Annan outlines new options

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has outlined several options for consideration by the UN Security Council in an effort to break the impasse over the stalled peace process in Western Sahara, the UN reported on Wednesday. Annan described the future of the peace process as "rather bleak" in a report released on Tuesday. He said he was disappointed over the lack of progress despite recent efforts by his Personal Envoy, James Baker 111, and suggested the following four options. First, that the UN resume trying to implement a 1988 settlement plan, even without the agreement of the two parties in conflict over Western Sahara's future status. The second option would have Baker try to revise a draft Framework Agreement, again without necessarily gaining the agreement of Morocco and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro (Polisario Front). The third option would be to mandate Baker to discuss a possible division of the territory with the interested parties while the fourth would see the Security Council end the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), due to the lack of progress, the UN reported. Annan proposed that MINURSO's mandate be extended for two months until 30 April to allow the Council time to consider these options. One of the roles of MINURSO, established in 1991, is to maintain peace between Morocco and the Polisario Front. Morocco annexed Western Sahara in 1975 after Spain pulled out, and the Polisario Front is fighting for independence for the former Spanish colony. The latest UN peace proposal, drafted in June 2001 by Baker, was rejected by the Polisario. Disagreement between Morocco and the Polisario, the group fighting for the independence of Western Sahara, on who is eligible to vote has frustrated UN plans to hold a referendum on self-determination for the territory.