Join on WhatsApp 
Join on Telegram Rabat- As the United Nations Personal Envoy, Horst Kohler is set to introduce his conclusions on the Western Sahara conflict before the UN security council today, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita reminded the UN official of the key principles that form the foundation of Morocco’s position in the Western Sahara conflict.
During the meeting, Kohler will present briefings on the conflict, including a written conclusion on consultations between parties to the conflict from recent months.
During a meeting on March 6, the Moroccan delegation first informed Kohler of Morocco’s principles and its firm position on its territorial integrity.
Bourita stressed that the negotiation process will only occur if respecting the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, according to Moroccan newspaper Assabah.
King Mohammed VI clearly outlined these principles and Morocco’s framework of reference during his speech commemorating the 42nd anniversary of the Green March last November 6, 2017.
Throughout his speech, the monarch reiterated that Morocco will never respect a solution to the conflict “that does not acknowledge Morocco’s full sovereignty over its Sahara,” and the much-commended autonomy plan, which has been declared “serious and credible by the international community.”
The King added that all the parties that “have concocted this disputed must fully shoulder their responsibility,” in order to reach a final solution to the four-decade long conflict. Morocco, according to the sovereign will reject any “obsolete proposals designed to divert the settlement process for the set terms of reference.”
After his official mediations sessions with the parties related to the conflict, Kohler held a meeting with Swedish Social Democratic politician Margot Elisabeth Wallstrom on March 17, to discuss the Western Sahara conflict.
In a tweet, Wallstrom wrote,“Important meeting with Horst Köhler, envoy on MINURSO and Western Sahara.” The Swedish official added that their meeting focused “on how to move the UN process forward towards a just and mutually acceptable political solution. Guaranteeing the rights of the people of W.Sahara.” She has also expressed her full support for the Personal Envoy and UN efforts.
Important meeting with Horst Köhler, envoy on MINURSO and Western Sahara. Focus on how to move the UN process forward towards a just and mutually acceptable political solution. Guaranteeing the rights of the people of W.Sahara. Full Swedish support for Köhler and UN efforts. pic.twitter.com/m77RjFHnPX
— Margot Wallström (@margotwallstrom) March 17, 2018
The Personal Envoy aims, through this strategy, to provide other bodies with an opportunity to propose solutions that would help the UN find a lasting solution to the conflict. This was not the only time that Kohler involved international parties to the conflict. In January, Kohler held talks with AU Commission chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on Addis Ababa about the conflict.
The UNSG Envoy also met on Friday with Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, who will officially take over the chairmanship of the African Union on January 28.
Kohler’s meetings with the African leaders came four days after his official meeting with the EU’s High Representative Federica Mogherini, on January 9, in Brussels. During the meeting, the two high officials “exchanged views on the relaunch of the UN peace process for Western Sahara,” according to an official statement by the European Union External Action.
Defying Morocco?
In a publication posted on Moroccan news outlet Le360, M’hamad Harmouch, said that Kohler continues to meet only parties whose position is contrary to that of Morocco on the Sahara issue, referring to Kohler’s last meeting with the Swedish official.
According to the news source, Kohler defied the promise he made before the Moroccan delegation during the recent meeting in Lisbon, reaffirming his intention to “reduce the Sahara issue exclusively to the United Nations,” according to statements made by Bourita.
In a recent interview with MWN, Moroccan political observer El Moussaoui El Ajlaoui said that Morocco could never accept Kohler’s strategy to involve other parties to the conflict. He added that the North African county seeks the United Nations as the only body with the legitimacy to pass judgment on the territory.
He explained that Kohler’s move is applied to put pressure on Morocco, rather than being a measure to find a solution to the conflict.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is set to submit his final report on the Sahara conflict in April.
