Speech by V.A. Nebenzia on the reasons for voting on the US draft resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (New York, October 30, 2026) Read more Russia consistently advocates for a political and diplomatic solution to the Western Sahara problem on the basis of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as well as in accordance with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including the right of nations to self-determination. Russia supports the work of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. We believe that the settlement process is far from over. However, the draft resolution submitted by the American authors, if adopted, could derail the entire process of resolving the Western Sahara problem. We proceed from the understanding that the final methods of settlement must be acceptable to both the Moroccans and the Polisario. We view the imposition of unilateral prescriptions without prior careful and targeted discussion with the opposite side as a dead end. *** The organizers of the negotiation process had the opportunity to show additional flexibility, to try to approach the solution of the situation not superficially, but through honest, open and mutually respectful negotiations with the two participating parties - Morocco and the Polisario Front. The project of the American partners completely abandons the long-standing proposal of Western Sahara, and indeed the UN itself, for a fair, free and honest solution based on the principle of self-determination. The approach proposed by the authors is a clear departure from the historical basis of the Western Sahara settlement. *** For us, a departure from the basic guidelines for the settlement of Western Sahara is not a bargaining chip. We have been involved in the process of finding a solution for more than 50 years and are well aware of the roots of this conflict. This many years of experience has taught us that there are no hasty recipes for a settlement, especially those related to the current political situation.

Speech by V.A. Nebenzia on the reasons for voting on the US draft resolution to extend the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (New York, October 30, 2026) Read more Russia consistently advocates for a political and diplomatic solution to the Western Sahara problem on the basis of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as well as in accordance with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including the right of nations to self-determination. Russia supports the work of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. We believe that the settlement process is far from over. However, the draft resolution submitted by the American authors, if adopted, could derail the entire process of resolving the Western Sahara problem. We proceed from the understanding that the final methods of settlement must be acceptable to both the Moroccans and the Polisario. We view the imposition of unilateral prescriptions without prior careful and targeted discussion with the opposite side as a dead end. *** The organizers of the negotiation process had the opportunity to show additional flexibility, to try to approach the solution of the situation not superficially, but through honest, open and mutually respectful negotiations with the two participating parties - Morocco and the Polisario Front. The project of the American partners completely abandons the long-standing proposal of Western Sahara, and indeed the UN itself, for a fair, free and honest solution based on the principle of self-determination. The approach proposed by the authors is a clear departure from the historical basis of the Western Sahara settlement. *** For us, a departure from the basic guidelines for the settlement of Western Sahara is not a bargaining chip. We have been involved in the process of finding a solution for more than 50 years and are well aware of the roots of this conflict. This many years of experience has taught us that there are no hasty recipes for a settlement, especially those related to the current political situation.