Western Sahara: Spain Makes Airplane Available to New UN Envoy

Rabat - Spain’s government has made available an airplane to enable the new UN envoy for Western Sahara to visit the region and maintain contacts with the main parties to the Sahara conflict.

Europa Press reported on Saturday that the Spanish government announced the news in a written parliamentary response to a question from far-right party VOX.

According to the Spanish government's written response, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares has offered De Mistura “logistical support that Spain has provided to its predecessors, with the provision of a plane of the Spanish air force to travel to the region.”

The response also recalled Spain’s invitation to the new UN envoy for Western Sahara.

In its report, Europa Press emphasized that Spain renewed its commitment to the UN-led political process.

With 40 years of experience in diplomacy, it remains to be seen whether de Mistura will be able to convene the parties to the conflict - Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front - to salvage the momentum achieved under Kohler.

The Algerian-backed separatist group of Polisario has repeatedly expressed its rejection of the latest UN resolution, saying it will not take part in roundtable peace talks. 

The Western Sahara conflict has been ongoing for over 46 years. 

Source: Morocco World News by Safaa Kasraoui