New UN special envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, started a round of talks last week in which he met Moroccan and Sahrawi governments, Spanish and French officials and also visited Tindouf refugee camps. Acording to Associated Press, Ross said during his meeting with president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Mohamed Abdelaziz that negotiations must tend to “a solution that includes the right of Sahrawi people to self-determination”. The UN diplomat called for "a political solution mutually acceptable to Morocco and the Polisario".

Ross’ declarations have been welcomed by the Polisario, whereas Rabat has not yet expressed its opinion on the declarations. According to the website of the Moroccan government, during a dinner with the UN diplomat Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi stressed on the question of “territorial integrity” and Morocco’s process “to recover, in stages, the territories from which it was dispossessed”, making reference to the Sahrawi territory Morocco holds under military control. “It is that way that Morocco has taken back its Southern provinces within the framework of international law”, said the Prime Minister. He also told Ross about “political, economic and social rights the people from the Southern provinces enjoy”.

Moroccan press is convinced that new special envoy will follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Peter van Walsum. Aujourd'hui Le Maroc newspaper has published today that Ross “inherits a clear road map based on an autonomy proposal under UN auspices”, and warns that “any attempt to alter the road map will bring parties to a maze of false solutions”. Le Matin newspaper informs today that UN envoy has been rightly briefed on “the total unanimity regarding the country’s territorial integrity” in a meeting with Morocco’s main political parties.

Van Walsum’s mandate expired last August and was not extended after being strongly criticized by the Polisario Front, which did not consider him an impartial mediator. Van Walsum had previously declared that “independence for Western Sahara is not a realistic proposition”.

Picture: Sahrawi refugee camp in Tindouf (IFFCTR)

Further information:

• Moroccan Government: Le Premier ministre reçoit l'envoyé personnel du Secrétaire général de l'ONU pour le Sahara
• Sahrawi Government: M. Ross qualifie sa mission ''d'importante '' pour la l'avenir de la région du Nord de l'Afrique
• Aujourd'hui Le Maroc: La tournée de Christopher Ross
• Le Matin: Unanimité et unité des points de vue