§ 10. Mr. John Grogan (Selby)If he will make a statement about Government policy towards Western Sahara. [137405]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Chris Mullin)The Government seek a just and durable outcome to this long-running dispute that allows the people of Western Sahara to exercise the right to self-determination. We fully support the efforts of the United Nations and the United Nations Secretary-General and his personal envoy, James Baker, and wish to see both sides become flexibly engaged in the search for a long-term solution.
§ Mr. GroganGiven that Western Sahara is the last open file at the United Nations Decolonisation Committee, and that the Polisario front has accepted the Baker peace plan, what steps are the Government taking to urge the Moroccan Government also to accept the plan?
§ Mr. MullinWe are urging both sides to take the Baker plan seriously. The United Nations Security Council unanimously agreed it in resolution 1495. The 165 plan is a compromise—it offers something, but not everything, to both sides—and we want them to get together to sort out its implementation.