21997P0227(09)

JOINT ASSEMBLY OF THE CONVENTION CONCLUED BETWEEN THE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC STATES AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (ACP-EC)

RESOLUTION () on Western Sahara

The ACP-EU Joint Assembly,

- meeting in Luxembourg from 23 to 26 September 1996,

A. having regard to its previous resolution, adopted in Windhoek (Namibia), and the most recent report on the Western Sahara submitted by the UN Secretary-General to the Security Council, which refers to the deadlock in the peace process,

B. whereas the Kingdom of Morocco is continuing to block the process of achieving selfdetermination for the Sahrawi people,

C. having regard to the United Nations resolutions calling on both parties - the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front - to enter into direct negotiations,

D. whereas any withdrawal by the United Nations from Western Sahara could lead to a resumption of war and would threaten stability and peace in the region,

E. having regard to the blatant human rights violations perpetrated by the Moroccan authorities in Western Sahara,

1. Demands that the Kingdom of Morocco apply the UN-OAU peace plan, as accepted by both parties in the conflict;

2. Calls on the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front to resume direct negotiations under the auspices of the international community;

3. Appeals to the United Nations Security Council to take further steps to unblock the process for identifying electors, drawing attention to the responsibility of the party which is acting as an obstacle to the process;

4. Calls on the European Union and the Member States to take account of the inalienable rights of the Sahrawi people in agreements concluded with the Kingdom of Morocco;

5. Calls on the European Union to provide the Sahrawi people with sufficient humanitarian aid;

6. Calls on the EU Council, the Member States and the Commission to do their utmost to put an end to human rights violations and bring about the release of the hundreds of Sahrawi political prisoners;

7. Decides to send a fact-finding mission to Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco;

8. Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the ACP-EU Council, the Commission, the Secretaries-General of the UN and the OAU, the government of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front.