Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 22 Nov 2001

Vol. 544 No. 5

Written Answers. - Foreign Conflicts.

Michael Bell

Question:

21 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress which has been made regarding UN Security Council Resolution 1349 in relation to the Western Sahara and Morocco; the progress on Resolution 1359; the progress which has been made on the release of prisoners by both sides; and if international agencies have had access to both sides. [29256/01]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

Security Council Resolutions 1349 and 1359 extended the mandate of MINURSO, the UN Mission in Western Sahara, until 30 November 2001. MINURSO is charged with implementing the UN Settlement Plan for the territory of the Western Sahara, agreed in 1991. The settlement plan and subsequent agreements provide for the holding of a free, fair and impartial referendum for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. However, the process for holding the referendum has been blocked due to ongoing disputes between the parties concerning the voter registration process.

In an effort to overcome these obstacles, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Mr. James Baker, has held discussions with the parties, which included the examination of alternative proposals which might also serve as a basis for progress. His proposals were presented to the Security Council as an annex to the Secretary General's last report of 25 April 2001. These take the form of a draft Framework Agreement on the Status of Western Sahara, which would provide for a substantial devolution of authority for the territory of the Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty.

Security Council Resolution 1359, adopted in June 2001, struck a careful balance between continued support for the implementation of the original UN Settlement Plan and encouragement of the parties to discuss the Framework Agreement put forward by the UN Special Representative. The agreement has been accepted as a basis for negotiation by Morocco but has not been accepted by the POLISARIO or Algeria. Discussions over the last six months between Baker and the parties do not appear to have resolved any of the outstanding issues. In order to permit additional time for further consultations, the Secretary General wrote to the President of the Security Council on 12 November 2001, proposing a technical extension of the mandate of MINURSO for a further period of two months.

Security Council Resolution 1359 also calls on the parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to release without further delay all those held prisoner since the start of the conflict. The International Committee of the Red Cross and the relevant UN agencies are actively involved in efforts to alleviate the situation of the prisoners and to obtain their release. Both Morocco and the POLISARIO have been co-operating in allowing access to prisoners. A delegation from the ICRC is currently on a two week mission to visit prisoners in the POLASARIO camps in Tindouf.

Ireland is a long-standing supporter of the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination. The Government continue to consider the UN Settlement Plan as a reasonable basis for a just political solution to the conflict in the Western Sahara. We also support the efforts of the Special Representative to seek agreement between the parties. We believe that political negotiations on possible alternative solutions must have the consent of both parties to the conflict.

During my visit to New York on 10-13 November to attend the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, I had discussions with both the Foreign Minister of Morocco and senior representatives of POLISARIO. I indicated Ireland's support as a member of the Security Council for the ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict by peaceful means. I strongly urged all sides to maintain the cease-fire agreement, to co-operate fully with the UN, and to avoid provocative actions at this critical time. On the issue of prisoners, I reiterated the Government's view that further progress on this issue should not be dependent on the outcome of the wider political negotiations. The compelling humanitarian case for the release of the prisoners has been clearly made. An exchange of prisoners by all sides would be an important confidence building measure in the current efforts to find a lasting political settlement.