Tuesday 14th of November 2023 from 11.30 to 16.00 at Provianthuset, “Saltkammeret”    Christiansborg, Copenhagen.

Access to the localities at 11.00 O’clock.  Be aware of the security control, so please make sure you are there well in advance!

Before the meeting sandwiches and water are available.

Moderators:  Lave K. Broch and Christian Juhl, the Danish UN Association.

11.30-11.40 Opening of the conference by Annette Lind, Danish MP for The Social Democratic Party and Jens Christian Wandel, Chairperson of the Danish UN Association.

11.40 -12.05. The background to the conflict in Western Sahara and the UN mission MINURSO by. Kurt Mosgaard, former Major General, former Force Commander of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) Denmark.

12.05–12.20 Questions and answers.

12.20-12.35 What is necessary for creating a real peace process in Western Sahara? Dr. Sidi Omar, POLISARIO’s representative to the UN.  

12.35-13.05 Questions and answers. 

13.05–13.25  Break: Coffee, tea, cookies, fruit.

13.25-13.40 How can the UN help facilitating a real peace process for Western Sahara by Christopher W. S. Ross, former Personal Envoy (PE) of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara (online participation).

13.40 – 13.55 Questions and answers.

13.55-14.10 Risks and possibilities with self-determination – reflections on Western Sahara by Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark, Director, The Åland Islands Peace Institute, Professor in Law (Åbo Akademi University).

14.10-15.10 How can the Nordic countries do more for peace in Western Sahara?

Norway:  Erik Hagen, The Norwegian Support Committee for Western Sahara.

 Denmark: Christian Friis Bach, Member of the Parliament, The Social Liberal Party and Søren Søndergaard, Member of the Parliament, Red-Green Alliance.

The Åland Islands (Finland): Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark, Director, The Åland Islands Peace Institute, Professor in Law (Åbo Akademi University).

15.10. – 15.45 Questions and answers.

15.45 – 16.00 Concluding remarks:

Finn Reske-Nielsen, Vice Chairperson of the Danish United Nations Association.

The conference is sponsored by:

1)      CISU (Civilsamfund i udvikling) Denmark

2)      Den Almennyttige Fond af 15. September 1968, Denmark

3)      1. Maj Fonden, Denmark

The Kingdom of Morocco has been invited to participate in the conference with an official representative. The embassy of Morocco has not responded to the invitation.