EU Presidency Statement - Colonial Countries

Mr. Chairman,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia), and the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, as well as EFTA countries members of the EEA (Iceland and Norway) align themselves with this statement.

The European Union welcomes the fact that again this year the resolution on Western Sahara was submitted as a Chairman's proposal and that it has been adopted without a vote.

The European Union shares the overall assessment made by the Secretary-General about the question of Western Sahara and, in particular, the observation according to which the developments during the past nine years and particularly over the recent months constitute a real source of concern about the possibility of achieving a consensual implementation of the settlement plan and agreements adopted by the parties despite the support given by the international community. Nevertheless, the European Union is convinced that the full cooperation between the parties would permit the successful implementation of the settlement plan.

The European Union welcomes the completion of the identification process and the pre-registration of refugees but notes in particular that the respective positions of the two parties do not augur well for an early resolution of the issue of admissibility of appeals for hearings. We recall that the Personal Envoy stressed that the implementation of the settlement plan had been impeded for nine years by fundamental differences between the parties over the interpretation of its main provisions and that the prospects for holding the referendum were as distant as ever.

The European Union thus fully supports the decision made by the Secretary-General to ask his Personal Envoy to consult with the parties and, taking into account existing and potential obstacles, to explore ways and means to achieve an early, durable and agreed resolution of their dispute.

The European Union also supports the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy and expresses its hope that the parties will meet to try to resolve the multiple problems relating to the implementation of the settlement plan and to try to agree upon a mutually acceptable political solution to their dispute over Western Sahara.

For those purposes, the European Union calls upon the parties to fully cooperate with the Secretary-General, his Personal Envoy and his Special Representative, whom we commend for their outstanding efforts towards a fair and lasting solution for the Western Sahara.

The European Union calls for the conclusion of all outstanding agreements needed as soon as possible, as well as for the implementation of confidence-building measures. We encourage the parties to continue their cooperation with the High Commissioner for Refugees in order to prepare the repatriation of Saharan refugees.

The European Union takes this opportunity to pay once again tribute to the United Nations Mission for the referendum in Western Sahara. MINURSO continues to play a crucial role in the peace process. The parties' full cooperation with MINURSO remains of utmost importance.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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• EU Presidency Statement - Colonial territories (16/10/2001)