Western Sahara

Response to Western Sahara action

Many thanks for taking action for Western Sahara. Your email campaign to the Foreign Secretary has received a response, shown below.

Ms Tanner,

Thank you for your campaign letters to the Foreign Secretary about Western Sahara. I have been asked to reply directly to you and ask that you share this letter with your supporters.

The UK is keen to see a resolution to the question of Western Sahara. To this end, the UK fully supports the efforts of the United Nations (UN) Secretary–General and his Personal Envoy, Peter Van Walsum, to the Western Sahara, to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1783 on 31 October, reaffirming their call "upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith" set out in the earlier Resolution 1754. Negotiations between the parties were held in Manhasset, New York on 18-19 June, and 10-11 August. A third round of negotiations are due to be held later in the year, though the UN has not yet announced dates. The UK has welcomed these negotiations and has encouraged the parties to maintain their commitment to the process.

The UK shares your concern about the welfare of the people of Western Sahara. We have set out our concerns about the human rights and humanitarian situation in the region in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Human Rights Report, 2006, which is available at www.fco.gov.uk.

The EU provides considerable aid to the Western Saharan people. The UK has contributed over $200,000 to the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Organisation, who have donated $1.3 million to provide food aid to the Western Saharan refugees currently living in refugee camps.

You also raise the issue of arms sales to Morocco. All export licence applications are closely controlled, and are assessed on a case by case basis against Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Where there is a clear risk that an export from the UK would be used aggressively against another country or to assert by force a territorial claim, an export licence will not be granted.

Fíona Rumney
Middle East & North Africa Directorate

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	Western Sahara Response to Western Sahara action Many thanks for taking action for Western Sahara. Your email campaign to the Foreign Secretary has received a response, shown below. Ms Tanner, Thank you for your campaign letters to the Foreign Secretary about Western Sahara. I have been asked to reply directly to you and ask that you share this letter with your supporters. The UK is keen to see a resolution to the question of Western Sahara. To this end, the UK fully supports the efforts of the United Nations (UN) Secretary–General and his Personal Envoy, Peter Van Walsum, to the Western Sahara, to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1783 on 31 October, reaffirming their call "upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General without preconditions and in good faith" set out in the earlier Resolution 1754. Negotiations between the parties were held in Manhasset, New York on 18-19 June, and 10-11 August. A third round of negotiations are due to be held later in the year, though the UN has not yet announced dates. The UK has welcomed these negotiations and has encouraged the parties to maintain their commitment to the process. The UK shares your concern about the welfare of the people of Western Sahara. We have set out our concerns about the human rights and humanitarian situation in the region in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Human Rights Report, 2006, which is available at www.fco.gov.uk. The EU provides considerable aid to the Western Saharan people. The UK has contributed over $200,000 to the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Organisation, who have donated $1.3 million to provide food aid to the Western Saharan refugees currently living in refugee camps. You also raise the issue of arms sales to Morocco. All export licence applications are closely controlled, and are assessed on a case by case basis against Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Where there is a clear risk that an export from the UK would be used aggressively against another country or to assert by force a territorial claim, an export licence will not be granted. Fíona Rumney Middle East & North Africa Directorate « top
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