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17.03.97
UN Secretary-General has appointed former United States
Secretary of State, James Baker III, to be his Personal
Envoy to make a fresh assessment of the situation in Western
Sahara. In a statement issued after the announcement of his
appointment, Baker said: "I am pleased to do what I can to
help resolve this issue, and will explore with the parties
all viable options ... I will travel to the area next month
for initial contacts with the parties involved."
Baker' mission would assess whether the U.N. plan could be
implemented in its present form, whether adjustments
acceptable to the two sides might be possible or whether
other ways of resolving the conflict could be found.
Baker was secretary of state under President George Bush
from 1989 to 1992 and helped rally the U.S.-led coalition
that ejected Iraqi troops from Kuwait in 1991. He was
secretary of the treasury from 1985 to 1989 under President
Ronald Reagan and served as Reagan's White House chief of
staff from 1981 to 1985. He is a senior partner in the law
firm of Baker and Botts, with offices in Houston and
Washington.
17.03.97
Letter from Bachir M. Sayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
to H.E. Mr. James Baker, Houston:
"I would like to express the complete willingness of the
Polisario to cooperate, in a transparent and sincere manner,
with your efforts aimed at breaking the peace plan's
prolonged deadlock and converting the fragile cease-fire
between the Sahrawi and Moroccan Armies into a just and
lasting peace.
No one better than your Excellency knows the historic causes
of this painful conflict and the principles and values at
stake, not only for an innocent people, but also for the
peace and stability of this highly sensitive region.
There is no doubt that your immense prestige, credibility
and moral integrity are bearers of hope and optimism for the
Sahrawi people just as they were yesterday for Kuwait,
another country like Western Sahara, which has a powerful
"brother" as its northern neighbour".
18.03.97
The US Department of State gives it full support Baker's
mission, which is qualified as "extremely difficult".
22.04.97
The S.G. Special Representative begins on April 22 his
first trip in the region. He will meet the Moroccan
Governement, Responsibles of the F. POLISARIO and members of
the Algerian and Mauritanian Governements.
Moroccan newspapers wellcome unanimously the visit of James
Baker. But the official organ of the Istiqlal party
(nationalist), Al Alam, writes that "whatever the solution
of the referendum will be, Morocco is staying in its Sahara,
that is a reality which cannot be ignored".
23.04.97
James Baker arrives at Casablanca with a staff of 6
persons. He reaches Rabat with a Spanish military airplane.
First he meets King Hassan II in private during 70 minutes.
A working session follows with the prince heir Sidi Mohamed,
his brother Moulay Rachid, Prime Minister Filali, Interior
Minister Basri and kings councelors Azoulay and Slaoui, in
presence of E. Jensen and J. Bakers staff.
24.04.97
Meeting of J. Baker with the Prime Minister and the Minister
of Interior and Snoussi, the Morroccan representative at
U.N., in presence of E. Jensen. In the evening Baker meets
the leaders of the Morroccan political parties. The leader
of the USFP (socialist opposition) Youssoufi declares after
the encounter: M. Baker thinks that Morocco can gain a lot
of a definitive solution of the WS conflict, which is very
expensive.
After that reunion Baker meets the King once more. Leaving
Morocco Baker declared to be very satisfied by Moroccan
cooperation.
25.04.97
Baker meets President Zeroual, Government Chief Ouyahia and
Foreign Affairs Minister Attaf. Instead of reaching directly
the refugee camps near Tindouf as planned, Baker goes to
Nouakschott on 26.04.
26.04.97
In occasion of Baker's visit about sixty reporters were in
the Sahrawi camps. They could visit the refugee camps and
make themselves an opinion about the harsch life conditions
of the refugees. They could also encounter Moroccan
POWs.
European parliamentary groups and 25 political VIPs from
Europe and Latin America were present to prove to Baker that
the Sahrawi issue is not a marginal conflict, and to show
that the Sahrawi people is not alone. They handed over to
Baker a document ( spanish or
french), in which they express
their concern, asking Baker to do all his possible to save
the peace plan.
In a press release ( french ) the
Polisario Front resumes its position, it exposed to Baker in
a memorandum.
27.04.97
JAMES BAKER's VISIT in the
refugee camps near Tindouf Arriving by plane
at Tindouf from Nouakshott Baker reaches the wilaya of Smara
by car. A sand storm did not allow to use a helicopter. Tens
of thousand of refugees lined the dusty road into Smara
welcoming Baker' convoy of jeeps like a liberating army with
women ululating, children cheering, men in flowing robes
giving peace signs and eveyone waving the Sahara flag. Some
2000 soldiers also stood at attention, many of them aged and
bent, veterans of the war.
The talks with Sahrawi officials began immediately in a
tent.
To the medias James Baker terms his talks as excellent. He
says that the problem was complex and extremely difficult,
but it was not hopeless "or I wouldn't otherwise be here".
"I am convinced that the people in this region are overly
weary with this issue and this problem and are ready for a
just lasting and definitive solution". "I will present my
report to the UN Secretary General after my return to USA.
He has to decide if the peace plan can actually be
implemented or not. He is likely to return to the region in
June, after the UN Security Council meets to define its
position.
Liberation of Moroccan POWs
Baker announced that the Polisario Front was releasing 85
prisoners of war in a surprise move that he said was "a
very, very generous humanitarian gesture of support for our
mission".
The AFAPREDESA, in a communique (french),
exprimes its satisfaction concerning this liberation and
hopes the POWs could go home rapidly. The Sahrawi Human
Rights Organisation exprimed the wish Morocco could do
same.
08.05.97, UN
Secretary-General report
Mr. Kofi Annan recommends a four-month extension of the
MINURSO mandate, which is due to expire at the end of May.
After his recent "exploratory" mission in the region , Mr.
Baker will return in June, and then make recommandations to
the UN Secretary-General on the future of the disputed
territory.
22.05.97, Security Council extends the mandate of the
MINURSO, Resolution 1108,
1997
The Security Council decides to extend the mandate of the
MINURSO until 30 September. It also requests the Secretary
General to report to it on all aspects of the Western Sahara
issue by 15 September. By its unanimous adoption of
resolution 1108 (1997), the Council reiterated its
commitment to the holding of a referendum for the self-
determination of the people of Western Sahara in accordance
with the Settlement Plan accepted by the parties. Also by
today's resolution, the Council urged the parties to
continue cooperation with the Personal Envoy of the
Secretary-General James A. Baker III and to demonstrate the
political will to overcome the persisting stalemate.
22.05.97
In a press release made after the decision of the Security
Council , the permanent U.N. Representative of the USA, Bill
Richardson, underlines that James Baker's mission could be
the most important but the least hope for a solution of the
Western Sahara conflict. Morocco and the Polisario have to
show the needed flexibitity and political will, if they want
the United States to continue their support of MINURSO in
its actual formula.
05.06.97
Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker convoked the two
parties involved in the dispute over the Western Sahara for
talks in London, scheduled for June 11 and 12. The UN
Special Envoy will meet separately the representatives of
Morocco and of the Polisario Front, before the discussions
to which Algeria and Mauritania will also assist as
observers. The encounters are organized by the Foreign
Office and the UN Office in London. The Polisario Front
immediately accepted the invitation and announced the
participation of a high grade delegation under the leading
of Bachir Mustafa Sayed..
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