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On Sunday evening, Algerian press agency (APS) published parts of the first version of the UN draft resolution on the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), drafted by the United States. Algeria’s official news agency quoted excerpts from teh draft resolution that would be hostile to Morocco.
Indeed, APS reported that the first draft resolution, which calls for the extension of the MINURSO’s mandate to six months, «insists on the need of reinforcing the efforts of Horst Köhler», recognizing the «important role played by MINURSO in accompanying the UN mediator». The agency indicated that this part of the draft resolution «is a reminder to Morocco, which impedes the freedom of movement of Horst Köhler».
«The draft resolution calls for establishement of concrete measures to enable the UN staff to immediately reach Sahrawi interlocutors, in accordance with the existing agreements», the same source said.
Quoting a diplomatic source in New York who addressed the «violations of the ceasefire agreement in the draft resolution», APS stated that the UN Security Council «is mainly referring to the Moroccan authorities, as mentioned in the UN Secretary-General’s report».
The Algerian press agency recalled that the members of the Western Sahara Friends Group, which includes the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, Spain and France, «are expected to meet on Monday to discuss the American project and on Wednesday before the extension of the MINURSO’s mandate», scheduled for the end of April.
Polisario accuses Morocco of spreading «fake news»
Taking advantage of APS reports on the Sahara, pro-Polisario news platforms Radiomaizirat and Adamir accused Morocco of spreading «fake news». The two platforms wrote that «discussions on creating a human rights mechanism in the Sahara are not taking place» and that «amending the MINURSO’s mission is not at the heart of talks currently hosted by the UN Security Council».
«Everything is moving towards the extension of the MINURSO’s mandate to six months. It seems that the coming resolution would be similar to the previous one (2440)», the same source added.
The two platforms also accused Moroccan media of spreading «fake news» and «claiming that Morocco has managed to circumvent a decision of the United States, which wanted to amend the resolution».
For its part, Futuro Sahara preferred to indirectly slam the leadership of the Polisario Front, claiming that the UN body «remains unable to find a peaceful solution to the Western Sahara issue». To the pro-Polisario online newspaper, the Security Council will «extend the mandate of MINURSO and again call on the parties to fully cooperate with the UN envoy Horst Kohler».
