WRITTEN QUESTION E-0068/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(25 January 2002)

Subject: The Spanish presidency's priorities and the issue of the self-determination of the former Spanish Sahara

The Spanish presidency's priorities presented by the Spanish Foreign Minister, Josep Piqué, include worldwide issues, but not the settling of the problem of self-determination for the former Spanish Sahara, approved by the UN and demanded by the Sahrawi people and the Sahrawi Republic.

What is the Council's position on this important issue, still unresolved in the context of the decolonisation of the African continent?

Reply

(21 May 2002)

Without any doubt, a stable and lasting solution to the conflict in Western Sahara will be an essential factor for the stability of the region and also for the inter-Maghreb cooperation which the EU has always supported. In order to find a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara, successive Presidencies of the Council have been in regular contact with James Baker and are ready to help create a climate of trust which might facilitate a solution acceptable to the parties concerned. It is clear, however, that the leading role in seeking a solution belongs to the UN, and this is the approach being followed by the Spanish Presidency.

Consequently, the European Union fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, James Baker. In Resolution 1359 (2001) of 29 June 2001 the Security Council clearly indicated the way forward: it invited all the parties to meet under the auspices of the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to discuss the draft Framework Agreement and to negotiate any changes they would like to see in the proposal, as well as to discuss any other proposal for a political solution that might be put forward by the parties in order to arrive at a mutually acceptable agreement.

Resolution 1359 (2001) also stated that, in parallel with these discussions, the official proposals submitted by the Polisario Front to overcome the obstacles preventing implementation of the Settlement Plan would be considered.

The Council hopes that the talks between the parties will bring significant progress towards a stable and just solution in the interests of everyone and of strengthened cooperation in the Maghreb. In this context, due note has been taken of the fact that the Minurso mandate has been extended by Resolution 1380 (2001) to enable the current efforts to continue, and of the UN Secretary-General's interim report of 10 January 2002 in which he says that he intends to provide, before 28 February 2002, an assessment of the situation and, as appropriate, recommendations on the future mandate and composition of Minurso.

The Council considers, however, that there is no need to wait until the talks between the parties are concluded in order to settle certain pressing humanitarian questions, such as the exchange of family visits. It remains deeply concerned at the situation of more than 1 350 prisoners of war still being held after 20 years in most cases which requires an urgent solution in accordance with the obligations of the Geneva Conventions. The Council welcomes the recent freeing of 115 prisoners of war but regrets that no more substantial progress has been made. Another matter of growing concern is the situation of the Sahrawi refugees in the camps at Tindouf. In this context, the Council will continue its efforts on the humanitarian issues arising from the conflict in Western Sahara.

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that, through its humanitarian aid office, ECHO, the European Union is the largest provider of humanitarian aid to refugees: humanitarian aid worth EUR 56,4 million was supplied to refugees in the Tindouf camps between 1996 and 2001.