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17.03.97
"Mechanical problems"
King Hassan II in an interview for the Italian TV RAI 1 talk about
the UN settlement plan for Western Sahara: "I would like to say that
the engine has broken down. I believe that the former UN
Secretary-General was not mechanically-minded enough regarding the
Saharan issue. I hope that the new UN Secretary-General is more
mechanically-minded, so that the engine will start again".
17.03.97
James Baker's mission
UN Secretary-General has appointed former United States Secretary of
State, James Baker III, to be his Personal Envoy to make a fresh
assessment of the situation in Western Sahara. In a statement issued
after the announcement of his appointment, Baker said: "I am pleased
to do what I can to help resolve this issue, and will explore with
the parties all viable options ... I will travel to the area next
month for initial contacts with the parties involved."
Baker' mission would assess whether the U.N. plan could be
implemented in its present form, whether adjustments acceptable to
the two sides might be possible or whether other ways of resolving
the conflict could be found.
Baker was secretary of state under President George Bush from 1989 to
1992 and helped rally the U.S.-led coalition that ejected Iraqi
troops from Kuwait in 1991. He was secretary of the treasury from
1985 to 1989 under President Ronald Reagan and served as Reagan's
White House chief of staff from 1981 to 1985. He is a senior partner
in the law firm of Baker and Botts, with offices in Houston and
Washington.
17.03.97
Letter from Bachir M. Sayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to H.E. Mr.
James Baker, Houston
"I would like to express the complete willingness of the Polisario to
cooperate, in a transparent and sincere manner, with your efforts
aimed at breaking the peace plan's prolonged deadlock and converting
the fragile cease-fire between the Sahrawi and Moroccan Armies into a
just and lasting peace.
No one better than your Excellency knows the historic causes of this
painful conflict and the principles and values at stake, not only for
an innocent people, but also for the peace and stability of this
highly sensitive region.
There is no doubt that your immense prestige, credibility and moral
integrity are bearers of hope and optimism for the Sahrawi people
just as they were yesterday for Kuwait, another country like Western
Sahara, which has a powerful "brother" as its northern
neighbour".
18.03.97
US support
The US Department of State gives it full support Baker's mission,
which is qualified as "extremely difficult".
19.03.97
Security Council
The Security Council expressed disappointment at the lack of progress
on the implementation of the Plan for the settlement of the question
of Western Sahara, expressed strong support for the
Secretary-General's efforts to overcome the current stalemate, urging
the parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary- General's newly
appointed Personal Envoy to the region.
In a statement, the President, Ambassador Wilosowicz of Poland said
the Council concurred with the United Nations Secretary-General's
assessment that it was essential to maintain the cease-fire, a breach
of which could seriously threaten regional stability. "It believes
that the presence of the MINURSO has been essential in helping the
parties to maintain their commitment to the cease- fire," Ambassador
Wilosowicz said. He stated that the Council was looking forward to
receiving the Secretary-Generals assessment of the future tasks and
configuration of MINURSO.
19.03.97
Comments of the Moroccan press
48 h. after the nomination of James Baker the Moroccan press
unanimously wrote that Morocco will make no concessions. It will
accept no other solution than the peace plan. It is afraid of other
ways as direct negociations, or an international conference, because
an internationalization of the conflict, considered as an internal
Moroccan problem, is out of question.
Human Rights Committee of the UN , 53th session, Geneva, 10.03.
- 18.04.1997
Under item 7 of the agenda, the Right to Selfdetermination, following
NGOs made interventions about the W.S. conflict: Fraance
LibertÈs (Fondation Danielle Mitterrand), Pax Christi
International and CETIM (Centre Europe-Tiers Monde). They all
denounced the lack of progress in of the implementation of the peace
plan and asked the UN to work for the resumption of the negociations
between the parties. The Algerian Representative appealed in the same
sense.
[Summary
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