Minister for Foreign Affairs welcomes the decision by Polisario to release all remaining POWs in their custody

Minister for Foreign Affairs welcomes the decision by Polisario to release all remaining POWs in their custody

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D., today welcomed the announcement by Polisario of its intention to release all 410 Moroccan prisoners-of-war remaining in their custody in Tindouf, Algeria.  The prisoners, some of whom have been held for over 20 years, were captured during the armed conflict between Polisario (the national liberation organisation representing the Saharoui people) and Morocco which took place between 1975-1991. 

Ireland, in common with its partners in the European Union, has consistently urged the Polisario to release all prisoners in their custody. During its recent Presidency of the European Union, Ireland played a strong role in influencing the decision of Polisario to release 100 of the prisoners, and then Minister for Development Cooperation Mr Tom Kitt, T.D. travelled to Tindouf to bear witness to the release in June 2004.

Minister Ahern said:

“I welcome the decision of the Polisario to release, without precondition, all the prisoners remaining in their custody. Ireland has consistently urged Polisario to take this step, as it has urged all the parties of the conflict to meet their obligations under international humanitarian law.

“I call on all sides to build on this constructive development without further delay, with a view to the resolution of all remaining humanitarian issues in accordance with obligations set out under international humanitarian law, and to re-energising progress towards the resolution of the political issues underlying the conflict.

“Ireland has consistently supported the principle of self-determination for the Saharaoui people.

“I pledge the continued support of the European Union, and Ireland in particular, for the ongoing efforts of the UN Secretary General, and his newly appointed special representative Francesco Bastagli, to reach a mutually acceptable political solution to the Western Sahara issue within the UN framework.”

ENDS+++
18th August 2005
Press Office