United Nations, January 04, SPA -- The United Nations (UN) announced Thursday that a third round of talks over the contested West Sahara region will be closed to the media. UN spokeswoman Michele Montas said that reporters will be barred from next week’s meeting and only UN representatives and the leaders from the parties involved will participate. “As was the case with the previous meetings, and due to the sensitivity of the ongoing discussions, the talks will once again be private,” Montas said at Thursday’s noon briefing. Peter van Walsum, personal envoy to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for Western Sahara, will lead the discussion in Long Island.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/514412