Morocco’s Sahara autonomy plan, serious and credible- Portuguese FM

Portugal described as “serious and credible” Morocco’s plan to grant autonomy to the Sahara region, saying the proposal offers prospects for the resolution of the Sahara issue.

The remarks were made by Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva following talks with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita in Rabat Wednesday.

“The Portuguese position on this regional dispute is well-known. We hope that the process conducted under the aegis of the UN and in accordance with the recommendations and resolutions of the Security Council will lead to concrete results,” he said.

The Portuguese Foreign Minister also praised the large-scale reforms undertaken by King Mohammed VI over the past few years, and hailed the modernization and development of the Moroccan economy, society and institutions.

 

The Portuguese top diplomat also commended Morocco for the important role it plays in preserving stability in the Mediterranean, the Maghreb and Africa, noting that these regions present “strategic and geopolitical” challenges for both Portugal and the European Union.

Augusto Santos Silva underlined the two countries’ shared willingness to develop their relations into a multidimensional and diversified strategic partnership.

 

Last April, Morocco and Portugal held the 13th Moroccan-Portuguese High-Level Meeting in Rabat. The Head of the Moroccan government Saad Eddine El Othmani and his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa vowed to join efforts in order to explore untapped development as well as investment and business opportunities in Africa through the setting up of a mutually beneficial tripartite partnership.

The Portuguese Premier had then recalled the long standing ties between the two countries citing the signature in 1994 of the Treaty of Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, which offers a “solid basis” for strengthening bilateral ties at all levels.

At the end of the high-level meeting, 12 agreements were signed in the fields of economy, energy, culture, civil service and health, as well as triangular cooperation with third countries.

Some 300 Portuguese companies operate in Morocco with bilateral trade reaching an annual average of 1 billion euros.

Between 2010 and 2014, Morocco’s imports from Portugal grew 82% while its exports rose by 131%. Morocco was ranked the tenth destination of Portuguese exports.