Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1992

Vol. 421 No. 8

Written Answers. - Western Sahara Conflict.

Michael Bell

Question:

200 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has any plans to support the efforts of the Sahrawi people to have the UN correct the many abuses of the UN-peace plan in accordance with its Resolution 690/1991; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that (a) 50,000 Moroccans have been transferred to the occupied territory and (b) the cease-fire has been violated by the Moroccan army; if he has received any report from MINURSO indicating that they are being obstructed in their activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Andrews)

The Government is strongly committed to supporting the UN Secretary-General's plan for the organisation of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The Secretary-General is endeavouring to implement that plan.

I am aware that (a) an unspecified number of settlers from Morocco have moved into the Western Sahara and (b) there have been violations of the cease-fire by the Moroccan Army. In his periodic reports to the Security Council the Secretary-General has attributed most of the cease-fire violations to Morocco. However, the Secretary-General has noted with satisfaction that there have been no exchanges of fire between the two sides and no deaths resulting from internationl hostile action since the deployment of MINURSO, United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, began in September 1991. Most of the cease-fire violations have involved the strengthening of military position which is prohibited under the terms of the plan. I am also aware that MINURSO has experienced both logistical and local administrative difficulties in carrying out its mission but the Secretary-General has intervened personally in order to secure the full cooperation of the parties with MINURSO.

The Secretary-General's Special Representative, Mr. Yaqub Khan, made a tour of the mission area and neighbouring countries from 19 to 30 April 1992. He held meetings with the King of Morocco and the Secretary-General of the Polisario Front and concluded that their respective positions remained far apart and continued to present serious obstacles to the implementation of the plan. He was encouraged to find, however, that both parties were still committed to the plan as a framework for a just and permanent solution to the Western Sahara conflict.