I have not had any specific discussion with my Algerian counterpart regarding the 1994 closure of land borders between Algeria and Morocco. However, we do have regular dialogue with the Algerian authorities on regional co-operation, security of the region and counter terrorism activities. These issues were last raised during the UK/Algeria ministerial dialogue meeting held in London on 2 March, which I co-chaired with Abdelkader Messahel, the Algerian Minister Delegate for Maghreb and African Affairs.
Officials from our embassy in Rabat recently discussed the situation of refugees in the Tindouf camps with representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in February. British officials also meet with UNHCR representatives as part of their visits programme to the disputed territory of Western Sahara and the refugee camps. There has been no discussion with UNHCR about undertaking a census of the populations in the camps during these meetings.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a copy of the proposal Morocco submitted to the UN Secretary-General in April 2007, which was noted in UN Security Council Resolution 1754 (2007) as a serious and credible effort. The UK continues to support the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to Western Sahara, Ambassador Christopher Ross, to build confidence between the parties and find a negotiated political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials have had briefings from Moroccan officials responsible for development programmes in Western Sahara. These take place in the context of our programme of visits to the disputed territory; the most recent of these visits being December 2009.