HC Deb 23 June 1994 vol 245 cc260-1W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress being made in the United Nations voter identification programme for the referendum in the Western Sahara.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The United Nations identification commission announced on 1 June that it had completed the preliminary analysis of applications for registration received so far, and was launching the identification and registration process both in Western Sahara and in the refugee camps in the Tindouf area.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what safeguards are being put in place by the United Nations to prevent Moroccan citizens from wrongly taking part in the Western Sahara referendum.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Only those individuals identified and registered by the United Nations identification commission will be eligible to vote in the referendum. One of the duties of MINURSO will be to ensure the proper conduct of the referendum.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stipulations have been made by the United Nations about residence and other qualifications to take part in the Western Sahara referendum.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Security Council resolution 907 of 29 March 1994 endorses the criteria for eligibility to participate in the referendum proposed by the United Nations Secretary-General in his report to the Security Council of 28 July 1993—document 2/26185, available in the House of Commons Library.

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