While on a work-visit to South Africa, the Algerian foreign minister addressed the Western Sahara question on Tuesday with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor. «The Ministers discussed the important matter of the Western Sahara. They expressed serious concerns over the escalation of military tensions in the occupied territories», read a joint statement signed by the two officials. Boukadoum and Naledi Pandoront «reaffirmed their position which is to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, and in terms of Security Council resolution 690 (1991) and subsequent resolutions, is the holding of a free and fair referendum on self-determination for the people of Western Sahara». The two foreign ministers also «expressed their full support for an immediate appointment by the United Nations Secretary General of his Personal Envoy for the Western Sahara which has been outstanding for some time». The joint communiqué does not mention of the US recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, nor of the consulates recently opened by certain countries.
