6 de diciembre 2012
Damos la bienvenida a la decisión del Parlamento de hoy en el reconocimiento sueco del Sáhara Occidental.
Significa mucho para la población que durante 37 años tuvo que vivir bajo la opresión de Marruecos, en campamentos de refugiados en territorio argelino o en una zona desértica liberado
pero con escasos recursos.
Esto podría significar que el joven saharaui que perdió la fe en el mundo occidental y el sistema de las Naciones Unidas tenga una nueva esperanza para un referéndum y una solución pacífica.
Todo lo que queda es que el gobierno de muestras que se toma en serio la democracia sueca y sigue los representantes electos.
Estocolmo 05 de diciembre 2012
Asociación Sáhara Occidental /
Jan Strömdahl 070-4388841
Committee
Spain withdrew from West Sahara in 1975, today two thirds of this territory is occupied by Morocco.
The legacy of Spain’s departure is an intractable conflict between Morocco and the Saharawis’ Polisario Front.
Morocco claims that West Sahara is part of Morocco (“the southern provinces”), while the Polisario claims the right of self determination, including the right for an independent West Sahara.
In the early1960s West Sahara was, while a colony of the Spanish, on the UN list of non self governing territories to be de-colonised.
In 1988 the parties involved in the West Sahara conflict agreed on a UN peace plan. Morocco and the Polisario Front signed a ceasefire in 1991.
Compliance of the agreement is monitored by the UN force MINURSO, whose mandate is subject to the UN Security Council.
MINURSO has the mandate to implement the Security Council approved referendum on West Sahara’s future.
Much time has passed, however the referendum has not been conducted because the parties can not agree on the form it should take.
Since 2000, political talks have been conducted by the UN’s envoy for West Sahara; as from December 2008 this has been the former diplomat Christopher Ross.
In 2007, Morocco and the Polisario Front put forward a proposal for a solution to the conflict.
Based on the plan the parties repeatedly asked (by April 2012 – 2044/2012) the UN Security Council to initiate unconditional negotiations so as to reach an early, just and mutually acceptable solution to the conflict.
The Moroccan proposal is for autonomy for West Sahara within Morocco.
The Polisario proposes that the referendum should also include the option of West Sahara’s independence from Morocco.
Both proposals form the basis for discussions under the auspices of the UN. Informal talks were held between the parties on several occasions in 2011 and 2012.
The Secretary General notes in his report to the Security Council (S/2012/197) that the parties show willingness to meet, but are still not prepared to enter substantive negotiations in accordance with Security Council resolutions.
The parties are not prepared to deviate from their proposal for the referendum. The Secretary General’s reporting committee considers both parties must take responsibility for creating a suitable climate for future negotiations.
The Swedish government’s policy and actions within the EU and the UN is, as regards the Morocco-West Sahara conflict, based on international law and the right of self determination for the Saharawi peoples.
The government fully supports the UN’s efforts to reach a political solution to the conflict over West Sahara. This policy has the committee’s support.
The committee welcomes and supports the initiative for a political solution to the West Sahara conflict as initiated by resolution 1754 (2007) and subsequent UN meetings and believes the UN should continue to play a central role.
Despite the difficulties in finding a solution to the conflict, the committee urges that the international community must continue to support a process that can lead to a solution to this over 30 year long conflict.
The Secretary General notes in his report that it is essential to have a solution to this conflict which respects human rights.
All parties have a responsibility to ensure that human rights are upheld. According to the report, efforts have been made to this end, however the problem still remains.
The committee notes that the Minister for EU Affairs, Birgitta Ohlsson, in parliament in April 2012, concluded that the UN Security Council – of which Sweden is not a member – decides on the mandate for the UN’s force MINURSO.
Regarding this point, the Security Council did decide, in April 2012, on an extension without changing the mandate (2044/2012).
The committee maintains, as previously (report 2044/2012:UU5), that Sweden will be an active party supporting expanding MINURSO’s mandate to monitor human rights in West Sahara.
The committee welcomes the continued support for the Saharawi people’s right for self determination and agrees with the government that a political solution based on international law should be sought.
This will respect the 1975 report on West Sahara by the International Court of Justice.
The committee assumes the government will continue to give its attention to the West Sahara conflict.
Efforts to bring about a referendum must continue.
According to the committee, it is essential, if there is to be a long term solution to the conflict, that the Saharawis are able to state their views in a referendum.
The Ministry’s report on human rights states that the issue of human rights in West Sahara should be followed by, amongst others, Sweden, the EU and Swedish and international NGOs.
There should be a regular dialogue with Morocco and the West Sahara conflict should be included in the various forums initiated by the EU to enhance co-operation with Morocco.
The committee plays an important role in this context and includes regular meetings to discuss human rights and the conflict in West Sahara.
The committee shares the government’s opinion that it would be counter productive to terminate the co-operation and close the channels for dialogue.
The committee also states that Sweden contributes to the Sahara refugees via the EU and UN.
The committee notes that the EU does not currently have an active fishing agreement with Morocco, after the parliament, in December 2011, voted against the extension of the protocol of the fisheries agreement which expired on 27 February 2012.
The Council decided in February to authorise the Commission to open negotiations on behalf of the EU on a new protocol for an agreement on a fishing partnership with Morocco.
According to the committee, negotiations started in autumn 2012. Sweden voted against mandate for the following reasons:
"Because Western Sahara is not part of Morocco's territory, the people demand the fish resources are exploited for the benefit of the population
in Western Sahara and in accordance with their interests and wishes.
The draft negotiating directives for a new protocol does not guarantee
that the protocol will be consistent with international law. Sweden
therefore could not support the mandate and voted against. "
The committee’s view regarding West Sahara is that Sweden should urgently recognise the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (West Sahara) as a free and independent state. Sweden should also work for this within the EU.
The parliament should officially endorse what the committee has stated.
With that said, the Committee Motions 2011/12: U208 (V)
claims 11 and 12, 2012/13: U252 (MP) claim 3 and 2012/13: U306
(S) claim 75 of this Part.
