SECURITY COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT ON WESTERN SAHARA

The following Security Council press statement on the Western Sahara was read out today by Council President Ricardo Alberto Arias ( Panama):

The members of the Security Council welcome the report of the Secretary-General of 28 January 2008 (S/2008/45) on the status and progress of the negotiations on Western Sahara.

The members of the Security Council are pleased that the parties and States of the region agreed to meet on 11-13 March 2008 in Manhasset, New York, in accordance with resolution 1783 (2007).

The members of the Security Council support the intention of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara to travel to the region for in-depth consultations in preparation for the next round of talks.

The members of the Security Council welcome that the parties reiterated their commitment to show political will and negotiate in good faith and agreed on the need to move the process into a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations under United Nations auspices.

The members of the Security Council reaffirm their strong support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to implement resolutions 1754 (2007) and 1783 (2007).

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For information media • not an official record