A representative of the Polisario Front called on a U.N. committee Monday to encourage dialogue between his organization and Morocco over the question of Western Sahara, where a U.N.-sponsored referendum on the future of the territory has been repeatedly delayed.
"The peace process which was to have led to the holding of a self-determination referendum for the Saharawi people in 1992 has since the end of last year entered a deep impasse," Bujari Ahmed told the General Assembly's special political and decolonisation committee.
"The impasse cannot last indefinitely and we are facing the crossroads that leads to peace or war," he said.
He was referring to a deadlock over who should be allowed to vote in the referendum as part of a U.N. plan to determine whether Western Sahara, a former colony from which Spain withdrew in 1976, should be incorporated into Morocco, which controls most of the territory, or become independent, as proclaimed by Polisario.
Referring to a cease-fire which has held more or less since September 1991, Ahmed said a return to war was not desirable or advisable for anyone. There appeared to be no other means of overcoming "this dangerous impasse than a process of direct, serious and responsible negotiations between the two parties," he said.
"It is in that conviction that the Polisario Front wishes to continue and intensify the direct dialogue begun recently with the Moroccoan government," he said, apparently referring to meetings reported to have taken place between senior representatives of the two sides in Geneva in August and in Tangier in September.
"I convey to you the sincere desire of the Polisario Front that Morocco accept that dialogue, not as an instrument to maintain the status quo but as a means for all- the two parties, the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity- to overcome the impasse and advance toward an even-handed and comprehensive application of the peace plan."
He said Western Sahara "was never Moroccoan" and Morocco did not need territories, "much less territories conquered by force."
"What interests Morocco are the resources of the Western Sahara," he said, alluding to phosphate deposits, fishing grounds and possibly gas and oil.
"There are ways to those resources, more civilized ways, through cooperation in the framework of mutual respect for the sovereignty of each people," Ahmed said.