A delegation from the Polisario Front participated in the UN Special Committee on Decolonization Seminar held in Madang, Pupua New Guinea, between 18-20 May 2004.

The Seminar reviewed the decolonisation process in Western Sahara, one of the 16 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories still remaining on the UN declononization list.

The Seminar was addressed by Kamal Fadel, the Polisario Representative in Australia, The Seminar inluded in its final report the following summary of his statement:

"The representative of the Frente Polisario stated that the decolonization of the Western Sahara has been on the UN agenda since the 1960s and remains as a case in which the credibility of the UN and its decolonization efforts are on line. Morocco has been illegally occupying the Territory for more than 28 years during which it engaged in a systematic violation of human rights in the occupied territorries while exploiting the resources of the territory.

He stressed the responsibility of the UN towards the Saharawi people and that they must be allowed to exercise in a fair, free and democratic manner their right to self-determination. He underlined that a just and lasting resolution to the conflict in Western Sahara will contribute to stability and progress not only in Morocco and Western Sahara but also in the whole of the Maghreb region and that any other solution that does not respect international legality will only lead to more instability and will harm the credibility of the UN. He expressed his believe that the UN can succeed in Western Sahara as it did in other similar situations such as East Timor and Namibia.

He reaffirmed his organisation's total commitment to the implementation of the UN Settlement Plan and expressed its willingness to co-operate with the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy Mr. James Baker, so that the latest Peace Plan could be implemented without further delay.

He requested the UN to mandate its mission in Western Sahara to monitor the human rights situation and provide protection to the Saharawis. He urged the United Nations and the international Community to stop the illegal exploitation and protect the natural resources of Western Sahara.

He called upon the UN Special Committee on decolonisation to send a delegation to Western Sahara and to continue to monitor closely the decolonisation process in Western Sahara."

22.05.04

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