UNSC MINURSO CONSULTATIONS: ON TRACK FOR SIX-MONTH

1. Summary: DPKO Assistant Secretary-General Hedi Annabi and
the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara
Peter van Walsum summarized for the Security Council October
25 the UN's latest assessment of the situation in the Western
Sahara. Speaking for the United States, Ambassador Sanders
expressed support for the Secretary-General's recommendation
to extend MINURSO for another six months, while cautioning
that "continuation is tied to progress" and that negotiations
ought be conducted in "the spirit of flexibility." The
majority of Council members also expressed support for a
six-month extension, although several cited the need for
dialogue between the parties and the imperative of
self-determination for the Sahwari, and many expressed
concern about the human rights situation in Western Sahara.
End Summary.



2. Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Assistant
Secretary-General Hedi Annabi highlighted three aspects of

SIPDIS
the most recent "Report of the Secretary-General on the
situation concerning Western Sahara" (Document S/2006/817
available at www.un.org/Docs/sc/sgrep06): the limited access
to Moroccan and Polisario military bases available to the
MINURSO military observers; alleged human rights abuses; and
the need for continued implementation of confidence building
measures. The Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western
Sahara Peter van Walsum spoke only to reiterate that the UN
position on Western Sahara remained as he had described it
earlier in the year: one of passive encouragement. He
characterized the UN as taking a "step back" so as to allow
the parties to carry out their responsibilities. He
emphasized UN support for the attainment of a mutually
acceptable political solution vice a continuation of the
status quo, which he deemed unacceptable.



3. Council members generally supported the
Secretary-General's report and most indicated they would

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support a six-month rollover of the MINURSO mandate. But
Council members, in their statements, also underlined their
concerns on a number of issues. A number of countries,
reflecting their reading of a leaked OHCHR report critical of
Morocco, said that the UN should continue close monitoring of
the human rights situation in Western Sahara (Qatar, Ghana,
Argentina, Denmark, Greece, Peru, France, Slovakia and
Congo). Several countries reminded the Council of the
importance of the principle of self-determination for the
people of Western Sahara (Argentina, Denmark, Peru, Tanzania
and Slovakia. Several countries also urged that
unconditional dialogue begin between the parties (China,
Argentina, Denmark, Greece, Tanzania and UK). Finally, a
number of countries urged an expanded program of confidence
building measures (Argentina, Denmark, Peru and France).
BOLTON