WESTERN SAHARA

Early day motion 608, tabled 17 December 1997 by Tess Kingham (Labour). Signed by 52 members.

That this House welcomes the Security Council Resolution adopted on 20th October which re-establishes United Nations plans for the holding of a free and fair referendum of self-determination of the people of Western Sahara; welcomes the renewed vigour that the new United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has brought to attemps to resolve the long running conflict between the POLISARIO Front and the Moroccan Government; congratulates the work of James Baker, the former US Secretary of State, and his work as the Secretary General's Special Envoy on Western Sahara; notes that the Government assisted James Baker's facilitation of direct talks which led to the signing of agreement; and calls upon the Government to continue their support for the United Nations plans and provide resources and a physical presence of troops and civilian observers to MINURSO, the United Nations force tasked with monitoring the implementation of the peace plan.

Signatures by party: Labour 40, Liberal Democrat 6, Labour/Co-operative 3, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 1.