New York, United States - Representatives of the parties to the Western Sahara dispute, Morocco and the Polisario Front on Wednesday wrapped up another round of talks, with both sides rejecting each other’s proposal as a sole basis for future negotiations. The Pan African News Agency (PANA) reported that the latest round of talks was held in Malta and delegations from the neighbouring states of Algeria and Mauritania also attended the meeting. A communique, signed by the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, stated: 'The proposals of the two parties were again presented and at the end of the meeting, each party continued to reject the proposal of the other as a sole basis for future negotiations.'

It, however, said that, 'the two parties decided to tackle, on the one hand, a number of innovative approaches, including measures of conciliation and the avoidance of any sort of provocation that could have a negative impact on the negotiating process.'

It noted that the representatives also discussed issues relating to natural resources and demining.

On confidence-building measures, the communique stated: 'both parties and the neighbouring states also discussed the results of their meeting with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) last month.

'They also reiterated their support for the proper implementation of the 2004 Plan of Action on confidence-building measures, as well as for UNHCR’s technical mission to be deployed next month to create favourable conditions for the implementation of family visits by land.'

'The two sides confirmed their willingness to explore innovative approaches for negotiation and topics for discussion in order to find a just, lasting and mutually-acceptable political solution of the Western Sahara conflict, giving the people of the territory the right to self-determination.

'The next round of the informal meeting could take place in May, as both parties continue to deepen discussion on the two proposals,' the communique added.

The UN has been involved in efforts to find a settlement in Western Sahara since 1976, when fighting broke out between Morocco and the Polisario Front after the Spanish colonial administration of the territory ended.

Morocco has presented a plan for autonomy, while the position of the Polisario Front is that the territory’s final status should be decided in a referendum on self-determination that includes independence as an option.

PANA gathered that the major bone of contention between the parties revolves around who is eligible to vote.

Among other issues, Polisario regards Moroccan ‘settlers’ as ineligible to vote in the referendum.

Pana 11/03/2011