United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan says in a new report, published in New York on Friday, he expects parties involved in the Sahara issue to continue to cooperate with his special envoy to reach a rapid, lasting and concerted settlement to the Sahara issue.
“I expect Morocco and the Polisario, as well as Algeria and Mauritania, to continue to cooperate with my special envoy (James Baker) in the efforts he is making to reach a rapid, lasting and concerted settlement to the Sahara issue,” Annan was quoted by the official Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP) as saying in his interim report to the security council.
After he welcomed as "a positive development" the recent release of a number of Moroccan prisoners of war, as well as Saharan detainees, Annan notes that over 1,300 war prisoners are still detained, some for more than 20 years. He called their continued detention a "serious humanitarian issue" and urged the Polisario to release without any delay all prisoners, according to the agency.
Annan also draws attention to the situation of Saharan refugees in the Tindouf camps in Algeria as a matter of "growing concern" and appeals to the international community to provide generous support to the UN's refugee and food agencies that are providing humanitarian assistance to those in need. The humanitarian needs of the refugees should be met until they voluntarily return to the territory. (Albawaba.com)
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