UN fails to renew mandate of envoy for Western Sahara
Posted by African Press International on August 30, 2008
Dutch diplomat, Mr. Peter van Walsum is leaving his position as United Nations envoy for Western Sahara after the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon decided not to renew his mandate, which expired on August 21.
The Polisario Front, which is seeking independence for Western Sahara, has been putting pressure for Mr. Van Walsum to be replaced after he stated that although Polisario Fronts demands were legitimate, independence was not a realistic goal, because the UN Security Council would not force Morocco to comply with the referendum plan.
According to the former UN envoy, it would be wiser for Polisario Front not to insist on total independence.
The Polisario Front has sought the independence of Western Sahara since it was annexed by Morocco after the colonial power Spain withdrew from the territory in 1975.
Mr. Van Walsum was appointed in 2005 as successor to former US secretary of state Mr. James Baker, who resigned in 2004 over the difficulties in solving the conflict.
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api/source.apa
