By Prensa Latina,
United Nations : UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for the UN Security Council to press on Morocco and the POLISARIO Front to resume talks on Western Sahara.
They closed in mid March in New York, the fourth round of talks with UN mediation started April 2007, but did not set a date.
Ban recommends in a Security Council report issued this week to call the parties to make some progress towards a more “substantial phase” of the talks without pre-conditions.
Ban noted that Morocco insists, through Prime Minister Chakib Benmusa, on keeping Western Sahara’s current status under Moroccan rule as the only way out.
Mahfud Ali Beiab, on behalf of the POLISARIO Front, called to run a referendum to allow the Saharan people to freely choose between independence and the current autonomy with Moroccan rule.
The conflict over Western Sahara began in 1975 when Morocco annexed the former Spanish colony and the POLISARIO Front began the struggle for independence until they approved a cease-fire in 1991.
The POLISARIO Front accuses Morocco of violating UN resolutions by refusing to discuss holding a referendum that would include choosing for independence of the Saharan territory.