Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations at the meeting of the UN Security Council on 26 July 2016 that MINURSO must be enabled to fulfil its original mandate.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We continue to make clear our expectation that MINURSO be returned to full functionality in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2285.
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations at the meeting of the UN Security Council on 26 July 2016 for the establishment of an independent human rights monitoring mechanism in occupied Western Sahara and the refugee camps in that country.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The purpose of the UN Security Council meeting on 26 July is to assess whether MINURSO has returned to full functionality in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2285 of 29 April 2016, rather than to seek to alter the mandate of MINURSO. The UK does not therefore plan to raise human rights monitoring at this meeting, given that the current MINURSO mandate does not include a human rights element.
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to further progress on bringing about a referendum in Western Sahara since the renewal of the MINURSO mandate in April 2016.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
It is for parties to the dispute to agree a resolution of the final status of Western Sahara. The UK encourages both sides to cooperate with the United Nations process to reach a mutually acceptable solution that provides for the self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will raise with the Moroccan ambassador to the UK the death of Brahim Saika in Gulemin police station on 15 April 2016.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The British Embassy in Rabat raised the case of Mr Brahim Saika with Morocco’s National Human Rights Commission, CNDH, on 18 April 2016. The Commission had been following the case closely and is preparing its report on his detention and death. We will consider any further action in the light of the Commission’s report.
Asked by: Mark Williams (Liberal Democrat - Ceredigion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2015 to Question 1543, on Western Sahara: referendum, whether any referendum would put forward a choice between independence for Western Sahara and integration of that region with Morocco.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The terms and choices of a referendum on the status of Western Sahara are for Morocco and the Polisario Front to agree as the two parties to the dispute. The UK fully supports UN-led efforts to encourage both parties to agree a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.