Humanitarian News, 10 March 2011 - Representatives of the parties to the Western Sahara dispute, Morocco and the Frente Polisario, today wrapped up another round of talks, during which both sides continued to reject each other's proposal as a sole basis for future negotiations, United Nations envoy Christopher Ross said.
Delegations from the neighbouring States, Algeria and Mauritania, also attended the sixth round of informal meeting on Western Sahara at the invitation of Mr. Ross.
On confidence-building measures, both parties and the neighbouring States also discussed the results of their meeting with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) last month.
They also reiterated their support for the proper implementation of the 2004 Plan of Action on confidence-building measures, as well as for UNHCR's technical mission to be deployed next month to create favourable conditions for the implementation of family visits by land.
The UN has been involved in efforts to find a settlement in Western Sahara since 1976, when fighting broke out between Morocco and the Frente Polisario after the Spanish colonial administration of the territory ended.
Morocco has presented a plan for autonomy while the position of the Frente Polisario is that the territory's final status should be decided in a referendum on self-determination that includes independence as an option.
Africa's last colonySince 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
Since 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
