§ Mr. Simon ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the UN Settlement Plan for Western Sahara and the proposed referendum. [132050]
§ Mr. HainWe support fully the efforts of the United Nations to bring about a just, durable and agreed resolution to the Western Sahara dispute. The UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, James Baker, have reported fundamental differences between the two parties to the dispute—Morocco and the Polisario Front—on the provisions of the UN Settlement Plan and referendum. They are working to resolve these differences including the possibility of the parties agreeing a mutually acceptable political solution.