Western Sahara case: Morocco scores victory at UN Security Council
Security Council adopts new resolution that will prolong mandate of United Nations Mission in Sahara, with no mention human rights monitoring mechanism.
Middle East Online
UNITED NATIONS – The Security Council adopted on Thursday morning in New York a new resolution that will prolong the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Sahara, known as MINURSO for one more year until April 30, 2014.
The new resolution, which was adopted by consensus, makes no mention of a human rights monitoring mechanism in the Sahara.
The new element added in the resolution is the call made by the Council to the parties to “continue in their respective efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps.”
The Council also reiterates its “request for consideration of a refugee registration in the Tindouf refugee camps.”
Morocco staged a major diplomatic campaign after the United States proposed a resolution that called for investigations by the UN peacekeeping force in Western Sahara, now Africa’s longest-running conflict.
Morocco angrily called off annual US-Morocco war games and lobbied intensely in Washington and with Britain, Spain and France — members of the friends of Western Sahara group along with the United States and Russia — to get the resolution altered.
After Washington dropped its demand, smaller scale military exercises have since started.
Following the adoption of the resolution, the Royal Palace reacted in a statement, “The Security Council confirms, in this resolution, that the MINURSO mandate and activities will be maintained in their current state.”
The Royal Palace noted that, “once again, the Council is confirming the pre-eminence of the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco and outlines parameters for a final political settlement based on realism and compromise.”
The Royal Palace explained that “the resolution crowns a process of several initiatives and contacts conducted by King Mohammed VI with Heads of state, messages conveyed by Royal envoys to various capitals.”
The Royal Palace urged “other parties to fully shoulder their responsibilities in keeping with the resolution, seize the renewed opportunities it offers and engage, sincerely and resolutely in a genuine resumption of the negotiation political process.”
The statement of the Royal Palace added that the settling of the regional dispute over the Western Sahara is “a crucial strategic must for peace and stability in the region,” which is currently facing major security challenges.
