King Mohammed VI highlights Morocco’s achievements to bring Sahara issue to final close

King Mohammed VI said Morocco made headway in bringing the artificial dispute over its southern provinces, the Sahara, to a final close urging pro-activeness and decisiveness in gathering further support for the autonomy plan for the territory as a final solution.

“Our achievements to bring this issue to a final close and the economic and social development witnessed in our southern provinces are the result of the solidarity and the efforts of all Moroccans in order to consolidate our national unity and preserve the nation’s territorial integrity,” the King said in a speech at the opening of the Parliament’s fall session.

“With respect to the question of our territorial integrity, we are bound to move from a management stage, to a stage in which we change the situation, both domestically and at the external level, all dimensions considered,” he said.

The King urged taking initiatives and “being decisive and proactive” instead of reacting to developments.

After recalling the growing support among global powers for Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory and its autonomy plan, the King called for building on this positive momentum to “further mobilization and vigilance on the part of everyone” in order to keep consolidating Morocco’s position, to publicize its just cause, and to thwart maneuvers by its enemies.

“We need to explain the fundamental elements underpinning the Moroccan position to the few countries whose stances on the issue still go against the logic of law and history,” he said.

“We need to convince them through legal, political and historical evidence as well as spiritual arguments that confirm the legitimacy of the Sahara as a Moroccan territory,” the Monarch added.

In this respect, he urged all national institutions and bodies, as well as governmental, party and civic organizations to work together “to increase efficiency and ensure the effectiveness of their action.”

Party and parliamentary democracy should also work towards “securing wider recognition of the Sahara as a Moroccan territory, and in increasing support for the Autonomy Initiative as the only solution to this regional conflict,” he said.

“Morocco will never waver in its position. Our country will remain open to its Maghreb and regional environment, thereby contributing to the achievement of joint development, and to the security and stability of the peoples in the region,” said the king.