The UN chief recommended, in a report released on Wednesday, that the mandate of the UN mission in the Sahara (MINURSO) "remain in place for another year, through April 30, 2011".
Ban Ki-Moon also recommended to the Security Council to reiterate its call upon the parties to negotiate "in good faith and without preconditions," under the auspices of his Personal Envoy, and "to show the political will required to enter into substantive discussions and ensure the success of the negotiations."
"Imagination and creativity will be needed if progress is to be made," Ban Added.
The UNSG, who hailed the two parties' commitment to continue the negotiations' process, noted that, following two rounds of informal meetings, "neither party had accepted the proposal of the other as the sole basis of future negotiations."
"Nothing in their relations or in the regional or international environment is likely to occur to change this for the foreseeable future," he said.
The report recalls the speech of HM King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the Green March, in which the Sovereign called to ensure that the southern provinces, the Sahara, will feature prominently in the Advanced Regionalization system and reaffirmed the Kingdom's commitment to its autonomy proposal.
Touching on the situation in Tindouf camps (southwestern Algeria), Ban urged "that appropriate attention be paid to the issues of conducting a census of refugees and implementing a programme of individual interviews."
"Given the existing circumstances on the ground and in light of my Personal Envoy's continuing efforts, I believe that the presence of MINURSO remains indispensable for the maintenance of the ceasefire" in the Sahara, he said.
Ban hailed his Personal Envoy Christopher Ross for his "diligence in working with the parties towards a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution" and expressed his appreciation to his Special Representative, Hany Abdel-Aziz and the Force Commander, Major General Jingmin Zhao.
The UN chief also commended the efforts by the Royal Armed Forces to destroy mines and explosive remnants of war.
Source: MAP
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas