The Western Sahara issue

France hails the UN secretary-general’s appointment of Christopher Ross as special envoy to succeed Peter Van Walsum. We hope this appointment will enable the parties to approach the upcoming stages in their negotiations with realism and a spirit of compromise, as called for by SCR 1813 of April 30, 2008, so that the negotiations may enter a more substantive phase.

France joins with the UN secretary-general to thank Peter Van Walsum for his work and for his positive contribution to the search for a settlement of the Western Sahara issue, notably by organizing the first four negotiating sessions in Manhasset. It expresses its firm support for the implementation of resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007) and 1813 (2008), which were unanimously adopted by the Security Council and which called on the parties to continue direct negotiations in good faith and without preconditions, and notably welcomed the serious, credible efforts made by Morocco in presenting its autonomy plan.

France considers that a return to the situation preceding the adoption of SCR 1754 of April 30, 2007, would likely end the prospect for a resolution of this conflict and cause a situation that is unacceptable for the populations, notably those in refugee camps, to persist.

France reaffirms its support for the UN secretary-general’s efforts to achieve a political solution that is realistic, lasting and mutually acceptable to all the parties, and that will facilitate the building of a united, stable, and integrated Maghreb.