STATEMENT OF MR MAHFOUD ALI BEIBA
HEAD OF THE DELEGATION OF THE FRENTE POLISARIO
Greentree Estate, Manhasset, New York
10-11 August 2007
Mr Personal Envoy, Members of the delegation of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco,
1. On behalf of my delegation, I would like to thank your Excellency, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General and your team, for the efforts you have undertaken to make possible this second round of negotiations between the Frente POLISARIO and the Kingdom of Morocco, and through you we would like to commend the efforts and the political will of the Secretary-General and the Security Council to encourage the two parties to remain engaged in the negotiating process framed by the Security Council resolution 1754 (2007), which called upon the two parties to enter into negotiations, in good faith, with a view to achieving a mutually acceptable political solution that would provide for the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination.
2. Our delegation is taking part in this second round motivated by the same political will to make tangible progress towards the full implementation of the letter and spirit of the Security Council resolution 1754 (2007) whose main objective is to achieve a political solution by which the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara will be fully respected. As the international community has repeatedly stressed, the question of Western Sahara is a problem of decolonisation that should be resolved by giving the chance to the Saharawi people to freely choose their destiny in line with the terms established by the General Assembly resolution 1514 (1960) through a fair and free referendum on self-determination. This principle and right has been brutally denied by Morocco since its illegal occupation of our territory in 1975 in clear violation of international law and the UN Charter.
3. Many efforts were undertaken by the international community to persuade Morocco to put an end to its illegal occupation of our territory and to cooperate with the United Nations for the respect for the right to self-determination and independence of the Saharawi people through the holding of a free and fair referendum. The resolution AHG 104 (XIX) adopted in 1983 by the former Organisation of African Unity, the Settlement Plan of 1990, the Houston Agreements of 1997 and the Peace Plan for the Self-determination of the People of Western Sahara, or Baker Plan, of 2003 endorsed by the Security Council were all great historic landmarks in the context of those efforts. Unfortunately, Morocco, after solemnly committing itself to those peace plans, decided not only to turn its back on them but also to undermine them, exhibiting a lack of respect for its own commitments as well as its disregard for the international community. Since then, Morocco, as an occupying and colonialist power, has been trying to implicate the international community in endorsing its colonial and expansionist ambitions after it had failed to impose them militarily on the Saharawi people. Had Morocco respected its commitments and abided by international law and its obligations under the UN Charter, the conflict could have reached a lasting and just solution a long time ago. We should conclude that Morocco was not, and is not yet willing, to comply with international law and UN resolutions.
Mr Personal Envoy,
4. We came to Manhasset I with the hope that then Morocco would act in good faith and without preconditions as requested by the Security Council resolution 1754 (2007) and abide by the terms of reference established by this resolution. We have made all efforts to help the other party to embark with us on this journey towards peace, which cannot be achieved in any way, today or tomorrow, by ignoring the will and the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination, or by trying to impose on our people solutions or proposals of solution against their will and in violation of their legitimate rights to freedom and independence. In order to facilitate your mandate, as Personal Envoy, we did engage constructively, and we remain ready to engage, in discussing the two proposals, which were equally taken note of by the Security Council, on the understanding that Morocco would do the same thing. However, as you were able to witness, this did not happen in Manhasset I, and Morocco's delegation openly refused to abide by the terms of reference established by the Security Council resolution, and remained entrenched in its intransigent position trying to impose the so-called proposal of "autonomy". What we have just heard from the Moroccan delegation is just a reiteration of the same intransigent position.
5. Nevertheless, following Manhasset I we gave time to time whilst being aware that the first round could not achieve a breakthrough in resolving this protracted conflict, and hence we positively viewed the fact that the first round had taken place was itself a success for the two parties and for the United Nations. In this context, we have committed ourselves to continue the negotiations and to participate in the second round, which is taking place today in Manhasset. By contrast, between the first and the second round, Morocco has consistently made no secret of its own interpretation of what occurred, which reflects its very intentions with regard to the negotiating process. The latest official statements made by Moroccan authorities on the eve of this round, in which they made it clear that they are and will remain ready to negotiate only on autonomy and nothing but autonomy, reveal once again Morocco's bad faith and its disregard for the Security Council resolution.
6. Whilst disparaging the letter and spirit of Security Council resolution 1754 (2007) that called for negotiations between the two parties, without preconditions, with a view to achieving a mutually acceptable political solution that would provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, Morocco clearly wants to unilaterally set the rules of the game by imposing the framework and the end result of the negotiations. In plain terms, what Morocco proposes is an imposition that the Saharawi people will never accept. This attitude, if it remains undeterred, will once again lead to the failure of the peace process and will undermine the United Nations' efforts, exactly as Morocco did in the past with the Settlement Plan, the Houston Agreement and the Baker Plan.
Mr Personal Envoy,
7. The Secretary-General and the Security Council, as per resolution 1754 (2007), call upon the two parties to enter into negotiations, in good faith and without preconditions, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that will provide for the right of self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. In this context, there are two proposals on the table for discussion. Those are the terms of reference established by the Security Council and consistently reaffirmed by your Excellency, Mr. Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General.
8. We would like to reiterate once again to the Moroccan delegation that the proposal that we presented is the best course of action to achieve a lasting and just peace which will benefit both Moroccan and Saharawi peoples and the peoples of the region, and will enhance the credibility and capacity of the United Nations in assuring peace and security in this part of the world. In effect, the holding of free and fair referendum on self-determination, organised and supervised by the United Nations, is and will always remain the only viable way-out for the two parties and for the international community as well. Western Sahara is listed by the United Nations as a Non-Self-Governing Territory over which Morocco has no sovereignty, and therefore it cannot be conceived as a "Moroccan province" in need for some degree of administrative autonomy.
9. The so-called "autonomy", which Morocco proposes, cannot be but an option along with independence that should be submitted to the democratic and sovereign choice of the Saharawi people in a free and fair referendum on self-determination organised and supervised by the United Nations. We believe that there will never be a lasting and just peace if it is to the detriment of international legality. The lessons drawn from over thirty two years are a clear proof of this compelling fact.
10. However, if the referendum on self-determination would lead to "autonomy", the Frente POLISARO will accept the outcome as the expression of the will of the Saharawi people. Alternatively, if the referendum would lead to the independence of Western Sahara, an option that was accepted formally by Morocco by virtue of its acceptance of the Settlement Plan and the Houston Agreements, the Kingdom of Morocco should also accept this outcome. What is new on the table is our sincere readiness to share the sacrifices necessary for establishing a lasting, just and mutually beneficial peace with the Kingdom of Morocco.
11. In this context, we reaffirm the offer we have made in economic, security, and social domains contained in our proposal presented to the UN Secretary-General on 10 April 2007 of which the Security Council took note. We are ready now and any time to take note of Morocco's comments and propositions on these domains with the aim of establishing what can be described as strategic relations between the two neighbouring countries. By doing this, we will contribute to the Maghreb integration which is a historical aspiration of our peoples, and in the process we will facilitate the establishment of long-term and multi-dimensional relations with our regional and international partners.
HEAD OF THE DELEGATION OF THE FRENTE POLISARIO
Greentree Estate, Manhasset, New York
10-11 August 2007
Mr Personal Envoy, Members of the delegation of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco,
1. On behalf of my delegation, I would like to thank your Excellency, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General and your team, for the efforts you have undertaken to make possible this second round of negotiations between the Frente POLISARIO and the Kingdom of Morocco, and through you we would like to commend the efforts and the political will of the Secretary-General and the Security Council to encourage the two parties to remain engaged in the negotiating process framed by the Security Council resolution 1754 (2007), which called upon the two parties to enter into negotiations, in good faith, with a view to achieving a mutually acceptable political solution that would provide for the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination.
2. Our delegation is taking part in this second round motivated by the same political will to make tangible progress towards the full implementation of the letter and spirit of the Security Council resolution 1754 (2007) whose main objective is to achieve a political solution by which the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara will be fully respected. As the international community has repeatedly stressed, the question of Western Sahara is a problem of decolonisation that should be resolved by giving the chance to the Saharawi people to freely choose their destiny in line with the terms established by the General Assembly resolution 1514 (1960) through a fair and free referendum on self-determination. This principle and right has been brutally denied by Morocco since its illegal occupation of our territory in 1975 in clear violation of international law and the UN Charter.
3. Many efforts were undertaken by the international community to persuade Morocco to put an end to its illegal occupation of our territory and to cooperate with the United Nations for the respect for the right to self-determination and independence of the Saharawi people through the holding of a free and fair referendum. The resolution AHG 104 (XIX) adopted in 1983 by the former Organisation of African Unity, the Settlement Plan of 1990, the Houston Agreements of 1997 and the Peace Plan for the Self-determination of the People of Western Sahara, or Baker Plan, of 2003 endorsed by the Security Council were all great historic landmarks in the context of those efforts. Unfortunately, Morocco, after solemnly committing itself to those peace plans, decided not only to turn its back on them but also to undermine them, exhibiting a lack of respect for its own commitments as well as its disregard for the international community. Since then, Morocco, as an occupying and colonialist power, has been trying to implicate the international community in endorsing its colonial and expansionist ambitions after it had failed to impose them militarily on the Saharawi people. Had Morocco respected its commitments and abided by international law and its obligations under the UN Charter, the conflict could have reached a lasting and just solution a long time ago. We should conclude that Morocco was not, and is not yet willing, to comply with international law and UN resolutions.
Mr Personal Envoy,
4. We came to Manhasset I with the hope that then Morocco would act in good faith and without preconditions as requested by the Security Council resolution 1754 (2007) and abide by the terms of reference established by this resolution. We have made all efforts to help the other party to embark with us on this journey towards peace, which cannot be achieved in any way, today or tomorrow, by ignoring the will and the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination, or by trying to impose on our people solutions or proposals of solution against their will and in violation of their legitimate rights to freedom and independence. In order to facilitate your mandate, as Personal Envoy, we did engage constructively, and we remain ready to engage, in discussing the two proposals, which were equally taken note of by the Security Council, on the understanding that Morocco would do the same thing. However, as you were able to witness, this did not happen in Manhasset I, and Morocco's delegation openly refused to abide by the terms of reference established by the Security Council resolution, and remained entrenched in its intransigent position trying to impose the so-called proposal of "autonomy". What we have just heard from the Moroccan delegation is just a reiteration of the same intransigent position.
5. Nevertheless, following Manhasset I we gave time to time whilst being aware that the first round could not achieve a breakthrough in resolving this protracted conflict, and hence we positively viewed the fact that the first round had taken place was itself a success for the two parties and for the United Nations. In this context, we have committed ourselves to continue the negotiations and to participate in the second round, which is taking place today in Manhasset. By contrast, between the first and the second round, Morocco has consistently made no secret of its own interpretation of what occurred, which reflects its very intentions with regard to the negotiating process. The latest official statements made by Moroccan authorities on the eve of this round, in which they made it clear that they are and will remain ready to negotiate only on autonomy and nothing but autonomy, reveal once again Morocco's bad faith and its disregard for the Security Council resolution.
6. Whilst disparaging the letter and spirit of Security Council resolution 1754 (2007) that called for negotiations between the two parties, without preconditions, with a view to achieving a mutually acceptable political solution that would provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, Morocco clearly wants to unilaterally set the rules of the game by imposing the framework and the end result of the negotiations. In plain terms, what Morocco proposes is an imposition that the Saharawi people will never accept. This attitude, if it remains undeterred, will once again lead to the failure of the peace process and will undermine the United Nations' efforts, exactly as Morocco did in the past with the Settlement Plan, the Houston Agreement and the Baker Plan.
Mr Personal Envoy,
7. The Secretary-General and the Security Council, as per resolution 1754 (2007), call upon the two parties to enter into negotiations, in good faith and without preconditions, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that will provide for the right of self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. In this context, there are two proposals on the table for discussion. Those are the terms of reference established by the Security Council and consistently reaffirmed by your Excellency, Mr. Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General.
8. We would like to reiterate once again to the Moroccan delegation that the proposal that we presented is the best course of action to achieve a lasting and just peace which will benefit both Moroccan and Saharawi peoples and the peoples of the region, and will enhance the credibility and capacity of the United Nations in assuring peace and security in this part of the world. In effect, the holding of free and fair referendum on self-determination, organised and supervised by the United Nations, is and will always remain the only viable way-out for the two parties and for the international community as well. Western Sahara is listed by the United Nations as a Non-Self-Governing Territory over which Morocco has no sovereignty, and therefore it cannot be conceived as a "Moroccan province" in need for some degree of administrative autonomy.
9. The so-called "autonomy", which Morocco proposes, cannot be but an option along with independence that should be submitted to the democratic and sovereign choice of the Saharawi people in a free and fair referendum on self-determination organised and supervised by the United Nations. We believe that there will never be a lasting and just peace if it is to the detriment of international legality. The lessons drawn from over thirty two years are a clear proof of this compelling fact.
10. However, if the referendum on self-determination would lead to "autonomy", the Frente POLISARO will accept the outcome as the expression of the will of the Saharawi people. Alternatively, if the referendum would lead to the independence of Western Sahara, an option that was accepted formally by Morocco by virtue of its acceptance of the Settlement Plan and the Houston Agreements, the Kingdom of Morocco should also accept this outcome. What is new on the table is our sincere readiness to share the sacrifices necessary for establishing a lasting, just and mutually beneficial peace with the Kingdom of Morocco.
11. In this context, we reaffirm the offer we have made in economic, security, and social domains contained in our proposal presented to the UN Secretary-General on 10 April 2007 of which the Security Council took note. We are ready now and any time to take note of Morocco's comments and propositions on these domains with the aim of establishing what can be described as strategic relations between the two neighbouring countries. By doing this, we will contribute to the Maghreb integration which is a historical aspiration of our peoples, and in the process we will facilitate the establishment of long-term and multi-dimensional relations with our regional and international partners.
Mr. Personal Envoy,
12. As we have expressed to you on many occasions, we will spare no effort to contribute to the success of your mandate established by the Security Council resolution 1754 (2007), and we are hopeful that Morocco would listen to reason and assume its responsibility in this connection. Negotiation is not imposition. There are two proposals on the table, not only one. The ultimate objective of this process of negotiation is self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, not illegal annexation of their territory. We would like Morocco to fully respect the human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, and to put an end to its repressive polices derived from its violation of the right of self-determination as highlighted by the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. We want Morocco to immediately cease its practices of torture, arbitrary detention, abduction, unfair trials, and forced disappearance and to release all Saharawi prisoners of conscience and account for the fate of the Saharawi disappeared, both civilians and military. Morocco should also stop its illegal plundering of the natural resources of our territory as long as the decolonisation has not been brought to conclusion. Furthermore, Morocco should cooperate with us and with the United Nations in confronting jointly the danger imposed by the landmines planted in the territory by its army, which has taken a heavy toll on many innocent people. Morocco should do all of this not only as part of its obligations under international law, but also as a requirement for confidence-building that should go in tandem with the negotiating process.
Mr Personal Envoy,
13. We remain at your disposal, and we would like to assure you of our full cooperation with the efforts you are undertaking under the guidelines established by the Security Council resolution 1754 (2007).
Thank you!
______________________________________________________________
Forwarded by:
______________________________________________________________
Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
*** Referendum now! ***
www.vest-sahara.no
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update
______________________________________________________________
12. As we have expressed to you on many occasions, we will spare no effort to contribute to the success of your mandate established by the Security Council resolution 1754 (2007), and we are hopeful that Morocco would listen to reason and assume its responsibility in this connection. Negotiation is not imposition. There are two proposals on the table, not only one. The ultimate objective of this process of negotiation is self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, not illegal annexation of their territory. We would like Morocco to fully respect the human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, and to put an end to its repressive polices derived from its violation of the right of self-determination as highlighted by the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. We want Morocco to immediately cease its practices of torture, arbitrary detention, abduction, unfair trials, and forced disappearance and to release all Saharawi prisoners of conscience and account for the fate of the Saharawi disappeared, both civilians and military. Morocco should also stop its illegal plundering of the natural resources of our territory as long as the decolonisation has not been brought to conclusion. Furthermore, Morocco should cooperate with us and with the United Nations in confronting jointly the danger imposed by the landmines planted in the territory by its army, which has taken a heavy toll on many innocent people. Morocco should do all of this not only as part of its obligations under international law, but also as a requirement for confidence-building that should go in tandem with the negotiating process.
Mr Personal Envoy,
13. We remain at your disposal, and we would like to assure you of our full cooperation with the efforts you are undertaking under the guidelines established by the Security Council resolution 1754 (2007).
Thank you!
______________________________________________________________
Forwarded by:
______________________________________________________________
Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara
*** Referendum now! ***
www.vest-sahara.no
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sahara-update
______________________________________________________________
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