UN Spokesman: UN envoy for Western Sahara was pursuing his mediation mission in Western Sahara, in conformity with the mandate conferred on him by the Security Council. 07/11/2017.

New York, 07 November 2017 – Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/db171107.doc.htm

 

Question:  Okay.  I wanted… you may have seen the speech by the King of Morocco in which he said that there will be no solution to Western Sahara that’s not fully in accord with Morocco’s sovereignty, which basically means… it’s not really clear what is really being negotiated given that statement.  I wanted to know, is there any response by either Mr. [Horst] Köhler or by the Secretariat?

And, also, is it the case… was Mr. Köhler’s recent visit to the region… was he restricted of travelling where… anywhere that he wanted within Western Sahara? Because I’ve heard that he has, and I wanted to just ask you…

Spokesman:  I’m not aware of…

Question:  Did he visit MINURSO [United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara]?

Spokesman:  I’m not aware of these, of whatever restrictions.  Obviously, on these trips, itineraries are negotiated.  I’m not going to react to the King’s… the King’s speech.  There is a mandate from the Security Council for the Personal Envoy as well as the… as well as MINURSO, and we will follow that mandate and continue our work.