§ Mr. GunnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons his representative at the United Nations Securities Council voted in May to suspend theMINURSO votes registration project in Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [37724]
§ Mr. HanleyWe, and other members of the Friends of the Secretary General on the Western Sahara, agreed with the UN Secretary-General's recommendations temporarily to suspend the voter registration process in view of the lack of progress.
We continue to urge Morocco and Polisario to co-operate with the UN and its operation in the territory, MINURSO, so that voter registration can proceed and lead to a referendum on self-determination.
§ Mr. GunnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the suitability of the United Nations voter registration project in Western Sahara for creating the conditions for a fair referendum on the future of Western Sahara. [37726]
§ Mr. HanleyWe believe that the UN operation in the Western Sahara,MINURSO, has developed strict criteria which should result in only those being eligible to vote being included in the electoral register for the referendum.
39WWe urge both parties to put their trust in the process and co-operate with the UN Secretary-General and MINURSO so that voter registration can be resumed.
We continue to believe that a referendum of self-determination represents the best solution to the conflict in the Western Sahara.