USUN INSTRUCTION: MINURSO MANDATE RENEWAL

UNCLAS STATE 037154

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC
SUBJECT: USUN INSTRUCTION: MINURSO MANDATE RENEWAL
RESOLUTION


1. This is an action request, see paragraph two.


2. ACTION REQUEST: USUN is requested to circulate to
the Group of Friends and the UN Security Council, at
such times and sequences deemed appropriate, the
resolution included in paragraph two, renewing the
mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western
Sahara (MINURSO). USUN is requested to ensure timely
adoption of a resolution text acceptable to the United
States. USUN should seek additional Department guidance
if substantive changes are made to the text below.


3. BEGIN TEXT

The Security Council,

Recalling all its previous resolutions on Western
Sahara,

Reaffirming its strong support for the efforts of the
Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to implement
resolutions 1754 (2007),1783 (2007),and 1813 (2008),

Reaffirming its commitment to assist the parties to
achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable
political solution, which will provide for the self-
determination of the people of Western Sahara in the
context of arrangements consistent with the principles
and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, and
noting the role and responsibilities of the parties in
this respect,

Reiterating its call upon the parties and States of the
region to continue to cooperate fully with the United
Nations and with each other to end the current impasse
and to achieve progress towards a political solution,

Taking note of the Moroccan proposal presented on 11
April 2007 to the Secretary-General and welcoming
serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the
process forward towards resolution; also taking note of
the Polisario Front proposal presented 10 April 2007 to
the Secretary-General,

Taking note of the four rounds of negotiations held
under the auspices of the Secretary-General; welcoming
the progress made by the parties to enter into direct
negotiations,

Welcoming the agreement of the parties expressed in the
Communiqu, of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-
General for Western Sahara of 18 March 2008 to explore
the establishment of family visits by land, which would
be in addition to the existing program by air, and
encouraging them to do so in cooperation with the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,

Welcoming the commitment of the parties to continue the
process of negotiations through United Nations sponsored
talks,

Noting the Secretary-General's view that the
consolidation of the status quo is not an acceptable
outcome of the current process of negotiations, and
noting further that progress in the negotiations will
have a positive impact on the quality of life of the
people of Western Sahara in all its aspects,

Welcoming the appointment of the Secretary-General's
Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Ambassador Christopher
Ross, and noting his recent visit to the region and
ongoing consultations with the parties,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of
13 April 2009 (S/2009/200),


1. Reaffirms the need for full respect of the military
agreements reached with MINURSO with regard to the
ceasefire;


2. Endorses the report's recommendation for the Personal
Envoy to hold small, informal preparatory meetings with
the parties, and endorses the previous report's
recommendation that realism and a spirit of compromise
by the parties are essential to maintain the momentum of
the process of negotiations;


3. Calls upon the parties to continue to show political
will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue
in order to enter into a more intensive and substantive
phase of negotiations, thus ensuring implementation of
resolutions 1754, 1783, and 1813 and the success of
negotiations; and affirms its strong support for the
commitment of the Secretary-General and his Personal
Envoy towards a solution to the question of Western
Sahara in this context;


4. Calls upon the parties to continue negotiations under
the auspices of the Secretary-General without
preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the
efforts made since 2006 and subsequent developments,
with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually
acceptable political solution, which will provide for
the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara
in the context of arrangements consistent with the
principles and purposes of the Charter of the United
Nations, and noting the role and responsibilities of the
parties in this respect;


5. Invites Member States to lend appropriate assistance
to these talks;


6. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Security
Council informed on a regular basis on the status and
progress of these negotiations under his auspices and
expresses its intention to meet to receive and discuss
his report;


7. Requests the Secretary-General to provide a report on
the situation in Western Sahara well before the end of
the mandate period;


8. Urges Member States to provide voluntary
contributions to fund Confidence Building Measures that
allow for increased contact between separated family
members, especially family visits, as well as for other
confidence building measures that may be agreed between
parties;


9. Decides to extend the mandate of the United Nations
Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
until 30 April 2010;


10. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take
the necessary measures to ensure full compliance in
MINURSO with the United Nations zero tolerance policy on
sexual exploitation and abuse and to keep the Council
informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to take
appropriate preventive action including pre-deployment
awareness training, and other action to ensure full
accountability in cases of such conduct involving their
personnel;


11. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

END TEXT
CLINTON