UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon names Christopher Ross as his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara
Shahid Al-Hafed ( Saharawi Refuge Camps ), 8 Jan, 2009 (SPS) – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has informed the Security Council of the appointment of American diplomat, Christopher Ross, as his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters, in statement made public on the website of the United Nations.
.“Mr. Ross will work with the parties and neighbouring countries (...) with objective of achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara,” said Michele Montas.
The Department of State for Foreign Affairs of the USA has welcomed the appointment of Mr. Ross to the position of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara, calling on the parties to the conflict, Polisario Front and Morocco “to engage in new rounds of direct negotiations at the beginning of this year. "
The UN Secretary-General had informed last August the two parties to the conflict, Morocco and the Polisario Front, as well as members of the Security Council of his intention to appoint Mr. Christopher Ross as new personal representative for Western Sahara, but without making it publicly.
.The peace process in Western Sahara is currently stalled, after the termination of the mandate of the previous personal envoy of UN Secretary-General in Western Sahara, Peter Van Walsum.
Mr. Van Walsum, who oversaw since June 2007 four rounds of direct negotiations between Morocco and Polisario Front in Manhasset, near New York, lost the confidence of Mr. Ki-moon and the Polisario Front when he described as "unrealistic" the option of independence for Western Sahara. (SPS)
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