Vol. 422 No. 1
83 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether he has raised the violations and obstructions of the peace plan accepted by the parties to the conflict in the Western Sahara at European Community and United Nations levels; and if he will outline the further steps, if any, he now proposes to take on this issue.
I am aware of the difficulties, reported by the UN Secretary-General, in the way of implementing his plan for the Western Sahara. The Secretary-General's Special Representative, Mr. Yaqub Khan, is currently engaged in discussions with the parties to the Western Sahara dispute with a view to overcoming these difficulties and to securing an overall settlement to the conflict there.
He visited the area between 19 and 30 April 1992 and held meetings with the King of Morocco and the Secretary-General of the Polisario Front. He concluded that their respective positions remained far apart and continued to present serious obstacles to the implementation of the plan. But he was encouraged to find that both parties were still committed to the plan as a framework for a just and permanent solution to the conflict.
Mr. Yaqub Khan is pursuing his contacts with all the parties concerned. In due course the Secretary-General will be reporting to the UN Security Council on their outcome. I will continue to monitor developments in the situation and to stay in close touch with the United Nations on it.
