The negotiating parties agreed to meet again in Europe this summer.

By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 15/03/12

[Abdelhak Senna] Saadeddine El Othmani says Morocco is committed to finding an “innovative” solution to the Western Sahara issue.

The status of Western Sahara remains unchanged after the ninth round of unofficial negotiations concluded on March 13th in Manhasset, New York.

The talks spanned three days and were attended by delegations from Morocco, the Polisario, and observers Algeria and Mauritania.

The delegates agreed to a new round of negotiations in June and July.

“The parties continued their consultations on de-mining, natural resources and the environment without compromising the final status of the land. They likewise expressed satisfaction with progress made on these subjects and confirmed their interest in continuing to work with the United Nations on these issues and others in the on-going negotiations,” said UN Western Sahara envoy Christopher Ross.

Regarding confidence-building measures, Ross said the Polisario and Morocco, as well as the two neighbouring countries, reviewed results of the second assessment meeting with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), held in January in Geneva.

The two parties also confirmed their intention to participate in two forums organised by the UNHCR in October, one of which will discuss the role of women while the other will address the meaning of the tent in Hassani culture.

Ross also announced that he planned to conduct a tour of the region in mid-May and that the next round of talks would be held in June in Europe at a venue to be determined.

Following the conclusion of the Manhasset talks Moroccan Foreign Minister Saadeddine El Othmani said, “I would like to reiterate here that Morocco is desperate to find a creative solution transcending the classical methods it used before, calling on the United Nations, through reports and resolutions of the Security Council for a political settlement acceptable to the parties.”

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He added that the talks “come this time in a special atmosphere in light of the positive changes brought about by the Arab spring and the outstanding new dynamic in Maghreb relationships, especially the rapprochement between Rabat and Algiers.”

“All parties to the dispute over the Sahara must change their vision and adopt a new approach,” El Othmani added. “We are optimistic about the future given the positive regional changes imposed on all parties to change their vision and work according to an innovative approach, which is what Morocco is bent on.”

The head of the Sahrawi delegation Khatri Adoh said, “During this meeting the Polisario Front delegation addressed the human rights situation in the Western Sahara and free access to the region by non-governmental organisations, the press and international observers.”

Adoh also called for self-determination and lasting democracy in the Maghreb.

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