February 7, 2002
The Norwegian NGO-Forum for Human Rights today sent a letter to the Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jan Petersen to provide their recommendations on priorities for Norway's chairmanship of the UN Security Council in March 2002 and for the rest of the year. In the letter, the network highlights "issues of fundamental significance for international peace and security". The issue of Western Sahara is among the few issues of high priority.
In the Western Sahara statement, the 14 organizations express concern for Morocco's refusal to honor its international commitments and an apparent readiness on the part of the UN Secretary General to give in to Moroccan obstruction. The organizations warn of an impending betrayal of the Saharawi people and a defeat for international legality.
The Human Rights organizations also deplore the Norwegian government's lack of progressive action on behalf of the right of the Sahrawi people to a referendum of self- determination and warn that not to do so "would undermine the ability and credibility of the United Nations as an instrument for peaceful conflict resolution."
The Norwegian NGO-Forum for Human Rights expect to meet Mr. Vidar Helgesen, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, to discuss their recommendations shortly.
The letter to the Norwegian government, Western Sahara chapter:
Norwegian NGO-Forum for Human Rights
Security Council 2002 - Recommendations to the Government of Norway
Western Sahara
Western Sahara has now been under occupation by Morocco for 26 years. The UN has since 1991 been mandated to organize a referendum in Western Sahara. UN GA Res. 1514 and 1541 (1960), the ICJ advisory opinion in 1975, UN SC Res. 690 of 1991 and the 1997 Houston accords provide both the legal basis and the mechanisms for a free, fair and transparent referendum. In its resolution 1359/2001, the UN Security Council reiterated its full support for the implementation of the existing Settlement Plan. It is, however, worth noting that Morocco now refuses to allow the referendum to take place as earlier agreed and recent developments indicate that the United Nations Secretary- General is on the verge of abandoning the UN's earlier commitments and the signed agreements by promoting the so-called "third way" proposal.
An abandonment of the referendum in Western Sahara would constitute a betrayal of the inalienable right of the Saharawi people to self- determination. It would also be a defeat for the United Nations' proud history of support for decolonization and respect for international legality.
In the past, Norway supported the struggles for national liberation in Eritrea, Namibia and East Timor. In comparison, Norway has so far maintained a position of negligence of Western Sahara. In order to be coherent and consequent and in order to maintain its credibility as defender of international legality, Norway should insist that the same rules apply in Western Sahara as in those previous cases. Not to do so would undermine the ability and credibility of the United Nations as an instrument for peaceful conflict resolution.
Recommendations
1) The Security Council should defend international legality, the principle of self- determination and the credibility of the United Nations by insisting that the free, fair and transparent referendum envisaged in the 1991 settlement plan is the only path to a durable and just peace in the Maghreb.
2) The Security Council should have an open and sincere discussion that confirms the right to self-determination. The Security Council should also consider mechanisms to hold the Moroccan government accountable to this principle and the agreements Morocco has previously entered into.
3) The Security Council should contribute the necessary human, economic, political and diplomatic resources needed for the implementation of the referendum of self- determination, to be held without further delay.
The Norwegian NGO-forum:
Amnesty International Norway
Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations
Human Rights House Foundation
Norwegian Bar Association, Human Rights Committee
Norwegian Humanist Association
Norwegian Organisation for Asylum Seekers
Norwegian P.E.N.
Norwegian People's Aid
Norwegian Psychological Association
Save the Children Norway
The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO Norway)
The Norwegian Helsinki Committee
The Norwegian Refugee Council
The Norwegian Tibet Committee
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