Russia Calls for a Settlement Ensuring Western Sahara’s Right to Self-Determination
Russia said it abstained from voting on UN Security Council Resolution 2797, drafted by the United States, due to the lack of transparency in the resolution’s coordination process.
“Among other things, Russia took this position because the process to coordinate the resolution lacked transparency and was needlessly fast-tracked, which made it impossible for all the amendments to be taken into consideration,” the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.
On October 31, the UN Security Council approved Resolution 2797, which extends the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for one year.
The Russian Federation abstained during the vote, and so did China and Pakistan.
In its statement, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Moscow considers the renewal of MINURSO’s mandate for one year essential, given its role in “promoting stability in Western Sahara and the Sahara-Sahel region.”
“Enabling the people of Western Africa to exercise their right to self-determination as per the earlier resolutions of the UN Security Council and as part of procedures consistent with the UN Charter’s principles and purposes – these goals retain their principled importance,” the source said.
In this regard, Russia said it expects UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to keep up his “proactive efforts, supported by MINURSO, for achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable resolution of the long-standing Western Sahara issue.”
