Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN Omar Hilale affirmed, on Wednesday before the UN fourth Committee, that the autonomy plan offered by Morocco for the Sahara is the only solution to this regional conflict, underlining Rabat’s firm commitment to the political process initiated under the exclusive aegis of the United Nations. The resumption of this process must be based on the agreements reached with former UN Envoy for the Sahara, cited in Security Council resolution 2468, including the round table process and “the full, active and responsible participation of all parties”, stressed the Moroccan diplomat. The current UN-led political process was launched following the autonomy initiative for the Sahara presented by Morocco in 2007, he added, noting that the Security Council has described repeatedly Morocco’s efforts as “serious and credible”. According to Mr. Hilale, last year marked a turning point in the political process for the Moroccan Sahara thanks to the adoption of Security Council resolutions 2440 and 2468 and the holding of the two Geneva round table meetings (Dec. 2018) and (March 2019). The UN resolutions established the parameters for a “political, realistic, pragmatic and lasting solution based on compromise” and defined the participants in the political process (Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and Polisario), he explained, reaffirming the pre-eminence of the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the only serious and credible solution to this regional dispute.

Source: The North Africa Journal October 17, 2019 15:56 UTC