and the fact that Morocco is a member of the Council this year.

South African Ambassador, Baso Sangqu, said after the adoption of the new resolution that "it is an anomaly that MINURSO is one of the few UN (peacekeeping missions) that does not have a human rights mandate," Sangqu said. "This double standard creates an impression that the Security Council does not give priority to the human rights of the people of Western Sahara."

He further estimated that "the selective approach to human rights by this council calls into question the motivation of those who have conveniently looked the other way while human rights abuses are committed in the territory of Western Sahara," warning that if this continued, Security Council credibility would "erode."

The UN attitude reveals a clear will to give Morocco an additional opportunity to control the situation in Western Sahara and impose its expansionist plans in the last colony in Africa in complete violation of international law and against the right of the Saharawi people to freedom and independence.

Despite of all international pressures calls and campaigns launched this year by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, many other human rights organisations, political parties, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the member states only "copied and pasted" the same paragraph they have already adopted last year in resolution 1979, and this fact alone is a proof on the superficiality and even deliberate ignorance of the serious human rights situation in Western Sahara.

The new resolution only "Stresses the importance of improving the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the Tindouf camps", and encourages "the parties to work with the international community to develop and implement independent and credible measures to ensure full respect for human rights, bearing in mind their relevant obligations under international law", in the two last resolutions this paragraph didn't make any difference, because Morocco is still committing human rights violations in total impunity, and the UN Mission on the ground is still impotent and unable to monitor human rights and protect Saharawi civilians from daily abuses by Moroccan police and colonial authorities.

It seems that the Security Council is unwilling to resolve the last case of decolonization in Africa because of France influence and pressures. But the question is: Does the UN want by this attitude to push the Saharawi people and their political representative, POLISARIO, to resume war? It seems that this is the only option the so-called "international community" is leaving to Saharawis!

- Malainin Lakhal is secretary general of the Saharawi Journalists and Writers Union.

United Nations Webcast - Ahmed Boukhari, Representative of Frente Polisario (Western Sahara) - Security Council Media Stakeout | Western Sahara Update

                 t

SA slates UN - Daily News | News | IOL.co.za

'April 25 2012 at 09:08am 

By Joe Lauria

---

supplied

Baso Sangqu

South Africa on Tuesday night criticised a UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara for ignoring human rights violations in the Moroccan-controlled territory after Pretoria voted in the Security Council to extend the mission for another year.

SA's UN Ambassador Baso Sangqu blasted the council on Tuesday night for taking “bold steps” over the past 18 months to protect human rights in North Africa and the Middle East, but not in Africa's last colony.

“We have to ensure that the rights of the people of Western Sahara are not ignored and are equally defended with the same zeal and commitment,” Sangqu told the council in a clear reference to Security Council authorisation last year of military action to protect civilians in Libya.

Once again the Security Council failed to include a human rights monitoring group in the UN mission, known as MINURSO, Sangqu said.

“It is an anomaly that MINURSO is one of the few UN (peacekeeping missions) that does not have a human rights mandate,” Sangqu said. “This double standard creates an impression that the Security Council does not givepriority to the human rights of the people of Western Sahara.”

Sangqu warned that if this continued, Security Council credibility would “erode.”

“We see no reason, why the people of Western Sahara should be treated any differently,” he said.

Morocco annexed Western Sahara after Spanish colonial control ended in 1975. The Polisario Front launched a guerilla war against Morocco until 1991, when the UN brokered a ceasefire. It was supposed to lead to a referendum on independence that has never been held.

The Polisaro has alleged continued human rights abuses against the local population by Moroccan authorities. But the UN has failed to investigate those charges under pressure from Morocco and France, its former colonial power, Western diplomats say.

“The selective approach to human rights by this council calls into question the motivation of those who have conveniently looked the other way while human rights abuses are committed in the territory of Western Sahara,” Sangqu said.

He also took issue with what he said was political interference in Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's latest written report on the territory.

“I wish to raise my delegation's concern at the manner in which the report of the Secretary-General was prepared and finalized,” he told the council.

“Due consideration should be given to Article 100 of the Charter of the United Nations in the preparation of these reports,” he said.

Article 100 says that the UN Secretary-General “may not seek or receive instructions from any government” or organisatio outside the UN system.

The Polisario Front accused France and Morocco of pressuring Ban to remove criticism of Rabat in the report. France has denied the allegation. Morocco has made no comment.

“Morocco has made it a standard practice to interfere in the reports of the Secretary General,”

Ahmed Boukhari, a Frente Polisario representative, told reporters at the UN.

“This time it was very serious because the changes were made after the Secretary-General signed the report.”A Western diplomat backed up this view.

"It's certainly disappointing that the text that was

circulated by the secretariat ... came out in a different version, after lobbying by several member states," he said.

"I don't think that's good for the credibility of the secretariat."

"But it's still a hard-hitting report,” the Western diplomat said.

It is unclear what was removed from the report that angered South Africa.

The final version of Ban's report to the Security Council says numerous, "factors have undermined the mission's ability to monitor and report consistently on the situation" in Western Sahara.

These include “indications that the confidentiality of the communications between MINURSO headquarters and New York has, at least on one occasion, been compromised."

The UN's compound in Laayoune, Sahara's central city under Moroccan domination, is bedecked with 21 Moroccan flags and UN cars are forced to use Moroccan diplomatic tags, undermining the mission's neutrality, the report says.

When travelling to Polisario areas UN officials must stop to change the tags to UN plates, which the UN uses everywhere else in the world, the report says.

This "create an appearance that raises doubts about the neutrality of the mission," the report says. “In parallel, the Moroccan police presence outside the compound discourages visitors from approaching MINURSO in an independent capacity."

UN officials' contacts with outsiders is “controlled and monitored,” the report says.

“We are concerned at the restrictions placed on MINURSO,” said Sangqu, “particularly those measures that threaten to compromise its neutrality. We call on all parties to ensure that MINURSO is able to operate under generally accepted peacekeeping principles, norms and practices.”

Despite these reservations, South Africa still supported MINURSO because it believes it can still help bring about independence for the territory.

The UN mission must maintain stability, attempt to hold the independence referendum and inform the council of conditions in the territory, Sangqu said.

“South Africa will continue to support efforts to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara,” Sangqu said. - Independent Foreign Service

Inner City Press: Investigative Reporting from the United Nations | Western Sahara Update

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, April 24 -- After the UN Security Council's open meeting on Western Sahara, there was a lull at the press stakeout.

South Africa's Baso Sangqu had spoken in the Council chamber, decrying the watering down of the report on the MINURSO mission and invoking the UN Charter's Article 100, which says that UN staff, for example like Herve Ladsous the fourth Frenchman in a row to run UN Peacekeeping, should not do the bidding of their countries.

But Sangqu indicated that he would not be speaking at the stakeout. So who would?

The Frente POLISARIO's representative to the UN Ahmed Boukhari came out, and to the microphone. Inner City Press went over, listened and asked him a series of questions, about MINURSO's freedom of movement, the Arab Spring, a possible visit to Western Sahara by the King of Morocco.

Boukhari called this last a "provocation," and said that Morocco would try to use the "settlers" to make the King look popular in Western Sahara.

While this went on, a cluster of Moroccan diplomats stood off camera appearing increasinly agitated. They summoned over UN staff; a moment later, Inner City Press was asked regarding Boukhari, "Who is this guy?"

Well, he's the representative to the UN of a party to a UN mediated conflict. Once in the past, it is true, the UN TV camera was turned off while POLISARIO spoke.

But when Inner City Press inquired, the answer given was that the electricity had, by chance, gone off just then. This time, will Boukhari's stakeout go online on the UN Webcast archives? It should, just as stakeouts by a non-governmental democracy activist from Yemen went up.

Inner City Press asked Boukhari another Arab Spring question, then was told to stop, that there was another speaker waiting. Morocco's Ambassador Loulichki came around the corner and to the microphone. He spoke in Arabic and then French, then said he would take the first question in English, from Inner City Press.

Thanking Loulichki for this, Inner City Press reminded him of the question asked but not answered ten days previous, about freedom of movement for MINURSO in Western Sahara compared to that being demanded in Syria.

Loulichki responded that he lived there in 1999 to 2001 and that 90% of MINURSO personnel live out among the population, they go to movies and play soccer and could not be monitored. Likewise, when Inner City Press asked if Morocco had opposed any ongoing presence in Dakhla by UN political affairs officer, said that a team had been allowed for five days, after last September's violence.

Inner City Press asked about the promised referendum on self-determination. Loulichki said that James Baker in 2000, as the UN's envoy, had deemed this unfeasible, that a compromise should be negotiated. But in the Council chamber on Tuesday, at least as translated, Loulickhi said that Morocco owns Western Sahara. What kind of compromise is that? Watch this site.

Daily Maverick :: Western Sahara: Shafted by the UN - again | Western Sahara Update

Western Sahara: Shafted by the UN - again

Despite South Africa’s sole objection, the United Nations chose not to monitor human rights in the knowledge of gross violations in Western Sahara, which was condemned to another year of its impasse with Morocco. If the Polisario takes matters into its own hands again, it’s because it has no other choice. By SIMON ALLISON.

Western Sahara is the Africa's forgotten conflict. While the world worries about Iraq and Afghanistan, while Africa busies itself with Sudan and Somalia, the Sahrawi stay penned up in their tented camps in the desert, guarded by 100,000 of Morocco’s finest soldiers and denied the right to choose their own fate, a right granted them two decades ago by none other than the United Nations.
The country – can we call it that? – is in a strange kind of limbo. Diplomatically and legally their case is watertight: the UN has recognised that Morocco’s occupation of the area has no historical legitimacy and the African Union recognises Western Sahara as a country, at the expense of Morocco.
But on the ground, nothing has changed in the two decades since the Polisario, the freedom fighting movement turned hamstrung governors, laid down its arms at the behest of the international community. In the intervening period, Morocco has dug in, helped by its large army presence and subsidised settlers, stalling the referendum so effectively that it’s on no one’s agenda for the foreseeable future.
Once a year, however, the United Nations remembers Western Sahara. That is when the mandate for the UN peacekeeping force deployed to the area comes up for renewal. The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (known by the French acronym Minurso) has signally failed in its titular mission, which isn’t that much of a surprise when you realise it is made up of only 235 uniformed troops. It does other things, though. The mandate includes monitoring the ceasefire between the Polisario and Morocco, making sure everyone stays in their designated locations, and implementing the various accords on prisoner releases. They just about manage to maintain the stability of the status quo but don’t enjoy a wide enough mandate or sufficient resources to really make a difference.
Every year, Western Sahara and the Minurso mandate come up for debate in the United Nations Security Council. This year, as usual, the mandate will be renewed with no substantive changes, ensuring at least another year of limbo for Western Sahara. But some pressure, however slight, was exerted to change this – and it was led by an unlikely source.
South Africa, having previously showed little concern about the affairs of such a remote region, took a sudden interest in the case (the cynic in me suggests that this has something to do with securing Western Sahara’s vote in the AU Commission chairperson elections). Our ambassador to the UN, Baso Sangqu, requested a minor alteration to Minurso’s mandate. He argued that it should be expanded to explicitly include monitoring of human rights abuses, as well as a rebuke to Morocco to end its restrictions on and monitoring of Minurso. This suggestion did not find favour with the Security Council, which reached a deal to renew, in essence, the current mandate, seemingly content to ignore the many reports of human rights violations emanating from the region.
Sangqu was also unhappy – Reuters described him as “outraged” – with what he alleged was the deliberate toning down of the UN report on Western Sahara presented to the Security Council.
“That was very deplorable,” he said of the report, which went through three versions before being finalised. “All of it (was) progressively being neutralised. We think it's not good for the secretary-general. Not now, not on this issue, not in the future. And I think most colleagues share this view.”
Even if it was neutralised – and a Reuters analysis suggests this was not the case – the findings are still damning, raising more questions about why the UN is so reluctant to take further action. The report alleged the Moroccan authorities were spying on Minurso, and in it Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon complained that it was “unable to exercise fully its peacekeeping monitoring, observation and reporting functions, or avail of the authority to reverse the erosion” of its ability to function.
In other words, the UN knows that Minurso, as it currently operates, is a toothless, compromised institution – yet the Security Council won’t do anything about it.
As far as the Polisario is concerned, France carries most of the blame for this. “France continues to block [attempts to expand Minurso’s mandate],” wrote Carne Ross, a former British diplomat and current advisor to the Polisario, in the Guardian.
“Its obstruction is unreported; it is carried out in small rooms at the UN, where French diplomats softly declare that they will not permit human rights ‘language’ in the resolution. Their press spokesman tries not to answer questions about it from the few journalists who take an interest.”
The Polisario’s New York representative was even less diplomatic. “We can only denounce, as we have done before, the feverish attempts by the French delegation at the UN which aim to place all obstacles in the way of Security Council action on Western Sahara,” said Ahmed Boukari.
France has denied all these “groundless allegations”, but does enjoy a close relationship with Morocco.
Either way, Western Sahara appears doomed to another year of purgatory, denied its long-awaited referendum and largely ignored by the international community. As instability spreads across the Sahara – from Libya to Mali to Mauritania – it should come as no surprise if Western Sahara is next.
Abdelkader Abderrahmane, a senior researcher with the Institute of Security Studies who specialises in the politics of Western Sahara, agrees that something has to give. “History has taught us that even the harshest forms of colonisation end in one way or another. Also, given Morocco’s stubbornness over the conflict and the absence of any resolution on the horizon, any hope for a referendum may now rest on the emergence of a North African civil society. The so-called ‘Internet and Facebook generation’, which has succeeded in ousting despotic regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya may well in the near future unite and become a transnational force to press for a solution on Western Sahara. Having said that, the Sahrawi youth is getting impatient after such a long stalemate. And the Arab Spring may well convince them sooner or later to take up arms.”
In this light, the UN's obstinate attachment to the status quo might prove short-sighted indeed.DM

Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Mission in Western Sahara until 30 April 2013, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2044 (2012) | Western Sahara Update

SECURITY COUNCIL EXTENDS MANDATE OF UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN WESTERN SAHARA

UNTIL 30 APRIL 2013, UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 2044 (2012)

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations mission in Western Sahara until 30 April 2013.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2044 (2012), the Council called on the parties to cooperate fully with the operations of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), including its free interaction with all interlocutors, and to take the necessary steps to ensure the security of, as well as unhindered movement and immediate access for, United Nations personnel in carrying out the mandate.

Today’s resolution came on the heels of the Secretary-General’s 5 April report, in which he recommended the extension because the Mission remained relevant as a guarantor for the stability of the ceasefire and as a visible commitment of the international community to achieve a resolution of the conflict.

The Mission’s ability to fully monitor and assess the situation on the ground — in a total area of 104,000 km sq. — and to interact with the full spectrum of interlocutors was essential, as illustrated in the context of recent violence following a sports event and of evidence of “simmering community tensions” in the west, which the Secretary-General said was another consequence of the absence of a peace agreement between Morocco and the Frente Polisario and the continuing status quo, the report stated.

Expressing concern about the violations of existing agreements and calling on the parties to respect their relevant obligations, the Security Council called upon the parties to continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to enter into a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations.

It further called upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the efforts made since 2006 and subsequent developments, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Following the adoption of the resolution, Morocco’s representative said the text reiterated the importance and priority of the initiative of self-determination. 

“There is no alternative to negotiations,” he said.  “We will not move backwards.  Since 2001, we have thought that the referendum approach could result in tension in a society which is still seeking to find solutions by consensus.  We believe we will be able to live as neighbours in our neighbourhood.”

However, South Africa’s representative, also speaking after the vote, expressed concern over the resolution’s failure to more fully address human rights issues, especially in light of the Security Council’s recent bold steps in that field, particularly in northern Africa and the Middle East.

“The continuation of that trend will threaten to erode the Mission,” he cautioned.  Still, his country voted in favour of the resolution because of the need to resolve the Western Sahara issue in a peaceful manner.

The meeting began at 10:14 a.m. and ended at 10:30 a.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 2044 (2012) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling and reaffirming all its previous resolutions on Western Sahara,

“Reaffirming its strong support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to implement resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008), 1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), and 1979 (2011),

“Reaffirming its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and noting the role and responsibilities of the parties in this respect,

“Reiterating its call upon the parties and States of the region to cooperate more fully with the United Nations and with each other and to strengthen their involvement to end the current impasse and to achieve progress towards a political solution,

“Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to keep all peacekeeping operations, including MINURSO, under close review and reiterating the need for the Council to pursue a rigorous, strategic approach to peacekeeping deployments,

“Expressing concern about the violations of existing agreements, andcalling on the parties to respect their relevant obligations,

“Taking note of the Moroccan proposal presented on 11 April 2007 to the Secretary-General and welcomingserious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward towards resolution; also taking note of the Polisario Front proposal presented 10 April 2007 to the Secretary-General,

“Encouraging in this context, the parties to demonstrate further political will towards a solution including by expanding upon their discussion of each other’s proposals,

“Taking note of the four rounds of negotiations held under the auspices of the Secretary-General and the continued rounds of informal talks, andwelcoming the progress made by the parties to enter into direct negotiations,

“Welcoming the progress made by the parties in discussing innovative negotiating approaches and discrete subjects, their commitment to deepen the discussions on these and other issues, and the 9 November 2011 meeting of the parties on natural resources and progress made towards demining,

“Welcoming the positive conclusion of the 12-16 September 2011 UNHCR-sponsored seminar on Hassaniya culture and the agreement by the parties to hold two additional seminars in 2012, as well as the holding of a UNHCR-facilitated high-level meeting on Confidence Building Measures for Western Sahara on 24‑25 January 2012,

“Stressing the importance of improving the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the Tindouf camps, and encouraging the parties to work with the international community to develop and implement independent and credible measures to ensure full respect for human rights, bearing in mind their relevant obligations under international law,

“Welcoming the opening of National Council on Human Rights Commissions operating in Dakhla and Laayoune, and the steps taken by Morocco in order to fulfil its commitment to ensure unqualified and unimpeded access to all Special Procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council,

“Also welcoming the implementation of the enhanced refugee protection program developed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in coordination with the Polisario Front, which includes refugee and human rights training and awareness initiatives,

“Reiterating the request thatUNHCR maintain its consideration of a refugee registration in the Tindouf refugee camps,

“Looking forward to the implementation of the updated plan of action on confidence building measures adopted in Geneva 24-25 January 2012, including the inauguration of family visits by land, use of new information technology to facilitate communication links between families, and the continuation and expansion of the existing programme by air, and encouraging the parties to cooperate with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in implementing their agreement,

“Welcoming the commitment of the parties to continue the process of negotiations through the United Nations-sponsored talks,

“Recognizing that the consolidation of the status quo is not acceptable, and noting further that progress in the negotiations is essential in order to improve the quality of life of the people of Western Sahara in all its aspects,

“Affirming support for the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Ambassador Christopher Ross and his work in facilitating negotiations between the parties, welcoming his ongoing consultations with the parties and neighbouring states, and looking forwardto his regional visit in the near future, including to Western Sahara, as per the communiqué of the Informal Meeting on Western Sahara 11-13 March 2012,

“Affirming support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara and Head of MINURSO Hany Abdel-aziz,

“Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 11 April 2012 (S/2012/197),

“1.   Decides to extend the mandate of MINURSO until 30 April 2013;

“2.   Reaffirms the need for full respect of the military agreements reached with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) with regard to the ceasefire and calls on the parties to adhere fully to those agreements;

“3.   Calls upon all parties to cooperate fully with the operations of MINURSO, including its free interaction with all interlocutors, and to take the necessary steps to ensure the security of as well as unhindered movement and immediate access for the United Nations and associated personnel in carrying out their mandate, in conformity with existing agreements;

“4.   Welcomes the parties’ commitment to continue the process of holding small, informal talks in preparation for a fifth round of negotiations, and recalls its endorsement of the recommendation in the report of 14 April 2008 (S/2008/251) that realism and a spirit of compromise by the parties are essential to achieve progress in negotiations;

“5.   Calls upon the parties to continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to enter into a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations, thus ensuring implementation of resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008), 1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), and 1979 (2011) and the success of negotiations, inter alia, by continuing their discussion of the ideas in paragraph 120 of the Secretary General’s report (S/2011/249);

“6.   Affirms its strong support for the commitment of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy towards a solution to the question of Western Sahara in this context and calls for an intensified pace of meetings and strengthening of contacts;

“7.   Calls upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the efforts made since 2006 and subsequent developments, with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and noting the role and responsibilities of the parties in this respect;

“8.   Invites Member States to lend appropriate assistance to these talks;

“9.   Requests the Secretary-General to brief the Security Council on a regular basis, and at least twice a year, on the status and progress of these negotiations under his auspices, on the implementation of this resolution, challenges to MINURSO’s operations and steps taken to address them, andexpresses its intention to meet to receive and discuss his briefings and in this regard, further requests the Secretary-General to provide a report on the situation in Western Sahara well before the end of the mandate period;

“10.  Welcomes the commitment of the parties and the neighbouring states to hold periodic meetings with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to review and, where possible, expand confidence-building measures;

“11.  Urges Member States to provide voluntary contributions to fund confidence-building measures that allow for visits between separated family members, as well as for other confidence-building measures agreed upon between parties;

“12.  Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessary measures to ensure full compliance in MINURSO with the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to take appropriate preventive action including pre-deployment awareness training, and other action to ensure full accountability in cases of such conduct involving their personnel;

“13.  Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Background

The Security Council had before it the Report of the Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara (S/2012/197), which covers developments since 1 April 2011 concerning the situation on the ground in the Territory, the status and progress of negotiations and challenges to the operations of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

In the report, the Secretary-General recommends the extension of MINURSO’s mandate for a further 12 months until 30 April 2013.

He recommends, therefore, an increase of 15 military observers to bolster monitoring capacities.  As the report outlines a series of challenges that demonstrate that MINURSO is unable to exercise fully its peacekeeping, monitoring, observation and reporting functions, he requests the assistance of the Council in reasserting the Mission’s mandated role, ensuring that the minimum conditions for its successful operation are met and upholding peacekeeping standards and United Nations neutrality.  He calls on the two parties to cooperate fully with MINURSO in achieving those goals. 

He says that during the reporting period, the three rounds of informal talks between the parties, their two meetings on natural resources and confidence-building measures, and the numerous bilateral consultations that his Personal Envoy held with them, confirmed that the parties continue to have the political will to meet, but not as yet to engage in substantive negotiations towards a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, as required by Security Council resolutions.

It is possible that changes in the regional political environment will provide new opportunities, the report states.  Absent a new framework, however, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy will continue his established pattern of activities and encourage the development of new ideas