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Spain: Fuerteventura Communal Council supports right of Saharawi people to self-determination

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Madrid, 1 April 2017 (SPS) - The Communal Council of Fuerteventura (Province of Las Palmas) has reiterated in a motion its support for the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination through a free and democratic referendum as recognized by international law and multiple resolutions of United Nations.
In a public support motion, the Fuerteventura Municipal Council reiterated its support for the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination through a free and democratic referendum as recognized by international law and the numerous resolutions of the United Nations while stressing that the conflict in Western Sahara was the result of a process of decolonization that has not been completed and that any formula which did not respect that principle does not lead to an effective and realistic solution.
The referendum, continued the Fuerteventura council in its motion, must take place as soon as possible to avoid a conflict that would lead to a resumption of hostilities, expressing its concern about the violation of human rights in the occupied Sahrawi territories suffered by the Sahrawi civilian population.
The Fuerteventura Communal Council called for the immediate cessation of repression and the release of all Saharawi political prisoners of human rights.
The Council also called for facilitating access to the occupied Saharawi territories for international observers and extending MINURSO's mandate to monitor human rights to ensure not only the ceasefire, but also to prevent violation of human.
It also called on the Spanish Government to increase humanitarian aid projects to alleviate severe shortages of products in refugee camps, in particular food, health, education and other basic services and the effective recognition of the Polisario Front as the legitimate representative of the Saharawi people and to give its representatives diplomatic status in Spain.
The Fuerteventura Communal Council also called on the Spanish government to adopt a much more active position in this conflict as a former colonial power, urging the UN and the European Union to press the Moroccan government to respect the international law.
The same Council also called on the Spanish government and the institutions and companies of the Canary Islands to respect the recent ruling of the EU Court of Justice which states that Morocco has no sovereignty over Western Sahara and that the trade agreement between the EU and Morocco is not applicable to Western Sahara. (SPS)
062/090/TRA