CAIRO: A top United Nations diplomat was in Algeria to hold talks with Moroccan, Algerian and Western Sahara officials over the status of the disputed territory. Both Western Sahara and Morocco have claimed ownership of the West African territory, but for over three decades fighting and frustration has dominated the area. “As with my previous visits, this tour of the region has as principle goal the clearing of roadblocks on the path to constructive negotiations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Polisario,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Personal Envoy Christopher Ross told reporters after meeting with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in the capital, Algiers. “There is no doubt that the status quo is untenable in the long term, given the costs and dangers that it entails, and the parties must now demonstrate the necessary political will to surmount it. This demands negotiations without pre-conditions and in good faith to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution which provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.” The Frente Polisario, the main group in Western Sahara, has demanded a referendum be had to determine the final status of the territory. Morocco, however, has presented a plan that would give the area autonomy while remaining a part of Morocco. Similar to Sudan's upcoming referendum to self-determine whether they will be independent, Western Sahara activists are optimistic this route will be chosen for them. “My hope is to see the parties emerge from the current impasse and start intensive and substantive negotiations in the future of Western Sahara,” Mr. Ross said. After Algiers, he is to travel to the region of Tindouf in south-west Algeria, Mauritania and Morocco, to continue preparations for the third meeting in November of informal talks that aim to prepare the way for formal negotiations. BM
