Denmark adopts new policy on Western Sahara

”The report sends a clear signal to Morocco that we will not turn a blind eye to their repeated human rights violations in Western Sahara,” Christian Juhl from the Danish party the Red-Green Alliance said in a press statement Saturday, commenting on the Danish Foreign Affairs Committee’s newly adopted report on Western Sahara.

The report, which was approved by a clear majority of Danish Parliamentary parties, amongst other things stated that Danmark will continue to support the endeavors of the United Nations to ensure a referendum on the status of Western Sahara, that the UN peacekeeping mission, MINURSO, must be allowed to monitor the human rights situation in Western Sahara, that Danish governmental institutions and companies are recommended not to buy products from Western Sahara, and that Denmark will consider supporting the over 150,000 Saharawi refugees who live in the Algerian desert.

In the press statement, Christian Juhl also said that he was optimistic about the future of Western Sahara and Denmark’s role in solving the conflict to the satisfaction of the Saharawis. “The report is definitely a step in the right direction, and by adopting a clear set of policies on Western Sahara, we have taken the first step towards recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).”

The Red-Green Alliance had introduced a bill that asked the Danish parliament to recognize SADR, although the bill had initially been defeated and refereed to the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Chrisitian Juhl, who apart from being an MP for the Red-Green Alliance is also standing for the European Parliament for the People’s Movement against the EU, also criticized the role of the European Union in the Western Sahara conflict.

“The role of the EU in this conflict is very problematic, amongst other things because of its fisheries- and trade agreements with Morocco that include the occupied territories of Western Sahara. We need to stand up to the EU to ensure justice for the Saharawis.”