WESTERN SAHARA: TALKING POINTS FOR NOVEMBER 18

UNCLAS STATE 122990 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: UNSC PREL WI XA XY SUBJECT: WESTERN SAHARA: TALKING POINTS FOR NOVEMBER 18 UNSC BRIEFING ¶1. USUN may draw from the following talking points for their November 18 briefing on MINURSO and the Western Sahara. Begin points: -- The United States is concerned by the amount of time that has elapsed since the last round of talks between Morocco and the Polisario. We urge the Secretary-General to announce his new personal envoy as soon as possible so invitations to the next round of talks can be sent without further delay. -- We urge both parties to accept the invitations to the next round of talks without preconditions. We hope both parties will come to the next round of talks with an open mind and spirit of compromise. -- We value the efforts of the Secretary-General's former Personal Envoy, Peter Van Walsum, and his assessment of the way ahead. We look forward to the prompt appointment of Van Walsum's successor and hope the new envoy will build on the work already done by Van Walsum. -- The United States continues to support MINURSO's important role in the Western Sahara. We commend MINURSO's continuing administration of the family visitation program. We urge both parties to work together in the next round of talks to finally open an overland route for these family visits. RICE