Western Sahara.

In extending the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 September 1997, the Security Council on 22 May urged the two parties - the Moroccan Government and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y del Rio de Oro (Frente POLISARIO) - to continue to cooperate with Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Personal Envoy and "demonstrate the political will to overcome the persisting stalemate, and find an acceptable solution" (S/RES/1108 (1997)).

The Personal Envoy, James A. Baker III of the United States, had undertaken an exploratory mission to the region from 23 to 28 April. In meetings with the two parties, as well as with the Governments of Algeria and Mauritania, he had stressed that he had come to make a fresh assessment of the situation and discuss with all concerned ways to break the current stalemate.

In a 5 May report (S/1997/358), the Secretary-General said Mr. Baker is expected to return to the region in June, after which he will report to the Secretary-General on his findings and recommendations. Mr. Annan hoped thereafter to submit to the Security Council a comprehensive report on all aspects of the issue. In the meantime, he recommended a four-month extension of MINURSO.

Following six years of efforts since MINURSO was established with the aim of holding a referendum of self-determination in Western Sahara, the international community has made it clear that it would not be willing to continue to support the extension of the Mission's mandate indefinitely and that the parties must demonstrate in a clear and tangible manner the political will necessary to take decisions that would bring about a fair and lasting solution to the problem.

According to the report, the military component of MINURSO, led by Major-General Jorge Barroso de Moura of Portugal, continues to monitor and verify the ceasefire through daily ground patrols and helicopter reconnaissance. Its strength stands at 228. Cooperation with both the Royal Moroccan Army and the Frente POLISARIO has been "generally good", with no violations of the ceasefire reported between 27 February and 5 May.

As a cost-saving measure, Mr. Annan said he had not replaced the personnel of MINURSO's civilian police component at the end of their assignments. As a result, the Acting Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-Colonel Jan H. Kleven of Norway, and three officers would be leaving at the end of their tour of duty on 31 May. The remaining five officers were expected to leave as soon as the necessary consultations with the Governments concerned have been completed.