Madrid, 5 February 2010.
The Directorate-General for Foreign Communication of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation hereby issues the following communiqué:
The Spanish government expresses its satisfaction at the notification by the Kingdom of Morocco and Polisario Front to the Envoy of the Secretary General of the UN on their agreement to hold informal talks on the Western Sahara on 10 and 11 February that could lead to more formal negotiations.
The negotiations are endorsed by the General Secretary of the UN as stipulated in the latest Resolution 1871 of the Security Council and are contingent on the disposition of the parties and the principles and aims of the UN. The objectives of the process is to reach more intense negotiations that will lead to a politically fair, long-lasting and mutually acceptable solution that will permit the free determination of the people of Western Sahara within the framework of the United Nations Charter.
The resolution of the Western Sahara conflict is one of the priorities of Spanish foreign policy, and support for the negotiations between the parties and the UN is an ongoing part of this policy. Spain reiterates its full support to the efforts of the Secretary General and his personal envoy and encourages the parties to propitiate an atmosphere of dialogue and compromise that is conducive to fruitful talks.