S/PV.8246 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2018/394, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United States of America. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2018/277, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 12 votes in favour, none against and three abstentions. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 2414 (2018). I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) is a peacekeeping mission that should have finished its job a long time ago. It is a mission that began 27 years ago, almost to the day. It is a mission that was designed to help achieve a specific purpose — one that it has not yet completed. That is not the fault of MINURSO. The fact is that we, as a Security Council, have allowed Western Sahara to lapse into a textbook example of a frozen conflict. And MINURSO is a textbook example of a peacekeeping mission that no longer serves a political purpose. So this year, the United States has taken a different approach with this renewal. Our goal is to send two messages. The first is that there can be no more business as usual with MINURSO and Western Sahara. The second is that the time is now to lend our support — our full support — to the Personal Envoy of the Secretary- General for Western Sahara, Mr. Horst Köhler, in his efforts to facilitate negotiations with the parties. The United States wants to see progress at last in the political process meant to resolve this conflict. That is why we have renewed the MINURSO mandate for six months, instead of one year. Over the next six months, we expect that the parties will return to the table and engage Personal Envoy Köhler. We also hope that neighbouring States will recognize the special and important role that they can play in supporting this negotiating process. The United States emphasizes the need to move forward towards a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We continue to view Morocco’s autonomy plan as serious, credible and realistic, and it represents one potential approach to satisfying the aspirations of the people of Western Sahara to run their own affairs with peace and dignity. We call on the parties to demonstrate their commitment to a realistic, practicable and enduring political solution based on compromise by resuming negotiations without preconditions and in good faith. Entrenched positions must not stand in the way of progress. In the meantime, we expect that all parties will respect their obligations under the ceasefire and refrain from any actions that could destabilize the situation or threaten the United Nations process. Unilateral changes to the status quo on the ground will not help us get to a lasting and peaceful solution. It would be unfortunate for anyone to seek to pick apart the language in the renewal for the sake of political point-scoring. The expectation is clear. It is time to see progress towards a political solution and, after 27 years, to stop perpetuating the status quo. Reflecting on his time as United States Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton once wrote: “MINURSO seemed well on the way to acquiring a near-perpetual existence because no one could figure out what to do with it.” He concluded: “This could well go on forever”. More than a decade later, as we gather once again here in this Chamber, Ambassador Bolton’s warning has proven accurate. With today’s renewal, the Security Council has taken a step towards ending this cycle. The next step will be for us to support Personal Envoy Köhler and to see real and substantive talks resume at last. Should that fail, we will then need to take a hard look at our work and our responsibilities when the Mission again comes up for renewal in six months.

We have all been following the new developments that have unfolded over the past few months surrounding the issue of Western Sahara and the undeniable progress that we have begun to see towards the relaunch of direct negotiations following the appointment of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary- General, President Horst Köhler. In this connection, we would have liked to vote in favour of the text proposed by the United States. Unfortunately, the points raised during the negotiations on the resolution to make it much more balanced and neutral were not taken on board. We were indeed flexible in our approach and ready to engage in real negotiations to reach the desired consensus on the text, but we were not given the chance to do so, even if some if not all of our comments were reflected in the text submitted for the vote and it was put in blue without passing through the silence procedure. Therefore, we had no option but to abstain. That having been said, however, we would like to reiterate the important role that the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has been playing and will play in supporting the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General in his efforts to find a political solution to the issue of Western Sahara. We continue to urge the two parties to continue to closely cooperate with MINURSO. The situation in Guerguerat was a matter of concern for the Council in the past, and we hope that this lingering tension will not undermine the new effort to find a political solution to the issue of Western Sahara. We call on both parties to honour their commitments to the agreement reached with MINURSO in relation to the ceasefire. While expressing our concern about the recent rhetoric towards escalation, we underline the need for both parties to refrain from taking any action that could increase tensions, which would also make it difficult to create an environment conducive to the peace process. The recent developments, of which we are all aware, make it all the more urgent for the Council to support the work of the Personal Envoy. We hope that the fifth round of direct negotiations will be launched as quickly as possible. However, any meaningful progress in the peace process will hinge on the full cooperation of the two parties with the Personal Envoy. We therefore request the Council to engage the parties to enhance their engagement, demonstrate the necessary political will and commit themselves to resuming direct negotiations in good faith and without condition. We also reiterate the absolute necessity for the Security Council to refrain from making any pronouncement that could potentially undermine the commitment of the parties to the peace process. As the Personal Envoy has said repeatedly, the Council should not be seen to be siding with one or the other party, which would undermine efforts aimed at facilitating the resumption of negotiations. What we tried to do during the negotiations was to heed that call and make every possible effort to balance the text so that the Council would be able to convey the right message. Unfortunately, we were not able to do so. Finally, we would like to reiterate Ethiopia’s long- standing and consistent position in support of a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that would also provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in the context of arrangements consistent with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations.

The Russian Federation could not support resolution 2414 (2018). The main problem was that the process of drafting and agreeing the decision was neither transparent nor consultative. We note, unfortunately, that none of the principled and properly justified comments that we repeatedly directed to the authors — including those of a compromise nature  — was taken into account. A series of useful proposals put forward by the other members of the Council were also met with no response. As a result, the text remains unbalanced and the entire situation strengthens our doubts about the issue of informal country-specific penholderships in the Security Council. We decided not to block the resolution because we accept the value of continuing the work undertaken by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. However, had we voted in favour of we would have abandoned our principled position in support of the existing foundations of a settlement, which, pursuant to the resolutions of the Security Council, is based on the fundamental principle that any model of settlement must be mutually acceptable. Instead, the main emphasis of the resolution is placed on such shaky and contradictory categories as practicability and realism, which could open the way for all kinds of equivocal interpretations. We will remain an impartial and balanced player that maintains contacts with all the regional parties with which we maintain historical and friendly relations. We must warn, however, that the document that was adopted today, contrary to the expectations of its sponsors, could end up having a negative effect on the efforts of the new Personal Envoy of the Secretary- General for Western Sahara, Mr. Horst Köhler, to revive the political process. Attempts to accelerate the process could lead to an outcome that is opposite to what is sought. In that regard, we believe that a review of the mandate of the United Nations Mission is unacceptable, and we do not support efforts to mandate the Mission with the authority to monitor the human rights situation. In addition, we absolutely do not understand why the resolution includes passages concerning generic aspects of peacekeeping, despite the fact that that is the prerogative of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations of the General Assembly. For example, the work on establishing benchmarks for the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations  — which, incidentally, should apply not only to the military and the police but also to the civilian components of a mission, as well as the units at Headquarters that oversee them — has not been completed. Why are we trying to prejudge events? With regard to the initiatives of the Secretary- General to standardize the culture of performance, neither we nor the troop-contributing countries fully understand what that entails. What is it, and how can we welcome it at this stage? The text also contains a series of provisions that undermine the impartial and balanced approach of the Security Council to the issue of Western Sahara, which we do not support. We are convinced that overcoming the differences and achieving a just and lasting settlement will be possible only by political means on the basis of the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. The ultimate formula must be acceptable both to Morocco and to the Polisario Front, and provide for the self- determination of the people of Western Sahara in the framework of procedures in line with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. That is the key concept underpinning a settlement in Western Sahara. It is unacceptable to try and replace it with other formula. In conclusion, I underscore that the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara plays an exclusively stabilizing role in establishing conditions on the ground conducive to the resumption of dialogue between Morocco and the Polisario Front. We need to encourage joint efforts to launch the negotiating process. Let us not decide the outcome in place of the parties. We are concerned about the vacuum in the process, and the failure to settle the situation in Western Sahara can be exploited by various extremist forces, which would have a negative impact the military and political situation in the entire region.

France welcomes the adoption of resolution 2414 (2018). I would like to thank the United States penholder for its efforts on the text. The resolution that we have just adopted sets out a horizon. It should enable us jointly to prevent any risk of escalation, to support the essential work of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and to encourage a constructive momentum for the political process. Ten days ago, with a tense situation on the ground, we met in consultations with Special Representative Colin Stewart. He encouraged us to send a clear message to prevent any risk of escalation. The adoption of the resolution responds to that call by helping the situation on the ground to return to normal so that real progress can be made in the political process. I would like to reiterate our full support for MINURSO, which is doing outstanding and indispensable work on the ground in monitoring respect for the ceasefire and in having ensured the stability of the area for years. The role of the force is essential. Its means must be preserved. In that regard, the renewal for only six months of the Mission’s mandate, which seeks to keep the Security Council mobilized in support of the political process, must be an exception. We should ensure that that does not affect the management and planning of its resources. Maintaining an annual framework ensures the stability of peacekeeping operations. Finally, it is particularly important that the members of the Council can come together. As we have seen in recent years, we need a constructive dynamic to support a new impetus in the political process. That dynamic, which has been ongoing for several months, is essential. I would therefore like to reiterate our full support for the political process under the auspices of the Secretary-General and the facilitation of his Personal Envoy, Mr. Horst Köhler, in order to find a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the question of Western Sahara. We hope that the mandate renewal will encourage the strengthening of that dynamic and serious and credible efforts to advance the process in accordance with the parameters set by the Security Council. The dialogue initiated in recent months thanks to meetings organized by the Personal Envoy provides opportunities in that regard. We hope that it will succeed.

Sweden voted in favour of resolution 2414 (2018), adopted today, because of our support for the Secretary-General’s ambition to relaunch the United Nations-led political process and our firm belief that that must be our main priority. Indeed, the aim of reaching a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, remains as valid as ever. It is now time to turn that vision into a reality. First, the resolution provides an opportunity to break the political deadlock that has plagued the question of Western Sahara for a decade. For many years, the Security Council has recognized that the status quo is not acceptable. However, there has been a lack of political will to move the political process forward. We believe that the resolution signals that business as usual is no longer an option. Secondly, the resolution expresses its full support for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), which plays a key role in a challenging environment. It also supports the efforts of President Horst Köhler, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara. Since his appointment, he has impressed all of us with his dedication, knowledge and experience. Thirdly, the resolution makes clear that women and youth must be fully included in the political process and that they have a meaningful role to play. Fourth, the resolution calls on the neighbouring States to make important contributions to the political process and to increase their engagement in the negotiation process. Fifthly, the resolution encourages the parties to cooperate further with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It also highlights the plight of the Sahrawi refugees, the insufficient funding and the risks associated with the reduction of food assistance. The resolution urges the international community to provide more funding to that end. Finally, the resolution strongly encourages the enhanced cooperation of the parties with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, including visits to the region, as none have taken place since 2015. That having been said, there are new elements in the resolution with regard to actions taken by the parties that we find lack sufficient balance and do not fully reflect the developments on the ground. The situation must be properly re-evaluated after six months, when the Security Council will again review the mandate of MINURSO. On procedure, as members know, we think that the Council is always stronger when it speaks with one voice. We seek unity not for the sake of unity but because our decisions will resonate more strongly. If the concerns of some delegations, which were of a relatively minor character, had been considered, we may well have reached consensus on the resolution. Over the past couple of weeks, we have witnessed an escalation of rhetoric and tensions on the ground. It is crucial that the parties show restraint and avoid taking provocative actions. We urge them to de-escalate and to redirect their attention towards advancing the political process. We need to resolve one of the most long-standing disputes on the agenda of the United Nations and to address the plight of the people of Western Sahara once and for all. The vision of reaching a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, now seems a little more within reach. Despite the shortcomings of the text, we believe that the resolution is a step in the right direction towards a resumed negotiation process. Without any doubt, much hard work remains, in particular for the parties, which will face tough choices ahead. In order to advance the political process, the parties need to renew their commitment in a spirit of realism and compromise. They now have a window of six months to resume negotiations without preconditions and in good faith. We hope that they will shoulder that important responsibility. Today we have sent a clear signal that the Council’s patience cannot last forever and that appropriate conclusions must be drawn in the case of an absence of progress. In that regard, we note that all possible solutions must be kept on the table, including the holding of a free and fair referendum.

China expresses its appreciation to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, which is committed to implementing the Security Council’s mandate in earnest and has made efforts to maintain regional stability. We support the extension of the Mission’s mandate and support it in continuing to play a constructive role in searching for a solution to the question of Western Sahara. The situation in Western Sahara is complex. The priority is to maintain regional stability and to create favourable conditions for the restart of the political process. Therefore, the Council should remain united and speak with one voice. During the negotiations, amendments were proposed. The Council should have been given more time to seek consensus. To take hasty action on a draft resolution when there are still differences affects the unity among Council members. China expresses regret over the fact that resolution 2414 (2018) failed to fully accommodate the concerns of the parties affected, and was compelled to abstain in the voting. China’s position on the question of Western Sahara is consistent and remains unchanged. We will continue to proceed from a just and objective standpoint, support the United Nations in promoting a political solution to the question and support the mediation efforts by Personal Envoy Köhler. We encourage both parties to base their efforts on the relevant Council resolutions and seek a fair, lasting and mutually acceptable solution through negotiations.

The United Kingdom was pleased to vote in favour of resolution 2414 (2018), which we believe sends a strong signal of the support from the Security Council in three key areas  — first, support for de-escalation; secondly, support for the continuing work of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO); and, finally, supporting the overall goal of progress towards a lasting and mutually acceptable solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. With that goal in mind, we encourage the parties to engage now with a political process in a spirit of realism and compromise. The six-month window provided by the resolution is an opportunity and an indication of the importance the international community attaches to achieving progress. Another indication is the appointment of the new Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, as well as the commitment he has already shown, in his first months, to finding a solution. The United Kingdom strongly supports the efforts of Personal Envoy Köhler, as well as the work of MINURSO and its new Head, Mr. Colin Stewart. We call on all concerned to engage positively over the coming months, in line with both the spirit and the letter of resolution 2414 (2018).

Kuwait voted in favour of resolution 2414 (2018), renewing the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), as we believe that the presence of the Mission in such circumstances is of the utmost importance, given that it contributes to enhancing and consolidating stability in the region. Meanwhile, the resolution on which we have just voted is a reflection of the desire of the Secretary- General to relaunch the political negotiations between the parties. In that regard, we appreciate the efforts of the Head and members of MINURSO to carry out the mandate, as provided for in the relevant Council resolutions, including the one we have just adopted. Kuwait reiterates its full support for the efforts of Mr. Köhler, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, to relaunch the negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations, without any preconditions and in good faith, so as to reach a just and mutually acceptable political solution that ensures that the people of Western Sahara can exercise their right of self-determination within arrangements that are in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant Council resolutions.

We thank and commend the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Mr. Horst Köhler, for his efforts. We also thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Mr. Colin Stewart. The Republic of Equatorial Guinea, which always advocates the peaceful resolution of conflicts, wholeheartedly welcomes the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). We voted in favour of resolution 2414 (2018) because we understand that the provisions of this new resolution commit all the parties to continue advancing towards a political process that has stagnated for quite some time without significant progress. The text seeks the adoption of measures to guarantee peace and security in the region, while demanding total and unconditional respect for all agreements reached with MINURSO under the auspices of the Secretary-General, whose tireless efforts in the search for an acceptable and mutually beneficial solution we commend. We call on the international community to resolutely support those efforts. We take this opportunity to acknowledge the efforts and sacrifices of the parties involved in the conflict, which has raged for decades on the African continent, with a view to reaching a definitive and mutually satisfactory solution as soon as possible in order to finally bring the Saharan people the peace they yearn for and stability to the subregion. Equatorial Guinea also voted in favour because it is convinced that the initiatives under way can lead to the desired resolution of the conflict.

Kazakhstan recognizes that this conflict is one of the most long-standing ones in Africa and that the views of the parties do not converge. In that regard, we reiterate that there is no alternative to the process of reconciling interests, making compromises and seeking mutually acceptable solutions, without fuelling further confrontations. Kazakhstan welcomes the active efforts of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Mr. Horst Köhler, in exploring the positions of the parties and seeking ways to find compromises through a number of high-level meetings in the region and beyond. We see that as a promising sign and encourage Mr. Köhler to continue his engagement through a wide range of actors in order to broaden their support and commitment to relaunching the political process in the spirit of a new dynamic. Kazakhstan recognizes the important role played by the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara on the ground and voted in favour of renewing its mandate for the next term. We express hope that, during the new mandate, efforts towards rapprochement and negotiations will be redoubled. At the same time, it is obvious that the adoption by consensus of resolutions on mandate renewals of United Nations peacekeeping operations would send a stronger message to all of the parties concerned. It is also our understanding that the international efforts to advance political reconciliation should be consolidated under the United Nations-led efforts. It is important for the Council to maintain unity, support the work of the Personal Envoy and send a clear signal to the parties. Finally, a message was sent to the party to the effect that they should refrain from any escalation that could endanger the creation of conditions favourable to the political process or the finding of a mutually acceptable solution that is consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

The delegation of Bolivia voted in favour of resolution 2414 (2018) given the need to relaunch the political process and in order to express its full support to the Personal Envoy of the Secretary- General for Western Sahara, Mr. Horst Köhler, and to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara in the discharge of their respective missions and mandates. We wish also to reiterate our full support for the Secretary-General’s proposal to revitalize the negotiation process by infusing it with a fresh dynamic and spirit, in order to achieve, through a negotiated process, a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution leading to the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in keeping with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council. Despite all of this, my delegation expresses its concern at the fact that none of the proposals made during the negotiations were taken into account. Those proposals were aimed at making the text more balanced, on the basis of the most recent report of the Secretary- General on the situation concerning Western Sahara (S/2018/277), with a view to crafting a resolution that everyone could fully support. Likewise, we are concerned about the unexpected change made to the text with regard to the duration of the mandate. That change was not discussed at any time during the negotiation process, nor was the delegation of Bolivia consulted thereon. On the basis of the principle of transparency, Bolivia expresses its concern at the arbitrary nature of the penholder’s actions in this instance, as this sets a bad precedent in terms of the working practices of this body and could, in the long run, become a very negative custom.

Côte d’Ivoire welcomes the adoption of resolution 2414 (2018), on the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 October 2018. My delegation voted in favour of the resolution, which clearly sets out the framework and the goals of the mandate handed down by the Security Council to the Secretary-General so as to enable him to take concrete action through negotiations, with a view to breaking the political impasse on the conflict, which has lasted for far too long. This will require a renewed and determined commitment on the part of the stakeholders to take ownership of the political process, with a view to holding a fifth round of negotiations under the auspices of the Secretary-General. In that respect, we welcome the serious and credible efforts made by the Kingdom of Morocco to achieve a definitive resolution to the conflict through its autonomy proposal. My country welcomes the commitment of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy and strongly encourages them to continue working towards promoting a framework for dialogue that could lead to peace in Western Sahara. We welcome also the invitation extended by Security Council to neighbouring States, which is aimed at securing their genuine involvement in making a fruitful contribution to the political process, so as to find a definitive solution to the crisis that would benefit all of the countries of the region. We wish also to underscore the importance, in line with resolutions 1325 (2000) and 2250 (2015), of involving women and young people in the framework of negotiations, as called for by the Security Council. MINURSO’s key role was reaffirmed by the Council, specifically as concerns compliance with the ceasefire and existing agreements as well as the maintenance of security through the region as a whole. My country hopes that on the basis of the straightforward provisions of this new resolution, negotiations will begin, in a spirit of frankness, between the stakeholders in their quest for compromise, with a view to reaching a definitive resolution to the conflict.

We voted in favour of resolution 2414 (2018). The fact that it could not count on the unanimous support of the Council should not distract us from what is truly important, namely, the relaunching of the political process. This is something that I believe we all support, because it is in the interest of the people, the parties and the wider region that this conflict be resolved. Our common ambition therefore must be to arrive at a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in the context of arrangements consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. In this regard, we reiterate our full support for the efforts of the Personal Envoy, the former President of Germany, Horst Köhler. We call on the parties to continue to engage with the Personal Envoy in good faith, and we emphasize the need to resume negotiations without preconditions. We recognize the importance of the work of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara in maintaining stability on the ground and in creating the conditions necessary for political progress to take place, and we commend the work of Special Representative of the Secretary-General Colin Stewart. We also express our full support for the Mission and for the women and men serving under very challenging conditions.

Poland welcomes the adoption of resolution 2414 (2018), which extends the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). We encourage both parties to cooperate closely both with the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General and MINURSO to avert any possible flare-up of tensions. In that regard, Poland reiterates its support for an inclusive, durable and acceptable solution to the conflict, developed in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Let me also express our full support to the Secretary- General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Horst Köhler. We believe that with his dedicated efforts and through negotiations with all parties, neighbouring States and other stakeholders, there is a chance to achieve a lasting solution.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Peru. Peru deems it necessary to renew the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara in order to support the political process, with a view to achieving a solution to the question of the status of Western Sahara and to meeting the humanitarian needs of the Sahrawi people. We believe it urgent to relaunch the political process, under the auspices of the United Nations and the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, without preconditions and in good faith, with a view to facilitating agreement on a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution based on international law and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and that would lead to the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Finally, we would express our concern at the difficulties facing the Sahrawi refugees and their dependence on external humanitarian assistance, as well as our expectation that progress in the negotiations will improve the human rights situation and living conditions of the people of Western Sahara in all of its aspects. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more speakers inscribed on my list.