Draft resolution 25/04/2014

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TheSecurity Council,

Recalling and reaffirming all its previous resolutions on WesternSahara,
Reaffirmingits strong support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and hisPersonal Envoy to implement resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007),1813 (2008), 1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), 1979 (2011), 2044 (2012), and2099 (2013),
Reaffirming its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting, andmutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for theself-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context ofarrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of theCharter of the United Nations, and noting the role andresponsibilities of the parties in this respect,
Reiterating its call upon the parties and the neighbouring states to cooperatemore fully with the United Nations and with each other and tostrengthen their involvement to end the current impasse and toachieve progress towards a political solution,
Recognizing that achieving a political solution to this long-standing dispute andenhanced cooperation between the Member States of the Maghreb ArabUnion would contribute to stability and security in the Sahel region,
Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to keep all peacekeepingoperations, including the United Nations Mission for the Referendumin Western Sahara (MINURSO), under close review and reiterating theneed for the Council to pursue a rigorous, strategic approach topeacekeeping deployments, and effective management of resources,
Expressing concern about the violations of existingagreements, and calling on the parties to respect theirrelevant obligations,
Takingnote of the Moroccan proposal presented on 11 April 2007 to theSecretary-General andwelcoming serious and credible Moroccanefforts to move the process forward towards resolution; also takingnote of the Polisario Front proposal presented 10 April 2007 tothe Secretary-General,
Encouragingin this context, the parties to demonstrate further political willtowards a solution including by expanding upon their discussion ofeach other’s proposals,
Takingnote of the four rounds of negotiations held under the auspicesof the Secretary-General and welcoming the commitment of theparties to continue the negotiations process,
Encouraging the parties to continue cooperating with the Office of the HighCommissioner for Refugees in implementing the January 2012 updatedPlan of Action on Confidence Building Measures,
Stressingthe importance of improving the human rights situation in WesternSahara and the Tindouf camps, and encouraging the parties to workwith the international community to develop and implement independentand credible measures to ensure full respect for human rights,bearing in mind their relevant obligations under international law,
Encouragingthe parties to continue in their respective efforts to enhance thepromotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara and theTindouf refugee camps, including the freedoms of expression andassociation,
Recognizingand welcoming, in this regard, the recent steps andinitiatives taken by Morocco to strengthen the National Council onHuman Rights Commissions operating in Dakhla and Laayoune, andMorocco’s ongoing interaction with Special Procedures of the UnitedNations Human Rights Council, including those planned for 2014, aswell as the planned visit of the Office of the High Commissioner forHuman Rights (OHCHR) in 2014,
Alsowelcoming the implementation of the enhanced refugee protectionprogramme developed by the Office of the United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees in coordination with the Polisario Front,which includes refugee and human rights training and awarenessinitiatives,
Reiteratingits request for consideration of a refugee registration in theTindouf refugee camps andinviting efforts in this regard,
Welcoming the commitment of the parties to continue the process of negotiationsthrough the United Nations-sponsored talks,
Recognizing that the consolidation of the status quo is not acceptable, andnoting further that progress in the negotiations is essentialin order to improve the quality of life of the people of WesternSahara in all its aspects,
Affirming support for the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for WesternSahara Ambassador Christopher Ross and his work in facilitatingnegotiations between the parties, and, welcoming to thateffect his recent initiatives and ongoing consultations with theparties and neighbouring states,
Affirming support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General forWestern Sahara and Head of MINURSO Wolfgang Weisbrod-Weber,
Havingconsidered the report of the Secretary-General of 10 April 2014(S/2014/258),
1. Decidesto extend the mandate of MINURSO until 30 April 2015;
2.Reaffirms the need for full respect of the military agreementsreached with MINURSO with regard to the ceasefire and calls onthe parties to adhere fully to those agreements;
3. Callsupon all parties to cooperate fully with the operations ofMINURSO, including its free interaction with all interlocutors, andto take the necessary steps to ensure the security of as well asunhindered movement and immediate access for the United Nations andassociated personnel in carrying out their mandate, in conformitywith existing agreements;
4. Welcomes the parties’ commitment to continue the process of preparation fora fifth round of negotiations, and recalls its endorsement of therecommendation in the report of 14 April 2008 (S/2008/251) thatrealism and a spirit of compromise by the parties are essential toachieve progress in negotiations;
5. Calls upon the parties to continue to show political will and work inan atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to enter into a moreintensive and substantive phase of negotiations, thus ensuringimplementation of resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008),1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), 1979 (2011), 2044 (2012), and 2099 (2013),and the success of negotiations;
6. Affirms its strong support for the commitment of the Secretary-General andhis Personal Envoy towards a solution to the question of WesternSahara in this context and calls for renewed meetings andstrengthening of contacts;
7. Calls upon the parties to continue negotiations under the auspices of theSecretary-General without preconditions and in good faith, takinginto account the efforts made since 2006 and subsequent developments,with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptablepolitical solution, which will provide for the self-determination ofthe people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangementsconsistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of theUnited Nations, and noting the role and responsibilities of theparties in this respect;
8. Invites Member States to lend appropriate assistance to these talks;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to brief the Security Council on a regularbasis, and at least twice a year, on the status and progress of thesenegotiations under his auspices, on the implementation of thisresolution, challenges to MINURSO’s operations and steps taken toaddress them, expresses its intention to meet to receive anddiscuss his briefings and in this regard, andfurther requeststhe Secretary-General to provide a report on the situation in WesternSahara well before the end of the mandate period;
10.Welcomes the commitment of the parties and the neighbouringstates to hold periodic meetings with the Office of the UnitedNations High Commissioner for Refugees to review and, where possible,expand confidence-building measures;
11. Urges Member States to provide voluntary contributions to fundconfidence-building measures agreed upon between the parties,including those that allow for visits between separated familymembers;
11bis.Notes the Secretary-General’s request for an additional 15United Nations military observers and supports this requestwithin existing resources;
12.Requests the Secretary-General to continue to take the necessarymeasures to ensure full compliance in MINURSO with the United Nationszero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and to keepthe Council informed, and urges troop-contributing countries to takeappropriate preventive action including predeployment awarenesstraining, and other action to ensure full accountability in cases ofsuch conduct involving their personnel;
13. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

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