Russia explains its veto of US Sahara resolution
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Yabiladi
Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassili Nebenzia, says the US draft on the Sahara would have undermined the settlement process and marginalised the referendum. Moscow says an agreement must be acceptable to Morocco and the Polisario Front, according to Yabiladi.
Russia defended its veto of the US draft resolution on the Sahara, saying the text would have set back the political settlement process. Vassili Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the UN, said that the conditions for an agreement had to be acceptable to both Morocco and the Polisario Front, according to Yabiladi.
The diplomat criticised the US draft for favouring the autonomy proposed by Morocco at the expense of the referendum and the Polisario Front’s 2007 proposal. He also challenged the proposed changes to MINURSO, the UN mission in the Sahara, particularly the removal of the reference to the referendum, which he called a “betrayal” of the refugees in Tindouf and other Sahrawis.
The justification comes after the Russian veto of the US resolution at the Security Council, followed by Washington’s regret over the Russian veto. Nebenzia also questioned the United States’ neutrality, recalling that Washington recognises the Sahara as part of Morocco.
