| On
Western Sahara
UN Guterres
Stands to Bar
Inner City
Press on Oct
11 After
Morocco
Honeymoon
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Periscope, song,
II
UNITED NATIONS,
October 7 – On
Western
Sahara, when
the UN
Security
Council's rare
meeting
began back on
March 21, Secretary
General Antonio
Guterres'
personal envoy
Horst Kohler walked
in with
security.
Asked if he
would speak
with the press
afterward, he
had one word:
"No." He is
based in
Germany and has
been allowed
to spend
public funds
on his own
holdover team, just
as Guterres
spends public
funds to go to
his home in
Portugal. Now
as Guterres'
retaliatory
ban
on Inner City
Press even
entering the
UN, now in its
95th day, stands
to exclude
it from the
October 11
consultation
on Western
Sahara, the
public record
reflects
that Guterres
and Catarina
Vaz Pinto who
has not
moved to
New York went
on what was
called a
"business"
honeymoon --
to Morocco.
See here,
referring to
"honeymoon in
Morocco,
though it is
believed the
Prime Minister
will be
dealing with
business which
is not
necessarily 'unofficial.'"
Now Guterres
is
ingratiating
himself to
Morocco in the
run up to the
migration compact
conference, not
unlike his silence
on the slaughter
in Cameroon to
gain support
of Paul Biya's
ambassador Tommo
Monthe as
chair of the
UN Budget
Committee.
This as the
Vice Chairman
of the
European
Parliament
Committee on
Foreign
Affairs,
Anders
Primdahl
Vistisen of
Denmark claims
the
EU-Morocco
draft
agreement "does
not provide
for the
recognition of
Morocco’s
sovereignty
over Western
Sahara." The
honeymoon is
over. Watch
this
site.
The
African
Union
reportedly
wants to
re-open its
office in the
UN's MINURSO
mission, from
which it
might for
example
monitor human
rights as the
UN does
not
- this while
Guterres
awards free
access and
office space
to numerous
Morocco state
media while
restricting
Inner City
Press and
coming up, through
his spokesman
Stephane Dujarric
and ironically
Al Jazeera,
with pretexts
to threaten
more
restrictions,
here.
The
basis for
Guterres'
position?
Morocco will
host "his"
migration
meeting and he
needs them, just as
he needed the
Cameroonian chair of
the UN Budget
committee and so
went silent on
slaughter of Anglophones
there. On June
22, Guterres'
UN guard, with
automatic
weapons with
them, ousted
Inner City Press
from the UN
during an
event at which
Guterres gave
a speech. Video
here,
story here,
new petition here.new petition here.new petition hThere
was Morocco
diplomat
angle, here. Then
on July 3, a more
violent ouster
from covering the UN
Budget
Committee, and
a ban since, made
permanent by
Guterres' "Global
Communicator" Alison
Smale
on August
17 without
any due
process. On September
17, a US read
out with
Morocco's
foreign
minister
included Iran by
name - but not
Western Sahara:
"Secretary
Michael R.
Pompeo met
today with
Moroccan
Minister of
Foreign
Affairs and
International
Cooperation
Nasser
Bourita.
They discussed
opportunities
to expand our
strong
economic and
security
cooperation,
including
shared efforts
to end Iran’s
support for
terrorism and
counter its
malign
influence in
the region.
Secretary
Pompeo and
Foreign
Minister
Bourita agreed
to hold the
next session
of the
U.S.-Morocco
Strategic
Dialogue in
Washington
next
year.
They also
discussed
other regional
and
international
issues." Some
wonder, on
all of the
above, where
is John
Bolton? Back
on
August 1 for
UK Ambassador
(and
incoming UNSC
President)
Karen Pierce's
"press"
conference from
which Inner
City Press was
banned, it
submitted this
question to
the UK Mission: "on
the agenda
there's
Western Sahara
on the
afternoon of
Wednesday 8
August. Last
month Sweden
said at the
beginning of
the month that
it would be
seeking agreed
Press Elements
from every
consultation.
Will the UK be
seeking Press
Elements from
this Western
Sahara
consultation?
And if not,
why not?
if it could be
read out and
Amb Pierce
answer it on
camera it
would be
appreciated."
But the question
was not
read out at the Press-less
press conference
at
which the UK
called on many
state media. Nor was
it answered
when submitted
a second time. At
the UN
Delegates
Entrance gate
on August 8
the Morocco
delegation refused
to answer
Inner City Press'
questions;
inside the UN
Guterres
and his Alison
Smale give
multiple
offices to
Morroco state media,
some of whom
double as UN
staff. In this
context, here
is Polisario's
August 8
statement:
"Today,
Personal Envoy
for Western
Sahara Mr.
Horst Köhler
briefed the UN
Security
Council on his
recent visit
to the region
and the next
steps he
intends to
take. Taking
note of the
briefing, the
Frente
POLISARIO
reiterates its
commitment to
cooperate
fully with the
Personal Envoy
in the
framework of
the UN
political
process, and
stands ready
to engage in
the
negotiation
process, as
called for by
the Security
Council. The
Frente
POLISARIO is
encouraged by
the Personal
Envoy’s
efforts since
he assumed
office and
urges the UN
and in
particular the
Security
Council
members to
fulfill their
responsibility
in line with
the principles
and purposes
of the UN
Charter and in
full respect
for the
inalienable
right of the
people of
Western Sahara
to
self-determination
and
independence. “The
Frente
POLISARIO
remains
encouraged by,
and supportive
of, the
efforts of
Personal Envoy
Köhler to
relaunch the
long-stalled
UN peace
process,” said
Sidi Omar, the
Frente
POLISARIO’s
representative
at the United
Nations. “The
people of
Western
Sahara, who
still endure
the horrors of
the Moroccan
occupation of
their land,
have waited
patiently for
too long to
exercise their
inalienable
right to
self-determination
and
independence.
The Frente
POLISARIO
stands ready
and willing to
come to the
negotiating
table to
achieve a
just, peaceful
and lasting
solution to
the conflict
of Western
Sahara, which
ensures the
inalienable
rights of our
people.”"
In
May 19
Guterres issued
a runic
statement on
Western Sahara,
citing Kohler:
"The
Secretary-General
is closely
following the
developments
in Western
Sahara. In
accordance
with Security
Council
Resolution
2414 (2018)
adopted on 27
April 2018,
and in order
to maintain an
environment
conducive to
the resumption
of dialogue
under the
auspices of
his Personal
Envoy Horst
Köhler, the
Secretary-General
calls for
maximum
restraint. No
action should
be taken,
which may
constitute a
change to the
status quo."
Is this a
reference to
Tifariti?
Guterres also
claims to be
following many
other
situations
closely, even amid
targeted
killings the
UN does and
says nothing
about. We'll
have more on
this.
After
the April 25
vote on
extending
MINURSO's
mandate was
postponed, it was
re-set for April 27
at 3 pm. And
Inner City
Press published
the draft in
blue, with six
month
extension, here
on Scribd.
When the vote
was taken, not
only Ethiopia
and Russia
abstained, but
China too.
Afterward
Inner City
Press asked
Morocco's
Ambassador
Omar Hilale
about the
abstentions -
he said they
will be forgotten
- and about
Paragraphs 69 and
52 of the UN
report, on
harassent of
human rights
defenders and
restrictions
on MINURSO. Hilale
said to ask
the UN for
Morocco's
response. He
then held up
flyers of a
tank, a
modified pick
up truck and
an automatic
weapons,
saying that
Algeria buys
these rather
than
feeding
people. Inner
City Press asked
him about the
Rif in Morocco
- he acknowledged that
more could be
done, spoke of
discipline
on some
ministers. Finally
Inner City
Press asked
him about
resources,
fish and
phosphate. He
answered, this
round, only
about fish,
saying that
the EU is
re-writing its
agreement to
explicitly
including
Western Sahara.
Human rights
indeed. At
the stakeout
there were,
multiple
Morocco state
media given
full access,
unlike
Inner City
Press, and UN DPI's Hua
Jiang who is
responsible,
along with
Alison Smale,
for
this lawless
disparity. Inner
City Press pursued
it, alone, to
the UN
Security
Council
stakeout on
April 26 where
staff said
it'd be Monday,
then to the UN
basement where
the Council's
President Peru
told it, Maybe
before. Only a
six month
extension, to
be revisited in
October. All
that pressure
for this. Amid
escalating
spin in the
run-up to the
slated
extension
the MINURSO
mission -
with the R for
Referendum
still not
carried out -
on
April 18,
after
Guterres'
spokesman Stephane
Dujarric
entertained
questions from
multiple of
the Moroccan
state media
the UN gives
office space
and full
access to,
Inner City
Press asked, UN
transcript here: Inner
City Press:
Morocco seems
to be claiming
that both Bir
Lehlou and
Tifariti are…
where the UN
has team sites
are located
within the
buffer
zone.
Frente
Polisario says
that's
entirely
false.
Obviously,
this is a
dispute about
where these
meetings take
place.
What I wanted
to know, it
should be
pretty
straightforward
for the UN to
say, given how
long it's had
a mission
there, are
these two
sites, Bir
Lehlou and
Tifariti, are
they within
the buffer
zone or, as
stated
otherwise, are
they not in
the buffer
zone?
Spokesman:
I don't have
any new
language on
Western
Sahara, so
I'll get back
you to." And the
next day,
April 19, he
came to the
briefing and said
"I can say
that neither
Bir Lahlou nor
Tifariti fall
within the
buffer strip."
Asked and
answered.
Inner
City Press has
exclusively
published
the marked up
new
Security
Council draft
resolution, here
on Scribd and
attached here on Patreon. Now
just before
the Security Council
vote comes a
detailed
report on the
export of
phosphorus from
Morocco
occupied
Western Sahara. From
the report: "A
remarkable
development of
2017 is the
arrest in
South Africa of
a vessel
carrying
phosphate rock
from Western
Sahara to a
New Zealand
based
importer, and
the South
African High
Court placing
rightful ownership
of the cargo
in the exiled
government of
Western
Sahara. The
effect on the
trade has been
noticeable.
Three
previously
long-term importers
seemingly
stopped buying
after this
incident, and
the transit
routes were
shifted to
abandon
stop-overs in
Panama and
South Africa." The
full WSRW
report is here.
As
published by
Inner City
Press, the UN
Security
Council draft
now proposed
that
the Council
“Expresses
concern
regarding the
Polisario
Front’s
announcement
of the planned
relocation of
administrative
functions to
Bir Lahlou,
and calls for
the Polisario
Front to
refrain from
any such
destabilizing
actions." Was
this really
announced? On
April 24,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman Stephane
Dujarric,
UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: on
Western Sahara, there's
a draft that
Inner City
Press
published it,
and the draft,
which I know
you're not
going to
respond to,
but there's a
reason I'm
asking you
this.
One of the
paragraphs in
the draft, 2
ter, quote,
“expresses
concern
regarding
Polisario
Front's
announcement
of the planned
relocation of
administrative
functions to
Bir
Lehlou”.
And I wanted
to ask you
whether… given
that… that,
you know,
MINURSO
[United
Nations
Mission in
Western
Sahara] is
there, are you
aware… has
there been a…
a… a… an
announced
planned
relocation?
What's your
position on
that?
Spokesman:
I think the…
Inner
City Press:
I'm not asking
about the
draft.
I'm asking
about the
facts.
Spokesman:
No, I think
the… whoever…
whatever
parties
decides to
change…
relocate
whatever they
would want to
relocate is up
to them to
announce.
Inner
City Press:
Right, but
they… don't
they… so,
you're not
aware of them
telling
MINURSO…
Spokesman:
I'm saying
it's up to
them to
announce.
What is your
other
question?" And
that's how the
UN avoids
questions.
Today's
UN gives
office space
and full
access to multiple
Moroccan
state media,
including
moonlighters
as UN staff,
while evicting
an restricting
underdogs. On
April 4 after
Moroccan
Foreign
Minister
Nasser Bourita
met Guterres
-- who gave no
read out, as
has become his
norm --
Morocco
arranged a
press
conference,
not in the UN
Press Briefing
Room but
elsewhere. In
it, Bourita reportedly
threatened military
action,
and said Guterres
spoke to the
King by phone
(again, no read-out) and
to the
President of
the Security
Council.
Arranging this
was the
Moroccan
Mission to the
UN, which in its
last public UNTV stakeout
in the UN, last
April
video here,
used the
platform to criticize
the Press for
asking too
many questions.
Expect more. On
April 5
Inner City Press
asked
Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN
transcript here: Inner
City
Press: a
readou of the
meeting
that the
Secretary-General had
with the
Foreign
Minister of
Morocco. There
are these
quotes from
the Foreign
Minister of
Morocco after
the meeting
saying that
all options
are on the
table; Morocco
is considering
taking up its
responsibility
to act if the
UN
doesn't.
Is it true
that the
Moroccan
Foreign
Minister
threatened
military
action in the
meeting? And
what was the
Secretary-General's
response?
Spokesman:
Listen I'm
challenged
enough to
speak for the
Secretary-General,
so I will not
speak for any
other
parties.
The
Secretary-General
and the
Foreign
Minister
discussed
issues of
mutual
concern.
Including,
obviously, the
situation in
the Western
Sahara.
Inner
City Press:
No, but, I
mean, I guess
if he's a
conflict-prevention
guy and…
and… and
the person
that he meets
with comes out
of the meeting
saying, I
threaten to
take military
action…
Spokesman:
The
Secretary-General's
focus
continues to
be on
prevention of
conflict, and
that's why he
meets
regularly with
representatives
of Member
States.
Inner
City Press:
But I'm
saying, with
the Polisario
Front, their
representative
at the UN, now
recently
deceased, with
whom on the
other side as
a
conflict-prevention
man is Mr.
Guterres speaking?
Spokesman:
"As you know,
the death of
the Polisario
representative
was very
sudden, coming
in the last
two or three
days. I
don't know if
they have
appointed
someone to
replace him."
And now Guterres
leaves town for another six
days. Inner City Press also
asked the Dutch
military adviser, video here.
Back
on March 21 when
Horst Kohler left the
Security Council at 4:40 pm Inner
City Press asked him, Was there any
discussion of natural resources
(exploitation) and the
European Court of Justice
decision? There was no
direct answer.
Periscope video
here. But Team
Kohler took a detour and
visited with Moroccan Ambassador
Omar Hilale, holding
court in the second floor
hall where Inner City
Press due to
censorship, unlike
Moroccan state media,
cannot go. Now
Hilale,
on the day
presidency of
the Security
Council passes
from the
Netherlands to
Peru, has
written
threatening
military
action, using
Latin
("casus
belli"). Now on
April 2, the
Polisario
Front has sent
a three page latter
to the
Security
Council,
denying
Hilale's
allegations
and calling
them a
smokescreen. Letter,
in three
photos, here.
Even
before
Inner City
Press at 1 pm
on April 2
asked the President
of the
Security
Council
Gustavo
Meza-Cuadra of
Peru about the
letter - he
confirmed
receipt - UN
Spokesman
Stephane Dujarric
said the UN's MINURSO "has "not
observed any
movement of
military
elements in
the northeast
territory.
MINURSO
continues to
monitor the
situation
closely." On
April 3, one of
the Morocco
state media to
which the
UN gives
office space
and full
access while
evicting and
restricting
Inner City
Press "asked"
Dujarric
about some
media saying
the UN was
daring to
disagree with
Hilale, was
even siding with
Polisario. Dujarric
said of course
not, and when
Inner City
Press asked if
anything had
changed from
his statement
the day
before,
Dujarric said
he expected to have
something
later on April
3. Periscope
video here.
When? In what
format? Watch
this site. Does
the timing of
Hilale's
letter, not noted
along with the
(written)
medium by Al
Jazeera,
spring from
the situation
on the ground
or a plan of April
lobbying? All
this while
Secretary General
Guterres,
who notably
sides with the
over-dog in
places ranging
from Cameroon
to Yemen, was on
a four day
unannounced
(but belatedly
confirmed to
Inner City Press) four
day weekend at
his real home
in Lisbon,
missing in
action (MIA).
On
March 21 the
two Morocco state
media didn't
ask anything
during the
UNTV stakeout. The
UN gives them
full access,
one of them
doubling as a
UN staff
members. This
is how the UN
works, or
doesn't.
Some
tell Inner City Press at least Kohler is
holding meetings, with French Le Drian
(opposing any human
rights component
in the MINURSO
mandate),
Sweden and the
African Union.
This last made
Morocco mad.
The Moroccan
mission has
lobbied the UN
Department of
Public
Information,
now run by
Alison Smale,
against Inner
City Press,
frivolously;
still, Inner
City Press
remains restricted
in its
movements in the
UN while
covering
meetings on
the second
floor when
often Morocco's
Ambassador Omar
Hilale is buzzing
around
lobbying. Hilale
has a habit
of counting
how many
questions
Inner City
Press asks. Inner City Press has three times asked the UN for
an update on the work of Antonio Guterres'
personal envoy Horst Kohler, who has
no presence at UNHQ in New York, only in Germany.
On March 12, Inner City Press asked
for his and Guterres' view
on the holding of the Crans
Montana Forum in Dakhla,
transcript here: Inner City
Press: on Mr. Horst Köhler's
work on Western Sahara, and I
did want to ask, since having
not gotten one, a specific
question, which is that I think
this Crans-Montana forum is
kicking off, and I've seen a lot
of back-and-forth on it.
And, as you may know, the
African Union specifically
called in one of its resolutions
for it not to be held in this
disputed territory and for
countries not to go. And
I'm wondering, if we can't get
an update, can we get Mr. Hans
[Horst] Köhler's view on this
forum being held at this time
and this place? Spokesman:
Mr. Köhler, as you know, has
been meeting with the
parties. He met… I think
his last round of meetings was
in Lisbon, where he met with the
representatives of
Morocco. As for the
holding of this event, we have
no particular comment, and I'm
not aware of any UN
participation in it.
Inner
City Press:
I'll go back
and look at
previous -- Spokesman:
Well, I know
what happened
previously. Inner
City Press:
I'm sure you
do." On
March 5 Inner
City Press
asked again,
UN transcript
here: Inner
City Press: you'd
said, on
Western
Sahara, that
you were
trying to get
something from
Mr. [Horst]
Köhler.
There was
reportedly a
meeting
between him
and the
Moroccan side
in
Lisbon.
Is that the
case?
And what was-- Spokesman:
That's my
understanding.
I'm trying to
get some more
details."
That's what he
said last
time. On
February 27
the Court of
Justice of the
European Union
"held
that, taking
accountof the
fact that the
territory of
Western Sahara
does not form
part of the
territory of
the Kingdom of
Morocco, the
waters
adjacent to
the territory
of Western
Sahara are not
part of the
Moroccan
fishing zone
referred to in
the Fisheries
Agreement.
Lastly, the
Court examines
the
territorial
scope of the
Protocol to
the Fisheries
Agreement.
Although that
Protocol does
not contain
any specific
provisions on
that subject,
the Court
states that
several of its
provisions use
the expression
'Moroccan
fishing zone.'
That
expression is
the same as
that to be
found in the
Fisheries
Agreement,
which defines
it as 'waters
falling within
the
sovereignty or
jurisdiction
of the Kingdom
of Morocco.'
The Court
concludes that
the 'Moroccan
fishing zone'
under the
Protocol does
not include
the waters
adjacent to
the territory
of Western
Sahara." But
at a human
rights event
at the
European
Union's office
in New
York City last
week, in an
hour long
session of
bragging, this
EU over-reach
did not come
up, and no
questions on
it were
permitted
(Inner City
Press had to
run back to
the UN to meet
the 7 pm censorship
deadline
imposed by UN
Global
Communicator
Alison Smale. This
curfew
does not
apply to the
many Morocco
state media
she and
Antonio
Guterres give
full access
and work space
to.)
And the UN of
Smale and
Guterres, when
Inner City
Press asked on
February 27,
wouldn't say
anything about
UN
representative
Kohler or the EU
decision. From
the UN
transcript:
Inner City
Press: on what
you just said
of no comment
on the EU
Court of
Justice
decision that
the… that the
waters off
Western Sahara
don't… can't
be agreed to
by
Morocco.
I wanted…
could you…
when you said
you have no
comment on it,
is there some
way to seek
whether this…
the personal
representative,
Mr. Horst
Köhler…? Spokesman:
I have no
particular
comment on
it. As
soon… if and
when we do
have a
comment, I
will share
that comment. Inner
City Press:
And relatedly,
what I wanted
to ask is,
I've heard
that unlike
his
predecessors, for Mr.
Köhler,
there's no New
York presence
of that office
or
mandate.
It's all in
Germany.
Is that the
case? Is
there some
way… how would
one go about
seeking a
comment from
this Special
Envoy and…
and… can you
have any
update on his
work? Spokesman:
"Through us or
through DPA
[Department of
Political
Affairs].
Yes, I'm
waiting for an
update,
because I
think there
are some
meetings going
on.
Masood-ji?"
Yeah.
In
the earlier decision
from the EU
Court of
Justice: "In
his Opinion
today,
Advocate
General
Melchior
Wathelet
proposes that
the Court
should answer that
it has
jurisdiction
to assess the
legality of
international
agreements
concluded by
the EU,
that an
association
such as WSC is
entitled to
challenge the
legality of
the Fisheries Agreement
and that the
Fisheries
Agreement is
invalid
because it
applies to the
territory and
waters of
Western
Sahara." It's here, in eight
languages. On
January
11, Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric about
it, video here, UN transcript here:
Inner City
Press: I'd
asked you
about this…
and I guess on
Tuesday,
apparently,
you confirmed
that the
Secretary-General
did write a
letter to the
Frente
Polisario, the
part that you
read out was
on Guerguerat.
In
the interim,
the EU Court
of Justice
Advocate
General has
issued a… a
ruling
yesterday that
the EU Morocco
Fisheries
Agreement is
illegal for a
variety of
grounds,
including the…
you know, that
it violates
international
law. Some
people in
Moroccan state
media said
that there was
no letter; now
there is a
letter.
Can you say,
were the… was
the concept of
natural
resources, now
highlighted
once again by
the EU Court
of Justice,
part of this
letter or not?
And would you
just release
the letter to
prevent this
kind of…? Spokesman:
No, I won't…
the letter was
a private
letter.
I just wanted
to confirm
that it had
been sent, and
I'll leave it
at that. Inner
City Press:
So, really,
it's not…
so… Does
the
Secretary-General
or Mr. Köhler
have any
comment on
this EU
decision… in
terms of
natural
resources…? Spokesman:
"Not this a
point [?]
Obviously,
we're focusing
on Mr. Köhler
and his
ability to do
his work." On
Western Sahara
after a long
delay, UN
Secretary
General
Antonio
Guterres named
Horst Köhler
as his
Personal
Envoy,
replacing
Christopher
Ross. Inner
City Press was
exclusively
told by UN
Department of
Political
Affairs staff
that the delay
was
attributable
to Kohler's
demand to have
his own
personal staff
put on UN
contracts - a
demand that
Guterres gave
into, allowing
Kohler to put
long-time
German staff
in P-5 and P-3
UN positions.
On November
20, the UN
implicitly
confirmed what
Inner City
Press has
first
reported:
Kohler did not
visit Layoune,
the seat of MINURSO.
On
January 8,
Inner City Press
asked
Guterres'
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric,
transcript here: Inner
City Press:
you'd read out
the Guerguerat
comment.
There's also…
there's a
press report
of a… of a
letter from
António
Guterres to
the Polisario,
received by
them on
Saturday, that
has quite a
different… at
least their
description of
it is quite
different,
saying that it
involves… it's
about natural
resources, and
it agrees
that, you
know, various
steps are
needed.
Did he write
such a letter?
And if so, do
you have any… Spokesman:
I don't have
any
confirmation
that such a
letter was
sent." Twenty
four hours
later, instead
of emailing
Inner City
Press his
belated
answer, he
waited and
read it out at
the next noon
briefing. It
will be in the
day's
transcript.
This is the
same Dujarric
who threw
Inner City
Press out of
the UN Press
Briefing Room
as it pursued
the Ng Lap
Seng UN
bribery case.
Now Dujarric
is
stonewalling
on Guterres'
inaction on
the Patrick Ho
and Cheikh
Gadio UN
bribery case.
Today's UN is
corrupt.On
January 5 Guterres,
after an 11
day vacation
followed by
four days with
nothing on his
UN schedule
("all appointment
internal") has
issued a
statement
purporting
deep concern.
Here it is,
full text:
"The
Secretary-General
is deeply
concerned
about recent
increased
tensions in
the vicinity
of Guerguerat
in the Buffer
Strip in
southern
Western Sahara
between the
Moroccan berm
and the
Mauritanian
border. The
Secretary-General
underlines
that the
withdrawal of
Frente
Polisario
elements from
Guerguerat in
April 2017,
together with
the earlier
withdrawal of
Moroccan
elements from
the area, was
critical to
creating an
environment
conducive to
the resumption
of dialogue
under the
auspices of
his Personal
Envoy Horst
Kohler. The
Secretary-General
calls on the
parties to
exercise
maximum
restraint and
to avoid
escalating
tensions.
Regular
civilian and
commercial
traffic should
not be
obstructed and
no action
should be
taken, which
may constitute
a change to
the status quo
of the Buffer
Strip." We'll
have more on
this. During
the November 22
consultations, Inner
City Press
asked the UN
spokesman for
the third time
why the UN
Department of
Public Information
has denied
access to the
building to
Western Sahara
media. Spokesman
Farhan Haq,
while trying
to cut off Inner
City Press'
question,
confirmed this
is the UN's
policy. But it
is just a
statement on
DPI's website,
to which for
example the
Free UN
Coalition for
Access has
never agreed.
After the
consultations,
Horst
Kohler and his
factotum
emerged,
saying only, I
am encouraged,
then rushed
down the hall
with a UN
Security
officer assigned
to him, unlike
other UN
envoys, due to
his past
position in
Germany. This
is waste.
Later Italy's
Ambassador Cardi summarized
the meeting;
Inner City
Press asked if
Kohler
explained his
failure to go
to El-Ayoun
/ Laayoune.
Apparently
not. Moroccan
state media
tried to get
more on
"encouragement;" this
is their
privilege,
unlike media
of Western Sahara.
In this
context, this:
"Ahead
of the UN
Security
Council’s 22
November
meeting on
Western
Sahara, the
Frente
POLISARIO
reiterates its
support to the
mission of the
Personal Envoy
of the
Secretary-General
for Western
Sahara, Mr.
Horst Köhler,
and urges
Council
members to
provide
necessary
contributions
to the
relaunch of
the UN peace
process. The
Frente
POLISARIO
expects the
Security
Council to
uphold its
responsibility
towards the
people of
Western Sahara
and to ensure
full respect
to their
inalienable
right to
self-determination
and
independence.
The Council
has the duty
to guarantee
that its own
resolutions
are respected
and fully
implemented.
In this
regard, UNSC
Resolution
2351(2017) has
requested the
Personal Envoy
to provide an
update on
progress
towards a
lasting and
just solution
to the
conflict of
Western
Sahara, as a
question of
decolonization,
within six
months of his
appointment.
This update –
to be held
next February
– should
comprise a
concrete
framework for
the path
forward that
would
culminate in
urgent
time-bound,
face-to-face
negotiations
between the
Frente
POLISARIO and
Morocco.
In the
interim, it is
more than
necessary that
the Council
addresses
ongoing issues
in order to
create more
favorable
conditions for
the new
negotiating
process.
Morocco
continues to
reject the
return to
Western Sahara
of the AU
observers that
were illegally
expelled by
Morocco in
March
2016.
There has
still been no
‘technical
mission’ to
the Guerguerat
region of
Western Sahara
to examine the
very serious
problems
created by
Morocco’s
unilateral
violation of
the terms of
the ceasefire,
as called for
in UNSC
Resolution
2351 (2017). Likewise,
Morocco’s
ongoing,
widespread
human rights
abuses and
plunder of
natural
resources in
the occupied
Territory of
Western Sahara
suggest a
culture of
impunity that
is not
conducive to a
constructive
and lasting
peace process." On
November
7, Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman Dujarric
if Kohler was
already
blocked, why
the UN is
blocking
Western Sahara
media
accreditation
while giving
offices to
Moroccan
state media,
and of the
King's speech.
From the UN transcript:
Inner City
Press: you may
have seen the
speech by the
King of
Morocco in
which he said
that there
will be no
solution to
Western Sahara
that's not
fully in
accord with
Morocco's
sovereignty,
which
basically
means… it's
not really
clear what is
really being
negotiated
given that
statement.
I wanted to
know, is there
any response
by either Mr.
[Horst] Köhler
or by the
Secretariat? And,
on
Mr. Köhler's
recent visit
to the region, was
he restricted
of traveling
anywhere that
he wanted
within Western
Sahara?
Because I've
heard that he
has, and I
wanted to just
ask you… Spokesman:
I'm not aware
of… Inner
City Press:
Did he visit
MINURSO
[United
Nations
Mission for
the Referendum
in Western
Sahara]? Spokesman:
I'm not aware
of these, of
whatever
restrictions.
Obviously, on
these trips,
itineraries
are
negotiated.
I'm not going
to react to
the King's…
the King's
speech.
There is a
mandate from
the Security
Council for
the Personal
Envoy as well
as the… as
well as
MINURSO, and
we will follow
that mandate
and continue
our work. Inner
City
Press:
And you'd said
earlier… I'd
asked you
about this
case of the
Western Sahara
journalist,
who's now been
twice denied
accreditation.
You said you'd
look into
whether this
is under the
policy of
needing to be
from a Member
State of the
General
Assembly.
Were you able
to check that
out? Spokesman:
I don't
recall, but
I'll check
again." Seven
hours later,
again nothing.
On
October 11,
Inner City
Press asked UN
Spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric, UN
transcript here: Inner
City
Press:
in the Fourth
Committee, the
Ambassador of
Morocco, Omar
Hilale, said
two
things.
He said that
Mr. Horst
Köhler is
going to the
region next
week.
So, he put a
date on
it. And
he also said
that the idea
of a
referendum is
dead.
That's… that's
what he's
quoted as
saying.
And, since
that's the
name of the
mission,
Referendum in
Western
Sahara, does
the UN have
any, does
the UN believe
that the
referendum is
dead? Spokesman:
"On a
potential
visit by the
new special
personal
envoy, as soon
as we have
something to
confirm, we
will do
so. As
far as… I'm
not going to
comment on the
Ambassador's
statement.
The mission
there has a
mandate given
to it by the
Security
Council, and
its work is to
implement that
mandate.
Thank you." Dujarric
never did
announce
anything about
Kohler's
travel, even
after it
began. So on
October 17
Inner City
Press asked
him, UN transcript
here:
Inner City
Press: this
note to
correspondents
[on Myanmar]
is long.
Can we get a
similar one
for, for
example, Mr.
[Horst]
Köhler's
visits to
Morocco,
Tindouf and
elsewhere? Spokesman:
Mr. Köhler is
currently in
Rabat.
We hope to
have more at
the conclusion
of the visit."
On
October 19,
Inner City
Press asking
Duajrric about
the
attendance, at
Kohler's
meeting with
Morocco's
King, of
"Kohler's
special
advisor David
Schwake" - how
was he
hired?
Dujarric said
the positions
were advertised;
Inner City
Press noted
that Schwake
was Germany's
ambassador to
South Sudan,
for example. Was he
just brought in? Is
he seconded?
Dujarric has not
answered. Yet.
On
September 17,
the UN issued
this: "The
Personal Envoy
of the
Secretary-General
for Western
Sahara, Horst
Koehler, took
up his
functions on 8
September in
New York,
where he held
meetings and
consultations
until 16
September. Mr.
Koehler met
with the
Secretary-General
and senior
United Nations
officials,
representatives
of the parties
and neighbors,
Member States
and the
African Union
Commissioner
for Peace and
Security. The
Secretary-General
welcomed the
intention of
his Personal
Envoy to
travel to the
region. He
stressed the
importance of
the visit to
help re-launch
the political
process in a
new spirit and
dynamic, in
accordance
with Security
Council
resolution
2351 (2017).
Mr. Koehler
looks forward
to travelling
to the region
and engaging
with the
parties in a
spirit of
trust and
compromise. "
Inner
City Press
twice asked
Guterres'
holdover
spokesman
Stephane
Dujarric the
simple
question of if
Kohler will be
in New York
for UN General
Assembly high
level week.
Dujarric has
not answered;
he invited
Moroccan state
media to his
"background" briefing on
September 15
but not Inner
City Press,
which asks him
questions
every day.
We'll have
more on this. On
August 4, Inner City Press asked
the UN why there is STILL not UN
Envoy on Western Sahara, UN
transcript here: and
below. On August 15, Inner City
Press asked UN Spokesman
Dujarric again, UN transcript here: Inner
City Press: the position of a
Personal Envoy on Western
Sahara.... well, you know how
long it's been. Spokesman:
I do know how long it's been.
Inner City Press: Can you give
some idea? Is the problem
consultations? Is the
problem with widely reported Mr.
[Horst] Köhler and the size of
the office, the location of the
office? What is the
problem? Spokesman: "You
know, a lot of things happen
below the water line. When
the personal envoy is ready to
emerge from above the water
line, we will make the
announcement." After the
briefing, Dujarric walked out
chatting with Moroccan media
(Magreb Arab Press) which comes
in and ask questions much less
than Inner City Press but which
Dujarric and the UN Secretariat
did not evict, and so have full
access. On August 16, after
Guterres declined to answer
Inner City Press' question
choosing instead five others
pre-picked, his Office
announced: "Secretary-General
António Guterres announced today
the appointment of Horst Köhler,
former President of the Federal
Republic of Germany, as his
Personal Envoy for Western
Sahara. The new Personal Envoy
succeeds Christopher Ross of the
United States who completed his
assignment on 30 April
2017. The
Secretary-General is grateful
for Mr. Ross’ tireless efforts
and dedication to facilitate
negotiations between the parties
in order to achieve a just,
durable and mutually acceptable
political solution, which would
provide for the
self-determination of the people
of Western Sahara." We'll have
more on this. From August 4:
Inner City Press: this
Western Sahara envoy question,
it's getting stranger and
stranger. How long has it
been since there's been an
envoy? And what is the, I
guess, at this point, what is
the holdup? Spokesman:
"I'm not going to comment on
your characterization.
When we have a Personal Envoy to
announce, we will announce
one." Likewise when Inner
City Press asked about Morocco's
alleged torture of the Gdeim
Iziki defendants, asking both
before and after the victim, the
UN had no comment at all. Now
they have receipt a letter that
"it has become clear that the
Moroccan authorities do not
respect international law and
persist in their grave
violations of human rights in
Western Sahara, under the
responsibility of the United
Nations, in view of the
decolonization of the territory
and the exercise by its people
of their inalienable right to
self-determination and freedom.
The Moroccan authorities have
never had the intention of
enabling Saharawi political
prisoners to have a fair trial
because they were arrested
mainly because of their
political views and public
defense of the Saharawi people's
right to self-determination. The
recent judgments represent a
serious development in Morocco's
notorious record of human rights
violations in occupied Western
Sahara." Maybe the UN will deny
receiving this letter too, while
leaving the envoy on Western
Sahara position vacant for weeks
and months without ever
explaining it. This is conflict
prevention? On July 18 Inner
City Press asked UN Deputy
Spokesman Farhan Haq, UN
transcript here: Inner
City Press: on Western Sahara, I
think the Frente Polisario sent
a communication to [the
Department of Political Affairs]
and [the Department of
Peacekeeping Operations] and the
United Nations Mission for the
Referendum in Western Sahara
(MINURSO) about they've
captured, they say, 19 people
coming over the berm from
Morocco and put them in… there's
photographs. It's been…
it's in El País. And I'm
just wondering, given the… the…
the… what happened in
Guerguerat, is the UN… what's
the UN comment on it? Will
you confirm that you've received
the communication? And
what does the UN intend to do
about it? Deputy
Spokesman: I'll check
whether we've received any
communication from them." Six
hours later, after Haq closed
the office, there was still
nothing. On July 19 Haq walked
out as Inner City Press. So on
July 20, along with Rif, Inner
City Press asked again, UN
transcript here, Inner
City Press: In the ongoing
protests in the Rif Region of
Morocco, there's a large protest
today by which the Government
has responded to by blocking
roads, trying to block entry by
sea, slowing down the
Internet. And so, I just
wanted to know… I know this has
come up and at one point,
Stéphane [Dujarric] said that
there may be something coming
down. Given that, in fact,
the protests are growing and the
oppression and the number of
people locked up has grown, has
the Department of Public… excuse
me, Political Affairs or the
Secretariat taken any note of
this? Deputy Spokesman:
Certainly, we take note of this
and I'll check with them about
any response. Inner City Press:
I tried to ask yesterday as you
left. I had asked you two
days ago I think, whether…
whether you had confirmed
receipt by [the Department of
Political Affairs] and [the
Department of Peacekeeping
Operations] of a communication
by Frente Polisario about this…
these arrests now reported in
three countries' media of people
coming over the berm into
Western Sahara, where you have a
peacekeeping mission. Have
you received that? And
what's the…? Deputy
Spokesman: We're aware of
this. The thing about that
is that the [United Nations
Mission for the Referendum in
Western Sahara] (MINURSO), does
not have any sort of civilian
law enforcement role. We
don't have any mandate to have
access to these individuals, and
they have not had access to
them." When Inner City Press on
July 17 asked UN deputy
spokesman Farhan Haq about
complaints of the use of torture
in the Gdeim Izik cases set for
decision tomorrow, this UN
spokesman said they UN had
nothing to say. Watch this site.
Despite South African and
European court decisions,
Morocco's OCP and its subsidiary
Phosboucraa said they consider
the South Africa's decision to
impound illegally exploited
phosphate from Western Sahara to
be "political piracy committed
under judicial cover... They
therefore reserve their right to
pursue and protect their
property rights for this cargo
using all means permitted by
international law." So, like Ban
Ki-moon's indicted brother Ban
Ki-Sang who used the UN's name
to try to sell real estate in
Viet Nam, they are thumbing
their noses at the court - while
Morocco's King continues to
abuse those in the Rif region.
By refusing to defend, they
concede. Where now will New
Zealand's Ravensdown and
Ballance Agri-Nutrients source
their phosphate? Back on April 9
Inner City Press reported UN
Secretary General Antonio
Guterres' proposal of Horst
Kohler of Germany to replace
Christopher Ross as the UN's
Western Sahara envoy. Guterres'
holdover spokesman Stephane
Dujarric, when Inner City Press,
repeatedly refused comment. Now
the reason for delay can be
reported: UN sources tell Inner
City Press that Kohler demanded
a large staff, some long time
associates, to be put on the UN
payroll, leading to delay. On
June 21 Inner City Press asked
Dujarric's deputy Farhan Haq...
***
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