SG/SM/8577
7 January 2003

Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara to Visit Region, 14-18 January

NEW YORK, 6 January (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

James A. Baker III, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, is scheduled to visit the region from 14 to 17 January 2003.

Mr. Baker will visit Rabat, Algiers, Tindouf and Nouakchott for meetings with the Governments of Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania and the leadership of the Frente POLISARIO.

During his mission, Mr. Baker will present and explain to the parties and neighbouring countries a proposal for a political solution of the conflict over Western Sahara, which provides for self-determination, as requested by Security Council resolution 1429 (2002) of 30 July 2002.

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