UN/Sahara: Several countries reaffirm support for Moroccan Autonomy Plan

Several countries have reaffirmed strong support for the “realistic & serious” autonomy plan offered by Morocco for the Sahara under its sovereignty during the UN C-24 regional seminar held lately in Bali, Indonesia.

Addressing the UN Committee, the representative of Gabon said her country backs the “credible” autonomy plan proposed by Rabat for a lasting and peaceful resolution of the Sahara regional conflict.

Over a hundred countries have expressed support for the Moroccan plan backed by the international community and the UN Security Council, added the diplomat, hailing the efforts of UN Sahara envoy Staffan de Mistura to advance the political process under the exclusive auspices of the United Nations.

She urged all parties to the Sahara conflict to commit to the UN-led process to reach a political solution to the Sahara issue, hailing the social and economic progress achieved by the southern Moroccan provinces and their inclusive growth.

For his part, the delegate of Côte d’Ivoire voiced his country’s steadfast support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative, which is welcomed by more than one hundred UN Member States and complies with international law, resolutions of UN Security Council and the General Assembly.

He urged all stakeholders to support the efforts engaged by Staffan de Mistura to advance the UN-exclusive process seeking to reach a realistic, pragmatic and lasting political solution to the Sahara regional dispute, affirming that the settlement of the Sahara question will help enhance regional peace and stability.

The ambassador of Sierra Leone hailed the growing international support for the Moroccan autonomy, culminating with the opening of nearly thirty African, Arab and consulates in the Saharan cities of Laayoune and Dakhla, a move translating their recognition of the Moroccan sovereignty over its entire Sahara territory.

He also commended the participation of representatives from Moroccan Sahara in the UN C24 meetings for the fifth consecutive time and in the two round tables held in Geneva, calling for the resumption of the Sahara round table meetings with the participation of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the polisario, in accordance with UN Security resolution 2654.

The delegate of Antigua & Barbuda also reaffirmed support for the Moroccan autonomy plan offering a realistic solution to the Sahara dispute, saying the plan is in line with international law, United Nations Charter and the resolutions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly.

He also said that the Moroccan autonomy initiative offered for the Sahara under its sovereignty is gaining a strong international recognition with more than 100 countries supporting openly the pragmatic plan proposed by Rabat for lasting resolution of the Sahara issue.

For his part, the Representative of Papua New Guinea reaffirmed his country’s support for the autonomy initiative, saying it offers a solid basis for achieving a lasting solution to the Sahara regional conflict.

He also voiced firm backing to the UN-led political process and the efforts made by De Mistura for a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to this artificial conflict.

The diplomat expressed concern over the serious human rights violations committed by the Polisario militia in the Tindouf camps, calling on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to conduct a census of the population of held the Tindouf camps, Southern Algeria.

Vice-President of the Laâyoune Sakia El Hamra region, M’hamed Abba, highlighted the socio-economic development achieved by Morocco’s southern provinces thanks to the far-sighted leadership of King Mohammed VI.

He cited in this regard, the major infrastructure, economic, energy and water projects carried out in the Sahara, saying these projects have speeded up local development, making the Moroccan Sahara a model of inclusive development and gateway for investment in Africa.

Exercising his right reply to the provocative and misleading remarks of the Algerian delegate, Moroccan ambassador to UN Omar Hilale, said the decolonization of the Moroccan Sahara has been definitively resolved in 1975 under the Madrid accord.

“To those who support the UN political process and the SG’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, I reaffirm Morocco’s commitment to this process in order to reach a realistic, pragmatic & lasting solution to this regional dispute, in accordance with the Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2654″, said Mr. Hilal.

“To those who are still talking about decolonization, we say that the decolonization of the Moroccan Sahara is over. It was settled in 1975 under the Madrid Agreement”, underlined the Moroccan diplomat, affirming that the Sahara issue is a question of the Kingdom’s territorial integrity and not decolonization.