W.Sahara. UN fast-tracks Referendum? Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit W E S T E R N SAHARA CAMPAIGN Oxford Chambers Oxford Place LEEDS LS1 3AX tel/fax: 0113245 4786 E-mail:100427.3223@CompuServe.COM PRESS RELEASE 29 APRIL 99 FAST-TRACK TO REFERENDUM United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday presented fast track proposals for a UN referendum on the Independence of Western Sahara in July 2000. The Secretary General has asked Morocco and the Polisario Front to formally agree before the UN mandate in Western Sahara expires tomorrow. Secretary General proposes to resume identification of Saharawi applicants next June beginning the final appeals process in July. He hopes that the appeals and identification process can be concluded in November 1999 and February 2000 respectively. Annan recognises that his proposals require a significant increase resources but believe they provide a "good foundatlon" for completing the first stage of the UN referendum plan. The transitional period giving the UN increased powers, is envisaged to start in February 2000. However Annan cautions that the referendum will only take place "provided that the unequivocal co-operation and support of both parties is maintained throughout." Previous efforts to hold the referendum by the UN MINURSO mission have been dogged by disagreements over voter eligibility. While welcoming the report, Keith Lomax, chair of the Western Campaign shares the concern of the Secretary General that "the appeals process will not be turned into a second round of identification for all the applicants found ineligible." The United Nations has already completed Identification of147,000 "non-contentious applicants." A Recent report by Agence =46rance Press suggests only 85,000 have qualified to vote. This is close to the historically significant figure of 74,000 Saharawis enumerated in the 1974 Spanish census, before Moroccan occupation. As a concession to Morocco, Annan's plan allows a further 65,000 applicants from disputed tribes many residing in Morocco. However, privately UN sources suggest few applicants will meet UN voter criteria, establishing them as true Saharawis. Ending on a positive note, Annan has requested a six-month extension to the United Natlons mandate in Western Sahara." JC The last report of the UN Sec'ry-General concerning Western Sa, S/1999/483, of 27.04.99 is on http://www.arso.org/S-99-483.htm or by e-mail on demand : mailto:arso@arso.org A R S O Association de soutien a un referendum libre et regulier au Sahara Occidental E-mail: mailto:arso@arso.org URL: http://www.arso.org Tel.:+41 32 422 87 17 Fax: +41 32 422 87 01 " JC ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytaf-05.12.99-08:38:36-13362