Pressemelding fra Unge Venstre
20. april 2007

Til Berlin for Vest-Sahara

Europas liberale ungdomspartier samles til kongress i Berlin i helgen. Der vil Unge Venstre sette søkelys på situasjonen i Vest-Sahara.

– Dette er en sak vi har jobbet lenge med nasjonalt, og vi ønsker å ta kampen for et fritt Vest-Sahara et steg videre, sier internasjonal leder i Unge Venstre Boye Bjerkholt.

Unge Venstre har levert inn en uttalelse som ber EU og alle europeisker stater om å anerkjenne uavhengighet for Vest-Sahara, stoppe handelen med produkter fra de okkuperte områdene, og legge press på Marokko til respektere menneskerettighetene og løslate sahrawiske samvittighetsfanger.

- Så langt har ingen europeiske land anerkjent Vest-Sahara. Her i Berlin møtes liberalere fra alle hjørner av Europa. Hvis vi vedtar denne resolusjonen, vil det være et klart politisk signal fra Europas liberalere om at vi ikke lenger kan sitte stille og se på Marokkos okkupasjon av Vest-Sahara uten å gjøre noe, avslutter Bjerkholt.

Les Unge Venstres forslag til uttalelse under.

For mer informasjon, kontakt:
Boye Bjerkholt, internasjonal leder i Unge Venstre
tlf. 93412869

Les pressemeldingen her.

Se også LYMEC-kongress i Berlin, 21.april 2007.



Recognise Western Sahara
Submitted by: NUV (Norway)

Whereas

The territory of Western Sahara has been under occupation by Morocco since 1975.

The United Nations General Assembly already in 1960 declared that the people of Western Sahara have the right to self-determination.

The International Court of Justice in 1975 ruled against Morocco’s territorial claim on Western Sahara.

Western Sahara is formally recognised under the name of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic by 85 states, but by no European state to date.

Western Sahara is on the UN list of Non-Self Governing Territories and is considered Africa’s last colony.

Under the terms of the UN’s settlement plan in 1991, Western Sahara should decide its own future status in a referendum.

Noting that

Attempts to hold a referendum on the future stat of Western Sahara have repeatedly failed.

Human rights agencies and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have reported grave and systematic violations of human rights in the occupied territories.

The people living in the occupied territories are subject to severe restrictions on their freedom of speech, assembly and movement.

Human rights activists and pro-independence journalists and editors have been put behind bars.

The Baker Peace Plan – calling for the establishment of a Western Sahara Authority, which would be followed after five years by a referendum – has been blocked by France in the UN Security Council.

Considering that

The EU has signed agreements with Morocco that allow EU vessels to fish in territories that are legally under occupation. This constitutes a clear violation of international law and constitutes a de facto recognition of the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.

The US-Morocco free-trade agreement does not extend to products from the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

LYMEC – European Liberal Youth calls upon the EU and all European states to

Formally recognise the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as an independent state.

Exclude from all trade agreements with Morocco products originating from the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

Put pressure on Morocco to respect the human rights of all Sahrawis and to release all prisoners of conscience.