CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES

Washington, DC, June 12, 2000.

Hon. William J. Clinton
President, The White House,
Washington, DC

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to express our great concern over the continued delay in the United Nations holding a free, fair, and transparent referendum for the people of Western Sahara . The continued postponements reflect an apparent lack of willingness of the United Nations and the United States Administration to use their leadership to urge all parties involved to follow through with their commitments to uphold the fundamental human right of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara .

We are pleased that finally, after nine long years and the expenditure of approximately $500 million on peacekeeping efforts, the United Nations was able to establish a public list of eligible voters on January 17, 2000. We know that the identification process was difficult and we congratulate the United Nations for successfully accomplishing this difficult task. We are very concerned, however, about reports in the United Nations that the U.S. Administration and the French Government are contemplating abandoning the negotiated, signed settlement plans under the pretext that there allegedly is no mechanism to enforce the result of the referendum. The May 30, 2000 meeting of the United Nations Security Council revealed that these two governments are willing to completely disregard the negotiated Settlement Plan and the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination. Mr. President, the fact that our Administration is willing to disregard the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination when the American Revolution was based upon that very right is shameful. We have supported the right of the people of East Timor to determine their future. The people of Western Sahara deserve no less.

It is vital that neither the United States nor any other nation or international body pre-judge the results of the referendum--a referendum which both Morocco and the Polisario have agreed to and which the United States taxpayers and others have invested over $530 million. The failure of the United Nations to hold this referendum regarding the Western Sahara would lead to instability and insecurity in North Africa and the blame would fall squarely on the shoulders of the United Nations, the Administration of the United States, and the French Government.

Mr. President, it would be more unfortunate if the United States encouraged or was part of a movement to undermine the fundamental human right of self-determination and carefully negotiated agreements about the Western Sahara . We respectfully urge you to use your leadership position to remind the King of Morocco of his commitments to the Settlement Plan and allowing the referendum over Western Sahara to proceed without further delay.

Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Joseph R. Pitts ; Donald M. Payne; Wayne T. Gilchrest; David M. McIntosh; William J. Jefferson; Charles T. Canady; Jim DeMint; James A. Traficant, Jr.; Eni F.H. Faleomavaega; Bob Clement; Steve Largent; Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.; Christopher H. Smith; Anna G. Eshoo; Tony P. Hall; Gene Green; Tom Tancredo; Richard H. Baker; Alcee L. Hastings; Ron Packard; Luis V. Gutierrez; Robert A. Borski.

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