TNAG-1022-FCO40-1272-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-the-United-Nations-1981 — Page 128

WESTERN SAHARA

CONFUS MAS

1. The former Spanish Sahara was occupied in 1976 by Morocco and Mauritania. Mauritania relinquished her claim in 1979. Since then the territory has been occupied by Morocco which claims sovereignty. The Algerian backed Polisario Front have been conducting a guerilla war into the territory, they have formed a government in exile, the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), and have mounted sporadic operations against Moroccan troops and against Moroccan territory

properly.

2.

Britain, in line with the Ten, has not accepted Moroccan claims

Similarly, to the Western Sahara, nor recognised the Polisario Front. Britain has not recognised the SADR's claim to be representatives of the people of the Western Sahara. British aims have been to avoid any direct involvement, to maintain relations with both Algeria and Morocco, and to encourage a peaceful solution.

3. Britain has in past years supported UN resolutions calling for self-determination for the inhabitants of Western Sahara and referring

the dispute to the OAU.

4. At the most recent OAU Summit, held in Nairobi in June 1981, King Hassan of Morocco said his country was willing to accept OAU calls for an internationally supervised referendum in the Western Sahara. There are likely to be practical problems in implementing this but it appears that there is a chance that real progress towards a peaceful settlement may now be made.

5.

We are concerned that the problem remains unresolved.

But the

conflict is Arab and African in character and at this stage we see no scope for a useful initiative from outside the Arab/African world.

(99)