§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held at the UN concerning a referendum of Saharwi people on the future of the Western Sahara. [74662]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe future of Western Sahara has been discussed at the UN recently in both the Security Council and the General Assembly.
On 30 July 2002 the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1429. This extended the mandate of the UN's peacekeeping force in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 January 2003. It underlined the validity of the Settlement Plan, which provided for a referendum on the future of Western Sahara, while noting the differences between the parties in its implementation. It supported the efforts of the Secretary General and his Personal Envoy to find a political solution to the dispute. The Council expressed its readiness to consider any approach that provided for self determination and urged the parties to cooperate fully with them.
530WThe Fourth Committee of the General Assembly recently debated the question of Western Sahara and agreed a resolution by Consensus debated on 4 October 2002. That resolution noted the Security Council's recent resolutions, including 1429. It urged the parties to continue their cooperation with the Secretary General and his Personal Envoy with a view to reaching a mutually acceptable political solution.