A delegation from the Polisario is currently participating in Brussels in the preparatory meetings for the European Union–African Union ministerial conference, the Front's press agency reported with satisfaction. Anticipating this participation, Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for the European Union's Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, reaffirmed last week that «neither the EU nor any of its member states recognize the 'Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic'». She clarified that the Front's involvement in the ministerial meeting «has no impact on this position». On the sidelines of the EU-AU partnership gathering, which is taking place this Wednesday, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf met Tuesday evening in Brussels with his Polisario counterpart, Mohamed Yeslem Beïssat. «The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on the latest developments regarding the Western Sahara issue, both regionally and internationally, and to review efforts to advance the political settlement process. This process would enable the Sahrawi people to exercise their legitimate and inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with relevant international resolutions», stated the Polisario's press agency. Although the Front is excluded from the African Union's partnership meetings with Russia, China, Turkey, Italy, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United States, it continues to be present at meetings involving the European Union. Last week, the EU spokesperson emphasized that the Polisario's presence at this meeting was the responsibility of the African Union.
