Marrakesh, Morocco (TMT)- The Security Council extended yesterday, by recorded vote, for one year the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
A statement from the Security Council said that 10 countries voted in favour of the resolution, while two voted against (Venezuela and Uruguay), with three abstentions (Angola, New Zealand and Russia).
The mission’s mandate has been extended now until 30 April 2017.
The Council called upon Morocco and the Polisario to “continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the efforts made since 2006 and subsequent developments, with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.”
Most notable this time is The Council requesting a briefing from the Secretary-General within 90 days on whether the mission has returned to full functionality and expressed “its intention, if MINURSO has not achieved full functionality, to consider how best to facilitate achievement of this goal.”
The Moroccan Times.
