The United States, France, Gulf countries and several African governments reaffirmed support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative during Tuesday’s UN General Assembly debate, while Russia, Algeria and other delegations challenged attempts to make autonomy the predetermined outcome of negotiations.
The November 10 session, convened following Russia’s veto of a US-backed Security Council resolution, also revealed divisions among countries that had supported the American draft.
France explicitly defended Moroccan sovereignty, while Latvia said its vote in favour of the resolution did not amount to recognition of Morocco’s territorial claims.
The debate featured 34 interventions before the Assembly adjourned until Wednesday morning.
United States: Autonomy negotiations are already underway
US Ambassador Mike Waltz defended Morocco’s autonomy proposal as the basis for negotiations and disclosed that three rounds of talks in Madrid and Washington had addressed political representation, resource sharing, demobilisation and security guarantees.
“Hope is not a strategy for peace,” Waltz said, criticising decades of reliance on a referendum he described as impractical.
“The door to peace remains open to all parties and to all observers,” he added, pledging continued US engagement despite Russia’s veto.
France: Sahara’s future lies under Moroccan sovereignty
France reaffirmed that the present and future of the Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.
Paris described Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the path towards a negotiated settlement and criticised Russia for interrupting the diplomatic momentum generated by the renewed negotiations.
Gulf Cooperation Council: Autonomy is the solution
Speaking for Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman, Bahrain’s representative reiterated collective support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the solution to the dispute.
Bahrain separately reaffirmed its national support for Moroccan sovereignty and territorial integrity.
United Kingdom: Morocco’s plan remains the strongest basis
Britain reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s 2007 autonomy initiative.
“The United Kingdom continues to consider Morocco’s 2007 autonomy proposal the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute,” its representative said.
London also maintained that the eventual settlement must meaningfully provide for self-determination.
Portugal: Negotiations should proceed on Morocco’s proposal
Portugal described Morocco’s autonomy proposal as “the most serious, credible, and constructive option” for resolving the dispute.
Lisbon called for negotiations to continue without preconditions despite MINURSO’s closure.
African countries supporting Morocco’s initiative
Côte d’Ivoire: Reaffirmed support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative, praising development efforts in Laayoune and Dakhla and Morocco’s commitment to the ceasefire.
Guinea-Bissau: Backed a settlement “within the sole framework of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty” and reaffirmed Morocco’s territorial integrity.
The Gambia: Explicitly recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and described autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the only realistic and credible negotiating basis.
Comoros: Supported autonomy within Moroccan sovereignty and called for negotiations involving four parties.
Madagascar: Reaffirmed support for Morocco’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while endorsing autonomy under the Moroccan plan.
Sierra Leone: Described the Moroccan initiative as the most credible and realistic framework, while stressing that any negotiated autonomy arrangement must be freely accepted by the population.
Equatorial Guinea: Acknowledged Morocco’s autonomy proposal as a concrete contribution to negotiations, but called for a renewed UN presence and a political process conducted under UN auspices.
Latin American support for Morocco
Guatemala: Reaffirmed support for Morocco’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and autonomy initiative, describing the proposal as serious and credible.
Ecuador: Supported autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the most feasible settlement, describing the Moroccan initiative as the only serious, credible and realistic solution.
European Union: Support for autonomy with conditions
The European Union reaffirmed its support for negotiations taking Morocco’s autonomy proposal as their basis.
It cited Security Council Resolution 2797, which recognises that genuine autonomy could represent a feasible outcome, while insisting on a mutually acceptable agreement providing for self-determination.
Switzerland: Acknowledged genuine autonomy as a potentially feasible solution but stressed that negotiations must determine the outcome.
Denmark: Regretted Russia’s veto and defended its vote for the American resolution, while insisting that self-determination must meaningfully guide negotiations and that the outcome cannot be predetermined.
Latvia: Made an explicit distinction between supporting the American draft and endorsing Moroccan sovereignty.
“Our vote in favor of the resolution submitted by the penholder did not constitute recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara or endorsement of the autonomy proposal,” its representative said.
Malta: Supported the EU position and criticised MINURSO’s abrupt termination without a transition plan.
Ireland: Called for Security Council reform and criticised the failure to arrange an orderly peacekeeping withdrawal. Dublin called for a political framework capable of securing the affected population’s consent.
Finland, speaking for the Nordic countries: Regretted Russia’s veto, warned of a security gap following MINURSO’s closure and supported continued UN-led negotiations providing for meaningful self-determination.
Russia and Algeria defend the veto
Russia: Argued that the American draft sought to impose Washington’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty on the Security Council.
Moscow acknowledged Morocco’s economic and infrastructure development efforts but rejected the proposition that these gave it priority in determining the political settlement.
Russia also welcomed continued US and UN mediation, provided the negotiations treated Morocco and the Polisario Front on an equal footing.
Algeria: Described the Russian veto as a “blessing in disguise” and criticised the US draft as an attempt to predetermine the settlement.
Algiers acknowledged participating in the three negotiating rounds as an observer but insisted that any solution must preserve the right to self-determination.
African and other delegations opposing a predetermined settlement
Namibia: Welcomed Russia’s veto and rejected autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as an imposed political settlement. It defended a referendum that would preserve independence as an option.
South Africa: Argued that the veto prevented the Security Council from undermining international law and called for direct Morocco-Polisario negotiations without predetermined conditions.
Timor-Leste: Rejected autonomy as an exclusive outcome without the freely expressed consent of the population, while supporting continued UN mediation.
Liechtenstein: Criticised both competing Security Council proposals, arguing that neither adequately guaranteed the population’s freedom to determine its political future.
China: Called for negotiations on an equal footing, respect for self-determination and continued UN mediation, without endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan.
Other delegations focus on MINURSO’s closure
Brazil: Criticised the Security Council for allowing MINURSO’s mandate to expire without a transition strategy, warning of consequences for UN peacekeeping.
Australia: Regretted Russia’s veto and called for a safe, orderly withdrawal and continued UN peace efforts.
New Zealand: Criticised the use of the veto and warned that MINURSO’s abrupt closure increased uncertainty.
Indonesia: Called for constructive negotiations, restraint and consultation with troop-contributing countries over MINURSO’s withdrawal.
Malaysia: Reaffirmed support for self-determination and UN-led negotiations while advocating Security Council reform.
The General Assembly concluded Tuesday’s proceedings after Sierra Leone’s intervention, with remaining speakers scheduled to address the Assembly Wednesday morning.
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