National Assembly President reaffirms France’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara
The President of the French National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet reiterated, in Rabat on Friday, France’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara.
Speaking at the House of Representatives during the closing seminar of the Morocco-European Union institutional twinning program, Braun-Pivet highlighted France’s historical, cultural and strategic ties with Morocco, emphasizing her country’s commitment to “support the Kingdom in addressing its existential challenges”, such as the Sahara issue.
She thus reaffirmed France’s position, which considers, as put by French President Emmanuel, that the present and future of the Sahara lie within Moroccan sovereignty.
“On behalf of our national representation, I would like to reaffirm before you France’s position, according to which the present and future of Western Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” she said in her address before Moroccan MPs.
The French National Assembly will play its full part in supporting the remarkable development of this territory, alongside French operators and businesses, Braun-Pivet added.
In this regard, she announced plans for a parliamentary mission to the Sahara, aiming to foster new economic and cultural partnerships that would benefit local communities.
The President of the French National also emphasized that the Morocco-France partnership has entered “a new golden age.”
The senior French official stated that her discussions with the President of the Chamber of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami, will give a new impetus to the partnership between the two institutions. “I strongly believe in the value of the partnership between our parliamentary assemblies,” she said, before praising “the success of the European twinning program that brought us together.”
The agreement signed with Rachid Talbi Alami, she specified, “will allow for more friendship visits and exchanges of experiences” and will strengthen the existing ties between the two institutions, through committees, friendship groups, and the Franco-Moroccan interparliamentary forum, which she calls to be relaunched in collaboration with the Senate and the Chamber of Councillors. She also mentioned that “the President of the Senate, Gérard Larcher, a great friend of Morocco, is very committed to this.”
The twinning, which in recent years has been marked by an extensive cooperation program, has received support from several European parliaments, including those of France, Greece, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, and the Czech Parliament.
On Thursday evening, Yaël Braun-Pivet held talks with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. According to observers, the meeting focused on the outcome of the state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco end of last October.
Following this visit, an exceptional enhanced partnership was signed between the two countries, during which France recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and supported the Moroccan autonomy plan as the only solution to resolve the conflict.
Earlier Thursday, the President of the French National Assembly had met with the head of government, Aziz Akhannouch.
Before flying back to Paris this Friday, December 13, 2024, Yaël Braun-Pivet, who paid a three-day working visit to Morocco, participated in a parliamentary women’s forum, gathering several foreign delegations.
