The United Kingdom, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has expressed that the long-standing dispute between Morocco and Western Sahara should be resolved and is in the best interests of all parties.
This position was expressed in a Joint Communiqué signed in Rabat on Sunday by David Lammy, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates.
The United Kingdom says it “considers Morocco’s autonomy proposal, submitted in 2007 as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute” over the Moroccan Sahara, and “will continue to act bilaterally, including economically, regionally and internationally in line with this position to support resolution of the conflict”.
Joint Communiqué underlines that the United Kingdom “follows closely the current positive dynamic on this issue under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.”
It adds that London “recognises the importance of the question of Western Sahara for the Kingdom of Morocco,” noting that this settling this regional dispute “would strengthen the stability of North Africa and the relaunch of the bilateral dynamic and regional integration.”
Additionally, the United Kingdom affirms, in the Joint Communiqué signed at the Foreign Ministry headquarters, that it “can consider supporting projects” in the Sahara, notably as part of “the United Kingdom Export Finance’s £5bn commitment to support new business across the country.”
The United Kingdom went on to say it also “recognises Morocco as a key gateway to Africa’s socio-economic development and reaffirms its commitment to deepening engagement with Morocco as a partner for growth across the continent”
In this document, both countries support, and consider vital, the central role of the UN-led process, reaffirming their full support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy, Staffan de Mistura.”
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To this end, the United Kingdom underlines that it is “ready, willing and committed to lend its active support and engagement to the Personal Envoy and the parties.”
Morocco says this new position of the United Kingdom, aligns with the stances expressed by many major powers, notably the United States, France, and Spain.
Furthermore, Morocco says this new position of the United Kingdom, reinforces the growing international momentum driven by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in support of the Autonomy Plan under Moroccan sovereignty.
Also, the North African country says this also confirms the credibility of this initiative and the broad consensus backing it to reach a final resolution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan-Sahara.
