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Morocco Decides a Significant Reduction of the Civilian Component of MINURSO Following the Verbal Blunders of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
Contact: K.Drawi, 240-994-2476
ROCKVILLE, Md., March 16, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- Morocco on Tuesday March 15, 2016 decided a significant reduction of the civilian component of MINURSO, the cancellation of the voluntary contribution granted by Morocco to the functioning of MINURSO and the review of the withdrawal terms of Moroccan troops engaged in peacekeeping operations, following the verbal blunders of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the Sahara issue.
Following the "unacceptable" statements of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his "unacceptable" behavior during his recent visit to the region, the Kingdom has decided the following "immediate measures": "a significant reduction, in the coming days, of a large part of the civilian component, particularly the political segment, of MINURSO, the cancellation of the voluntary contribution granted by Morocco to the functioning of MINURSO and the review of the withdrawal terms of Moroccan troops engaged in peacekeeping operations," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and cooperation said in a statement.
"The Kingdom of Morocco reserves the legitimate right to resort to the other measures that may be required, to defend, in strict line with the UN Charter, its supreme interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity," the same source added.
According to the statement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Salaheddine Mezouar paid a visit, on 14 March 2016, to New York to hold talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
On this occasion, the Minister handed over a letter to the Secretary General "detailing the formal protests of the Moroccan Government about his unacceptable statements and unacceptable behavior during his recent visit to the region," the statement noted.
During this meeting, Mezouar expressed to the Secretary General "the firm denunciation and total rejection of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Moroccan people and all its active forces, of his inadmissible and reprehensible statements about the Moroccan Sahara issue, during his recent visit to Algeria."
"Moroccan authorities consider that such acts are incompatible with the responsibilities and the mission of the Secretary-General that compel him to a duty of objectivity and impartiality and to the respect of the framework established by the UN bodies," according to the same source.
Ban Ki-Moon was reminded that the term "occupation" used to describe the presence of Morocco in its Sahara is a "legal absurdity and a serious political mistake." Indeed, the statement said that "no resolution of the Security Council used such terminology. Using this reference constitutes an insult to the Moroccan people and a nation that has made heavy sacrifices to gradually regain its independence and defend its territorial integrity."
Similarly, "the recourse to referendum to settle this regional dispute was swept away by history and dismissed by the Security Council." The document recalled, in this regard, that since 2004, "the Council calls only for finding a negotiated political solution, based on realism and the spirit of compromise."
"The unacceptable attempts to twist the status of the area located east of the defense system, the selective treatment and the complacent attitude towards the humanitarian situation in Tindouf camps were also discussed," the statement said, adding that Mezouar reiterated, during this meeting, "the urgency for the Secretary General not to indulge in the disclosed attempts aimed at undermining the Moroccan autonomy initiative which maintains its preeminence in the resolutions of the security Council."
"He was asked to publicly clarify his positions to restore a climate of trust and mutual respect," the same source underlined.
"Instead of respecting the commitments expressed during this meeting, the statement issued by the General Secretariat added insult to injury, a new outrage to the Moroccan people who have spontaneously expressed their rejection to the excesses and irresponsible behavior," the statement said.
"The Kingdom of Morocco is outraged to see the Secretary General challenge the legitimate and democratic right of a people and its active forces, to freely express their opinions and reactions," the source said, wondering "how can the exercise of an individual and collective right enshrined in the Moroccan Constitution be an insult to the person of the Secretary General, especially when it is a reaction to words and acts that deeply affect each Moroccan citizen from north to south?"
The statement also wondered "How can the United Nations be, at this level of responsibility, reduced to serve the personal interests of the Secretary General," pointing out that face to this "dangerous blunder," the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco has decided the following "immediate measures:" "a significant reduction in the coming days, of a large part of the civilian component, particularly the political segment, of MINURSO, the cancellation of the voluntary contribution granted by Morocco to the functioning of MINURSO and the review of the withdrawal terms of Moroccan troops engaged in peacekeeping operations."
ROCKVILLE, Md., March 16, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- Morocco on Tuesday March 15, 2016 decided a significant reduction of the civilian component of MINURSO, the cancellation of the voluntary contribution granted by Morocco to the functioning of MINURSO and the review of the withdrawal terms of Moroccan troops engaged in peacekeeping operations, following the verbal blunders of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the Sahara issue.
Following the "unacceptable" statements of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his "unacceptable" behavior during his recent visit to the region, the Kingdom has decided the following "immediate measures": "a significant reduction, in the coming days, of a large part of the civilian component, particularly the political segment, of MINURSO, the cancellation of the voluntary contribution granted by Morocco to the functioning of MINURSO and the review of the withdrawal terms of Moroccan troops engaged in peacekeeping operations," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and cooperation said in a statement.
"The Kingdom of Morocco reserves the legitimate right to resort to the other measures that may be required, to defend, in strict line with the UN Charter, its supreme interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity," the same source added.
According to the statement, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Salaheddine Mezouar paid a visit, on 14 March 2016, to New York to hold talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.
On this occasion, the Minister handed over a letter to the Secretary General "detailing the formal protests of the Moroccan Government about his unacceptable statements and unacceptable behavior during his recent visit to the region," the statement noted.
During this meeting, Mezouar expressed to the Secretary General "the firm denunciation and total rejection of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Moroccan people and all its active forces, of his inadmissible and reprehensible statements about the Moroccan Sahara issue, during his recent visit to Algeria."
"Moroccan authorities consider that such acts are incompatible with the responsibilities and the mission of the Secretary-General that compel him to a duty of objectivity and impartiality and to the respect of the framework established by the UN bodies," according to the same source.
Ban Ki-Moon was reminded that the term "occupation" used to describe the presence of Morocco in its Sahara is a "legal absurdity and a serious political mistake." Indeed, the statement said that "no resolution of the Security Council used such terminology. Using this reference constitutes an insult to the Moroccan people and a nation that has made heavy sacrifices to gradually regain its independence and defend its territorial integrity."
Similarly, "the recourse to referendum to settle this regional dispute was swept away by history and dismissed by the Security Council." The document recalled, in this regard, that since 2004, "the Council calls only for finding a negotiated political solution, based on realism and the spirit of compromise."
"The unacceptable attempts to twist the status of the area located east of the defense system, the selective treatment and the complacent attitude towards the humanitarian situation in Tindouf camps were also discussed," the statement said, adding that Mezouar reiterated, during this meeting, "the urgency for the Secretary General not to indulge in the disclosed attempts aimed at undermining the Moroccan autonomy initiative which maintains its preeminence in the resolutions of the security Council."
"He was asked to publicly clarify his positions to restore a climate of trust and mutual respect," the same source underlined.
"Instead of respecting the commitments expressed during this meeting, the statement issued by the General Secretariat added insult to injury, a new outrage to the Moroccan people who have spontaneously expressed their rejection to the excesses and irresponsible behavior," the statement said.
"The Kingdom of Morocco is outraged to see the Secretary General challenge the legitimate and democratic right of a people and its active forces, to freely express their opinions and reactions," the source said, wondering "how can the exercise of an individual and collective right enshrined in the Moroccan Constitution be an insult to the person of the Secretary General, especially when it is a reaction to words and acts that deeply affect each Moroccan citizen from north to south?"
The statement also wondered "How can the United Nations be, at this level of responsibility, reduced to serve the personal interests of the Secretary General," pointing out that face to this "dangerous blunder," the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco has decided the following "immediate measures:" "a significant reduction in the coming days, of a large part of the civilian component, particularly the political segment, of MINURSO, the cancellation of the voluntary contribution granted by Morocco to the functioning of MINURSO and the review of the withdrawal terms of Moroccan troops engaged in peacekeeping operations."
