EUROPÄISCHES PARLAMENT

Margot Keßler,

Mitglied des Europäischen Parlaments

The Honorable James Baker

Special Envoy of the UN-Secretary General

for Western Sahara

Brussels, 23th of January 2003

Dear Mr. Baker,

As president of the Intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi People" in the European Parliament, I wish to reaffirm the support of our institution to the the Western Sahara self-determination process.

The Intergroup and myself reiterate our support to the fact that the real option in order to solve the conflict in Western Sahara, remains the 1991 UN Peace Plan towards the holding of a referendum of self-determination for the Saharawi people in Res. 690 (1991). This position is in accordance with the international legality in Res. 1514 (XV) and 1541 (XV).

Moreover, as the last UN Security Council resolution 1429 on Western Sahara stated last July, the UN should provide and therefore assure "a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution which will provide for the self-determination of the people Western Sahara".

Nevertheless, the European Parliament Intergroup cannot but voice a profound dissatisfaction with the UN's current failure to implement its own Peace Plan concerning the future of Western Sahara and we urge the UN to assume its international responsibility to organise the referendum for self-determination in the Western Sahara territory.

This is the clear and final obligation of the UN with this Non-self-governing territory since 1963.

The European Parliament Intergroup "Peace for the Saharawi People" and myself therefore call on you to clearly and tangibly implement the next phase of the 1991 UN Peace Plan towards the holding of a referendum of self-determination for the Saharawi people, and set a date for this consultation.

We also wish to express our total support for all measures taken in order to improve the humanitarian situation of the Saharawi refugees, and to protect the natural resources of occupied Western Sahara.

We therefore wish to inform you that we call on the members of the United Nations Security Council to exert the highest sense of responsibility possible, uphold and defend international legality, the UN fundamental principles, and the previous resolutions on Western Sahara by returning to the strict and rapid implementation of the 1991 UN Peace Plan adopted by both parties in conflict, that is Morocco and the Polisario Front.

Yours sincerely,

Margot Keßler

President of the European Parliament Intergroup

"Peace for the Saharawi people" 

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