DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERALUN

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Question: Yes, in response to a question of mine on Friday, your Deputy Spokesman inserted in the verbatim transcript that the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, “has been coming up with new and innovative steps, including those which he has presented to the Security Council”. Could you please share with us what these new and innovative steps he was referring to are, since Mr. Ross’s most recent Security Council report, I don’t believe has been made public, at least I haven't seen it in going to the Security Council website. And his last public statement I believe was that there was essentially a stalemate in the discussions between the parties. And related to that, can you see if you can possibly arrange for Mr. Ross to provide a press briefing when he’s next in New York?

Spokesperson: Well, we can certainly ask. And I will also look into the first part of you questions. Yeah?

[The Spokesperson later added that on 26 October, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, presented to the Security Council a variety of initiatives taken pursuant to the parties agreement to explore new ideas put forward in paragraph 120 of the report of Secretary-General on Western Sahara of April 2011. These include the issues of demining, environment and natural resources among others.

He also explained to Council members two initiatives he will undertake to try and garner different ideas and perspectives regarding the Western Sahara. One is to bring together a group of the wise from the Maghreb region and the other is a discussion among Saharawis from different backgrounds.]

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