Sahara: Several Caribbean Countries Reaffirm Support for Autonomy Initiative, Round-table Meetings Process

Several Caribbean countries, namely Dominica, Saint Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda, reaffirmed, before the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly, their support for the political process of the round-table meetings on the Moroccan Sahara issue as well as the autonomy initiative presented by the kingdom as a solution to this regional dispute.

“My delegation voices its full support to the Moroccan autonomy initiative, which is a serious and credible proposal,” said Dominica’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Loreen Bannis-Roberts.

The diplomat welcomed in this regard the holding of two round tables meetings, in 2018 and 2019, with the participation of Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and the polisario, noting that the agreement expressed by the four participants to meet for a third round-table, under the same format, is “a very positive step forward in the political process.”

This initiative is in line with the request made by the Security Council to the four participants to remain engaged throughout the political process in a spirit of realism and compromise in order to ensure a positive outcome, she said.

Dominica welcomes the adoption of the Security Council Resolution 2494 on 30 October 2019, which calls for a realistic, pragmatic and sustainable political solution based on compromise to this regional dispute, the diplomat added.

“This resolution fully supports the round-table meetings process and my delegation requests that the next Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General continue this process initiated by the former Personal Envoy, Mr. Horst Köhler,” Bannis-Roberts went on.

She also welcomed the participation of elected representatives of the Moroccan Sahara in the C-24 regional meetings. According to her, the participation of elected representatives of the Moroccan Sahara in the two Geneva round-table meetings, held as part of the political process, is “an important step” that allows them to be fully involved both locally and in the political process.

The ambassador also voiced her country’s concern “over the situation of the populations in the Tindouf camps,” stressing the need to proceed with their registration in accordance with the international humanitarian law, the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the recommendations of the UN Secretary General and all Security Council resolutions since 2011, including Resolution 2494.

“Dominica is convinced that the resolution of this regional dispute will contribute to strengthening stability and security in the Sahelo-Saharan region, which is currently facing considerable and growing security threats related to terrorism, transnational organized crime and trafficking of all kinds,” she said.

For his part, Ambassador Cosmos Richardson, Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the UN, reiterated before the same committee his country’s position in favor of a compromise political solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

“Saint Lucia reaffirms its support for a just and mutually acceptable solution between the parties, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions, through multilateral dialogue,” the ambassador stressed.

“My delegation supports the efforts of the Secretary-General to facilitate the ongoing political process and also welcomes the Security Council Resolution 2494,” Cosmos added, recalling that this resolution insists on a “realistic, pragmatic and lasting political solution” to this regional dispute.

Saint Lucia “takes note of the round-table meetings and talks that have taken place between Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and the polisario,” the diplomat stated, voicing hope that these consultations would push the political process towards a “just and equitable” solution to this dispute that has lasted too long.

He also welcomed Morocco’s commitment to resolving this dispute, “as demonstrated by the various initiatives undertaken by the Kingdom, including in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.”

For his part, Ambassador Walton Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the UN, expressed “the unwavering support” of his country to the ongoing political process, supported by the Security Council since 2007 and aimed at achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara that is based on compromise, in accordance with Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2494.

“We welcome the new impetus given to the political process by the UN Secretary-General, including the holding of the Geneva round-table meetings that brought together all the parties”, namely Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the polisario, he said, calling on the parties “to remain committed to the UN political process until its completion.”