Referendum in 1996 a 'real possibility' despite slow progress

UN Chronicle, June, 1995

The Security Council has welcomed the progress achieved so far by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) in the identification and registration of voters in particular the acceleration in the rate of identification and emphasized the need to continue that acceleration.

In a 12 April presidential statement, the Council endorsed the Secretary-General's goal of achieving a rate of at least 25,000 per month. However, it regretted that progress had not been sufficient to enable the Secretary-General to recommend 1 June 1995 as the date for the commencement of the transitional period.

The Council also noted with concern the delays resulting from the failure to ensure the continuous presence at the identification centres of the necessary sub-fraction representatives, and welcomed the agreement on a method for choosing alternate representatives when necessary.

The Council further expressed concern at the slow progress in the implementation of other aspects of the Settlement Plan, which had to be completed before the referendum in Western Sahara could take place

On 30 March, Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali reported (S/1995/240) that the holding of the referendum had become a real possibility.

While it would not be possible to start the transitional period by 1 June as he had hoped, it could begin in August 1995, depending on the parties cooperation in resolving expeditiously the remaining issues in the Settlement Plan, the Secretary-General stated. The referendum could then be held in January 1996.

Important archival material given by the Government of Spain, including certificates of birth, marriage, divorce and death, were of considerable value to identification, especially for doubtful cases, the Secretary-General added.

Less than a year ago, very few believed that the identification process would even start. he said. By autumn of 1994, the pace was such as to "inspire little faith in its being completed within the foreseeable future". Now, additional resources needed for implementation had been promised and agreement reached on how identification might be carried forward.

There were currently seven identification centres. and plans were in hand to expand the operation further, he went on. Computerization of applications received and, in particular, the agreement of the parties to a formula for choosing tribal leaders to replace sheikhs who were no longer living or capable offered the best prospects so far for progress towards a referendum.

The Security Council on 13 January, by resolution 973 (1995) approved the expansion of MINURSO to ensure the timely completion of the voter identification. The Mission's mandate was also extended to 31 May.

The Council also decided to consider a possible mandate extension after 31 May, in the light of progress achieved towards the holding of the referendum and the implementation of the Settlement Plan.

The Plan, approved by the Council on 27 June 1990 under resolution 658 (1990), called for organization and supervision of a UN referendum, in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity (OAU), in which voters would choose either independence or integration with Morocco.

RELATED ARTICLE: Libya sanctions to stay in place

The Security Council on 30 March reviewed the arms and air embargo against Libya and decided it should remain in force. Council President Li Zhaoxing of China said there was no agreement that the necessary conditions existed for modification of the sanctions.

The embargo was imposed under Council resolution .748 (1992), after France, the United Kingdom and the United States complained that Libya had failed to respond effectively to their request to cooperate fully in establishing responsibility for the terrorist bombings which took place in 1988 and 1989,

The three countries, in a 30 March statement, reaffirmed that they were committed to full and comprehensive enforcement of the sanctions against Libya, having a "common determination to briny to justice those responsible" for the bombings of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, and UTA flight 772 in Niger. Libya, they agreed, must ensure the appearance of the two Lockerbie suspects in the United Kingdom or the United States, where they said they would receive a fair trial.

Meanwhile, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the League of Arab States adopted resolutions calling on the Security Council to lift the sanctions against Libya.

On 27 January, the OAU set up a Ministerial Committee to establish contacts with the parties to the dispute, coordinate efforts and initiatives, and open channels for dialogue to secure "a peaceful and just settlement to the dispute". The Arab League on 24 March called on the Council to conduct a new and impartial inquiry about the Lockerbie crash, in view of the shortcomings and the doubts surrounding past inquiries.