European Parliament: More than 130 MEPs ask for a solution to the Western Sahara conflict.


(Brussels, 28 Jan. 04) On the occasion of the "Sakharov Prize" ceremony to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and his staff, the Intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi people", has launched an appeal to support the efforts of Kofi Annan and his personal envoy James Baker to solve the Western Sahara conflict. The Intergrorup came in existence in 1986 and has since fought for the right of self-determination of the Saharawi people, The last UN Peace plan of Self-determination was accepted in July 2003 by the POLISARIO Front but is still rejected by Morocco. In his latest report the UN Secretary General has now asked for another 3 months to enable Morocco to respond.

Many times before, the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in the Western Sahara (MINURSO) was prolonged for another three or six months since the ceasefire came into force in 1991.

For the victims of this conflict this means acute and chronic malnutrition in the refugee camps, endless appeals to donor countries for food aid, human rights violations in the occupied territories of Western Sahara and lack of long term political perspective for the future of this territory as big as the UK.

Still 614 Moroccan Prisoners of War are waiting for their release from the POLISARIO Front. There are also 155 Saharawi POWs in Morocco who have been totally forgotten and not even the International Committe of the Red Cross has access to them.

The destiny of more than 500 disappeared Saharawi is still unknown. Furthermore, the unlawfull plundering of natural resources of Western Sahara by the Moroccans still continues.

Today, more than 130 MEPs raise their voice and ask the UN to put an end to this forgotten conflict and to finally bring peace and stability to the whole Maghreb region.

Among the signatories are Group Leaders, Heads of National Delegations and Chairmen of EP Committees. This appeal will be handed over to the UN.

For more information:
EP Intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi people"
Margot Keßler, MdEP
Email: mkessler@europarl.eu.int


APPEAL FOR THE WESTERN SAHARA

On the occasion of the visit in Brussels of the UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan, to receive the "Sakharov Prize" from the European Parliament, we, the undersigned, would like to launch this appeal concerning Western Sahara, addressed to the international community.

- Being aware that the conflict of Western Sahara is a question of decolonisation in accordance with UN resolution 1514, which implies that the UN remains responsible for ensuring and respecting the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination.

- The conflict, which has been going on for three decades, should bought to a peaceful and lasting solution by means of the exercise of the Saharawi people of their inalienable right to self-determination.

- We express our support for the efforts deployed by the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy, Mr. James Baker III, which aim at the implementation of the "Peace Plan of the Self-determination for the People of Western Sahara".

- We applaud the acceptance by the POLISARIO Front of this plan, which constitutes a real chance for achieving peace and stability in the entire Maghreb region.

- We call upon Morocco to accept and implement, without further delay, the UN peace plan, as it was requested to do so by the UN Secretary General in his report of October 2003.

- We call upon Morocco to release all Saharawi prisoners of conscience and to put an end to its policy of violation of human rights in the Western Sahara.

- We call upon the governments of the European Union to support steadfastly the UN in its efforts to accomplish the decolonisation of Western Sahara, and to exert their leverage upon Morocco in order to accept the UN peace plan in the Western Sahara.

- We ask the European Union to contribute effectively and practically to the implementation of the UN peace plan, which will provide self-determination by means of a free and democratic referendum.

- We urgently call upon the European Union to provide steady humanitarian aid to the Saharawi refugee population.