On W. Sahara, Council Word Games Trigger 15-0 Vote
Matthew Russell Lee, Inner City Press
UNITED NATIONS, April 30 -- After hours of wrangling over Western Sahara, the UN Security Council past five o'clock on Friday passed a resolution for the annual extension of the mandate of the MINURSO mission there, without the contentious phrase "human rights" being included.
As Inner City Press reported throughout the day, in the Council's consultations room France and its former colony Gabon drew a line in the sand on Western Sahara . Hovering outside the consultations was Morocco 's ambassador, as well as a representative of the Polisario Front. After twists and turns, posturing and the calling of bluffs, a compromise was reached and voted on.
There were only three changes to the draft resolution issued by the so-called Group of Friends, made up of France, the US, Russia, UK and Spain. The euphemism "human dimension" wasn't changed, but a reference to the roles of the UN system was added, which some argued meant human rights.
The word "reaffirms" was added to the first paragraph -- very tough -- and the word "existing" was added near the end. That was it, but it was enough for Uganda and Nigeria , and also Mexico , to remove their threats to abstain.
Inside the consultations, Inner City Press is told, Austria 's Ambassador wondered out loud how France , so important in forming the concept of human rights, could be so vehemently opposing the inclusion of the term in the Western Sahara resolution. French Ambassador Araud responded angrily that no one can teach human rights lessons to France . Whereupon the Chinese representative slyly said he was glad that Chinese was no longer alone in its position on -- and against - human rights being considered in the Council.
European Commission out of Step
"Since Morocco does not exercise internationally recognised sovereignty over Western Sahara, Western Sahara is not seen as a part of Morocco �s territory in relation to this agreement. The Free Trade Agreement is thus not applicable to goods from Western Sahara ", stated Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jonas Gahr Store, 11 May 2010.
"It is Norwegian policy that one when interpreting the territory application of Free Trade Agreements, take the relevant states� internationally recognised borders as a point of departure. The Free Trade Agreement between EFTA and Israel is thus not applicable to produce with origin in the Israeli settlements on the West Bank . Similarly, the Free Trade Agreement between EFTA and Morocco is not applicable for Western Sahara ."
The clarification from the Minister follows an import scandal that has been unrolled in Norwegian media over the last weeks, involving the president of the Norwegian business association, millions of euros in tax evasions, ministers and refugees. As a result of the affair, it has become clear that the practice of EFTA is in stark contrast to the policy fronted by the European Commission on trade with goods from occupied Western Sahara .
http://www.vest-sahara.no/index.php?parse_news=single&cat=49&art=1506
dairyflat2010-05-22 12:31:27
Profile pic. Should you be interested. Lakhsen, on the right, lost touch with him.
Mohammed, on the left, I'm still in touch with. He's now living in Agadez, Niger. More focused on his animals now as tourism has dried up. Is active with a co-op promoting local goods, leather work and bijouterie, into Europe.
20/5/20
