US diplomat Ross to be named UN envoy to Western Sahara
MADRID (AFP) - The United Nations will soon appoint American diplomat Christopher Ross as a special envoy to the Western Sahara, the Spanish daily El Pais reported today.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will name the former US ambassador to Syria and Algeria, within "the coming few days" El Pais said, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Ross, who represented the US in the Middle East peace process in the early 1980s, will replace Peter van Walsum, whose mandate was not renewed after it expired on August 21.
The 74-year-old van Walsum was accused of being favouring Morocco after stating that independence for Western Sahara was "an unrealistic option."
Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony which was annexed in 1975 by Morocco. The Polisario Front, a rebel movement which wants independence for Western Sahara, said last month it wished to engage in direct negotiations with Morocco but requested that van Walsum be replaced.
"His (Ross's) appointment shows that Washington is ready to get more involved in the negotiation," El Pais commented.
Africa's last colonySince 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
Since 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
