Michael D. Higgins
Question:8 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present position in relation to the UN referendum in Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement generally on the matter.
Written Answers. - Western Sahara Referendum.
Madeleine Taylor-Quinn
Question:25 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised Irish concerns with the United Nations relating to their lack of support of the MINURSO mission in Western Sahara; and if he will outline the complaints his Department have made to the Moroccan authorities in relation to their obstructive tactics.
Nora Owen
Question:98 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of his own personal interest, he will outline the action he proposes to take to support the holding of a referendum in the Western Sahara region; and if he will have arrangements made for Irish observers to form part of the interim observer team.
I will take Questions Nos. 8, 25 and 98 together.
The UN Secretary General, Dr. Boutros Ghali, is making strenuous efforts to secure agreement between Morocco and the Polisario Front on the organisation of the referendum in the Western Sahara. He is pressing in particular for agreement on the criteria for compiling the electoral list of voters for the referendum. The Secretary-General has undertaken to report again to the Security Council before the end of next month and he considers that, if agreement has not been reached by that date, a new approach may have to be adopted to the problem.
Ireland is directly involved in MINURSO, the United Nations Missions for the Referendum in Western Sahara. Irish military personnel serving with the mission will be assisting in the organisation of the referendum. As we are already contributing personnel to the mission, I do not consider that the presence of additional Irish observers would be warranted.
I am fully aware of the difficult physical conditions in which the MINURSO military observers are serving. The Secretary-General has himself expressed concern about this situation and is committed to improving their conditions and providing adequate accommodation for them.