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Rabat – King Mohammed VI renewed on Saturday his gratitude and thanks to all countries that support Morocco’s position regarding the Western Sahara dispute.
The King of Morocco conveyed his thanks during his speech commemorating Morocco’s King and People’s Revolution Day, which recalls the efforts and resistance of Moroccan people against French colonial rule.
Over the last few years, there have been many major accomplishments at the regional and international levels regarding the Kingdom’s just and legitimate stance on the Moroccanness of the Sahara,” the King said.
He said that many countries of imperative political weight expressed their support for Morocco’s position as well as for the country’s Autonomy Plan as the only basis to resolve the dispute.
Recalling the US decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara region, King Mohammed VI said that this firm position “has been a source of real motivation – a position that is not affected by a change of Administration, nor is it influenced by new circumstances.”
International support
The US expressed support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan in December 2020 through a proclamation of former President Donald Trump. Biden’s administration upheld the same position despite pressure and lobbying attempts from Algeria and a few countries supporting the separatist group’s independence claims.
King Mohammed VI further recalled Spain’s new position, endorsing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible basis to end the dispute.
Spain announced its new position in March, marking a new phase of diplomatic relations between Rabat and Madrid after a year marked by diplomatic crisis.
Spain’s position cemented relations with Morocco after angering the North African country in 2021 following its decision to host Brahim Ghali for hospitalization.
In addition to Spain and the US, the King also appreciated the constructive stance of several countries, who joined a long list of countries that expressed support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan.
“The constructive position regarding the Autonomy Initiative adopted by a number of European countries – which include Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Hungary, Cyprus and Romania – will contribute to ushering in a new era of trust-based relations, and will help strengthen the qualitative partnership with these friendly countries,” the King said.
Diplomatic representations
King Mohammed VI also thanked the countries who opened representations in Morocco’s southern provinces to reflect their support for Morocco’s territorial integrity.
Recalling that the number of countries who opened consulates in the region has reached 30 to date, the king said: “We cannot but renew our expressions of appreciations to our brothers kings, princes, and heads of the brotherly Arab countries,” — citing UAE, Jordan Bahrain along with Djibouti and Comoros.
He also thanked the many other countries in the Arab world, which consistently reaffirm their support for Morocco’s position, including the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as Egypt, and Yemen.
“In the same vein, I should like to say how much I value the position adopted by our brothers in Africa; approximately 40% of African countries from five regional groups have opened consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla,” the King said.
Last week on Thursday, Peru joined a group of countries which withdrew their recognition of the Polisario separatist group. Morocco welcomed the Peruvian position, emphasizing its decision to strengthen cooperation with the country at all levels, including trade and agriculture.
King calls for more clear positions from other partners
While not directly citing them, Morocco’s king sent a clear message to all of the country’s partners, calling on them to be more transparent about their position on the dispute.
“In the face of these positive developments which concern countries from different continents, I send a clear message to everyone: The Sahara file is the lens through which Morocco looks at the world, and it is the clear and simple criterion which it measures the sincerity of friendships and the effectiveness of partnerships,” the king said.
Emphasizing Morocco’s firm position on the dispute, King Mohammed VI said the country expects some countries, including traditional and new partners “that adopt unclear positions regarding Morocco’s territorial integrity to clarify their positions and to review their content in an unequivocal way.
