[ecr]

The discussions centered on efforts to revive the political process aimed at reaching a political solution that ensures the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination, ahead of the UN Security Council's review of the Sahrawi issue this October, the statement said.

In this regard, Attaf told the UN Envoy that Algeria, given its legal status as an observer country in the Western Sahara decolonization process, believes any serious initiative to resolve the Sahrawi issue must be based on four principles. The first of these is that “the Western Sahara issue is a decolonization issue,” in line with UN doctrine.

The second principle is that “as a decolonization issue, its resolution hinges on the Sahrawi people exercising their right to self-determination,” according to the statement.

The same source added that the third principle is that “the autonomy plan advocated by Morocco cannot be a solution to the Western Sahara issue as it contradicts the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.”

The fourth principle is that “the conflict in Western Sahara can only be resolved through direct negotiations between the two parties to the conflict, namely the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front,” the statement wrapped up.

[/ecr]