Western

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced today the appointment of Major General Muhammad Tayyab Azam of Pakistan as the Force Commander of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

In a phone call with King Mohammed VI of Morocco this past weekend, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to the negotiation process aimed at reaching a settlement in the Western Sahara dispute.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for concerted efforts to accelerate efforts to reduce social inequalities in Western Asia through the boosting of decent job opportunities especially for the region’s youth.

The Security Council today extended until 30 April 2009 the mandate of the United Nations mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO), tasked with monitoring the ceasefire between Morocco and the Frente Polisario and organizing a referendum on self-determination.

Consolidating the status quo is not an acceptable outcome to the current process of negotiations over Western Sahara, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in his latest report on the long-running dispute between Morocco and the Frente Polisario.

The fourth and latest round of United Nations-led talks, bringing together representatives from Morocco and the Frente Polisario, wrapped up today on the outskirts of New York City, with both sides once again pledging to continue negotiations.

The fourth round of talks on Western Sahara, bringing together representatives from Morocco and the Frente Polisario under United Nations auspices, got under way today on the outskirts of New York City, according to a UN spokesperson.

Starting this Sunday, the United Nations will lead a fourth round of talks on Western Sahara, bringing together representatives from Morocco and the Frente Polisario on the outskirts of New York City, a UN spokesperson said today.

The United Nations envoy for Western Sahara is continuing his in-depth consultations with the parties and neighbouring countries in the region ahead of the next round of scheduled talks between Morocco and the Frente Polisario.

Morocco and the Frente Polisario are still far apart on how to provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, despite the two parties’ commitment to a process of negotiations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a new report.