asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he is taking to encourage a referendum to give the people of Western Sahara a choice about their future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Western Sahara. Self Determination.
6.
Ireland has strongly and consistently supported the implementation of the principle of self determination in respect of the Western Sahara. It is our belief that the organisation of a referendum to enable the people of the Western Sahara to exercise this right is long overdue. Our efforts at the United Nations have been directed towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict and to this end, together with our partners in the twelve, we have encouraged a consensus approach which is most likely to assist progress towards a solution.
I am pleased to note that this year the General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution which, inter alia, stressed the importance of the agreement in principle, given on 30 August 1988 by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front, to the joint proposals of the Chairman of the OAU and the Secretary General of the United Nations. These proposals were made with a view to holding a referendum on self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara organised and supervised by the United Nations in co-operation with the OAU. We fully support the efforts to work out with the parties involved a basis for the implementation of this agreement.
Could the Taoiseach in any way assist in getting this referendum held as quickly as possible because of a number of disturbing events which occurred in that region since the meeting of last December one of which is the outbreak of fighting again last month with a consequent loss of lives and just as worrying, the apparent dilution of interest by the Algerians in the Polisario? These two things might mean that the referendum would be longfingered unless some action is taken by the UN to ensure that it takes place very quickly.
I would agree with that.
What efforts might the Governments make at Foreign Affairs level to ensure that it is the indigenous Saharan people alone who participate in this referendumn?
We would have to rely on the UN for that sort of supervision.
There is quite an amount of suspicion in this instance that unless things are well supervised it will not be confined to the Saharan people alone and we should raise our voices to ensure that it is so confined.
I would agree with that.
Following the meeting in Geneva which attempted to set up procedures for the implementation of the referendum, what is the view of the Irish Government or of the twelve towards advancing past the impasse which has now been reached in relation to the registration process, and are the Community in dealing with trade matters with Morocco making an attempt to avoid prejudging the issues involved?
Our efforts, as I said in a reply to Deputy Barry and Deputy Connor, should be best pursued through the UN and also through the political co-operation machinery of the twelve.