Moroccan Sahara: FM Calls on Europe to Join 'International Momentum'

Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad Nasser Bourita called on Europe, Friday, to join the international momentum sparked by the broad support for the autonomy initiative.

“Europe must come out of the comfort of saying that there is a process and that we support this process, even if this process should last for decades to come,” Bourita said at a press briefing following the Ministerial Conference in Support of the Autonomy Initiative under Morocco’s Sovereignty, held virtually at the invitation of the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States of America.

Europe must be part of this international momentum, the minister stated. “The US position must appeal to Europe on its degree of commitment, so that the direction taken by the international community for a solution within the framework of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is also that of Europe,” he stated.

According to Bourita, there have been “signals” such as the agreements signed with the European Union, but also the national positions of several countries “which see in the autonomy initiative a fundamental perspective for the resolution of this issue.”

Today, there must be a “movement within Europe to support the only possible prospect for the settlement of the Sahara issue, which is autonomy within the framework of the sovereignty of the Kingdom,” the minister said.

The conference was an opportunity for most of the 40 participating countries to express their strong support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the Sahara regional conflict.

Participants in this conference, which was attended by 27 ministers, pledged to continue their advocacy for a solution, using Morocco’s autonomy plan as the sole framework for resolving the Sahara dispute, according to a Chairs Summary made public at the end of the event.