The UN report on the Sahara dispute is nearing completion, with Van Walsum’s vision facing pressure from Algeria and Polisario. They oppose his conclusions, deemed illegal and deviating from UN doctrine, while Morocco champions autonomy as a solution. The Polisario insists on independence and rejects autonomy outright, leading to aggressive rhetoric.
Despite Morocco’s agreement for private talks, a meeting failed due to Van Walsum’s conditions. A clear report supporting the Moroccan initiative is needed to encourage a positive Security Council resolution, potentially boosted by US backing.
The report is being finalized. It seems that Van Walsum has expressed, more or less, clearly his “vision” as regards the parameters of the final solution to the dispute.
Algeria, polisario and their friends are making pressure on Ban Ki Moon not to endorse VW’s conclusions which are “illegal and deviate from the UN doctrine”.
There is a need that Ban Ki moon be comforted and encouraged to share VW’s conclusions.
A “good” report will make it easier for the Security Council to adopt a “positive resolution”.
Sahara issue/ Brief about the 4th round of negotiations
1- As foreseen, the delegation of polisario kept on presenting the referendum with many options, including particularly independence, as the unique and restrictive way of solving this dispute. “Morocco could add as many options as it wants, provided that the option of independence is included”. Polisario delegation presented also a very restrictive and independence-oriented interpretation of the international law and the principle of self-determination.
2- As regards autonomy, polisario reiterated that it is not ready to negotiate it as an option.” We will never accept a solution based on autonomy, neither today, nor in 50 or 100 years”. At the same time, polisario and Algeria continue to combat the Moroccan Initiative by attempting to modify the situation on the ground, particularly in the area east of the berm, knowing that Morocco, for very evident reasons, will never accept such a breach of the status-quo.
3- The Moroccan delegation responded that the autonomy proposal:
is in line with the international law as well as with the UN practice. The UNGA resolutions offer different and flexible ways of satisfying the principle of self-determination. Moreover, only 5 cases of non autonomous territories (out of 50) were solved by the UN through a referendum. The resolution of the other cases was achieved trough a negotiation of the definitive status.
is a global and undividable deal. Its substantial content is in conformity with the international standards and its scheme of approval meets international legality. This Initiative presents the most realistic way of reaching a compromise and a win-win solution. “Because of its objective, because of its scoop, because of its rational, it can not be an option among others”.
4- The language used by the polisario delegation was once more very aggressive. The expressions used during the previous rounds were again reiterated (“occupying country”, “extermination war using napalm” “systematic and massive violations of human rights”). Besides, an unacceptable parallel was mentioned: “Moroccan occupation of western Sahara is similar to Hitler’s occupation of France, Belgium, and Austria”.
5- Morocco gave its principle agreement to a private meeting between the heads of the two delegations, suggested by Van Walsum. However, this meeting could not take place, because Van Walsum insisted to be present and to have as the only subject of discussions an item already included in the agenda (continuation of the process, date and venue). Morocco, which reacted initially in good faith, felt that it was a trap to divide its delegation in a meeting with no added value.
6- Van Walsum continues to stick to his “strictly balanced approach” and did not make use of the margin of maneuver and signals already given to him by the Security Council. Although he recognized the preeminence of the Moroccan initiative, he didn’t try to reflect it in the negotiations process. In this context, even the thematic debate was used by the polisario in the perspective of an independent state.
7- In conclusion, it seems that Van Walsum needs to be “accompanied” during the next weeks to encourage him to present a clear-cut report to the Security Council. Such a report will make the task of the Council easier and will give it the opportunity to strengthen its signals for the next steps of the process. In this regard, a US national declaration, outside the council, on “autonomy within the Moroccan sovereignty as the best way out for this dispute”, is needed and will be useful at this stage.
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