STATEMENT BY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

5 November 2003

The following statement was issued by the Chairperson of the fifty-ninth session of the Commission on Human Rights, Ambassador Najat Al Hajjaji:

During my last visit to my country, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, at the beginning of July 2003, I had a discussion with Engineer Saif El Islam Gaddafi , President of the Gaddafi International Foundation for Charitable Associations regarding employing the good offices of the Foundation -- for purely humanitarian reasons -- for the purpose of releasing the Moroccan prisoners of war held by the Polisario.

The response of the Foundation, represented by his President was encouraging and positive and I was informed that they started contacting the concerned parties at the highest level. I wish for their efforts to be successful.