Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday that Moscow is prepared to welcome Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara as a form of “self-determination,” provided it is agreed upon by all parties and overseen by the United Nations.
Speaking at a press briefing with Arab media representatives in Moscow, Lavrov emphasized that Russia’s position on the Sahara issue is grounded in UN resolutions. “We support self-determination through dialogue at the negotiating table, not unilateral measures,” he said.
The minister noted that the Sahara conflict has been on the international agenda for five decades, with a referendum previously proposed as a solution. “The situation has evolved since then. Morocco’s autonomy plan could be successful if approved by all stakeholders and under UN supervision,” Lavrov added.
He stressed that UN Security Council resolutions currently provide the framework for discussing a settlement, but Russia would consider other frameworks if endorsed by all parties.
Lavrov’s comments come ahead of an upcoming Security Council session to discuss recent developments in the Sahara and the future of the UN mission there (MINURSO). Observers say the timing underscores the potential influence of Russia’s stance on international debate over the conflict.
Russia and China remain the only permanent Security Council members yet to explicitly support Morocco’s autonomy proposal as the sole solution, in contrast to the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. However, analysts note that Morocco’s strong bilateral ties with Russia, its neutral stance on the Ukraine war, and adherence to the “One China” policy could make Moscow and Beijing more receptive to the autonomy plan in the future.
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