Explanation of Vote by Sarah MacIntosh, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Western Sahara.

Colleagues, following the unsuccessful adoptions of both of this afternoon’s draft resolutions on Western Sahara, MINURSO’s mandate is on course to expire tomorrow.

In the interests of the stability of Western Sahara; of the security of the region; and the population affected by this conflict, including generations who have been born and lived in refugee camps, we urge those who did not support the US’ resolution to seek to find a solution on the basis of that draft, which secured 11 positive votes, and set out a vision for a political process to resolve the situation in Western Sahara.

This is our shared responsibility.