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Rabat – Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries affirmed today in Riyadh the council’s steadfast support for Morocco on the Western Sahara dispute.
The Ministers endorsed the Autonomy Plan initiative as the sole solution to resolve the dispute. The statement in support of Morocco came at the conclusion of a joint working session held at the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Morocco was represented at the event by Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita. During the event, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and the current session’s chairperson, stated that the council countries reaffirmed their steadfast support for the Moroccan Sahara.
Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita
He also reiterated their firm stance on Morocco’s sovereignty over all its territories, as well as their support for relevant UN resolutions.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, affirmed the council’s positions and supportive decisions on the Western Sahara dispute, reiterating the importance of the strategic partnership between the council and the Kingdom of Morocco.
The meeting is an extension of the strong relations between Morocco and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
King Mohammed VI and GCC leaders have paved the way for the ministerial meeting in the Moroccan-Gulf summit in Riyadh on April 20, 2016.
GCC on Morocco’s Atlantic Initiative
AlBudaiwi stated that the Gulf Cooperation Council countries commend King Mohammed VI’s African Atlantic initiative, which aims to enhance cooperation among Sahel countries and countries alongside the Atlantic coast.
He also emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between Morocco and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the desire of council countries to strengthen economic relations between both sides.
This initiative, unveiled during the King’s address marking the 48th anniversary of the Green March in 2023, pointed to a significant shift in Morocco’s Atlantic policy, signaling the dawn of a new strategic approach.
Focused on myriad economic advantages, the initiative seeks to transform the southern Moroccan city of Dakhla into a regional economic epicenter, foster economic integration in the Sahel region, and attract foreign investments.
Collective picture at the ministerial meeting in Riyadh
The initiative has garnered widespread support from African nations with observers describing it as an important milestone for South-South cooperation.
“Morocco has paved the way for South-South cooperation,” Chad’s Prime Minister, Succes Masra said, commending the King’s initiative.
Read Also: Ministerial Meeting for Sahel Countries’ Access to Atlantic Ocean Kicks off in Marrakech
Morocco’s Hosting of 2030 World Cup
In an address to the event’s attendees, AlBudaiwi commended the major reforms being implemented by the Moroccan monarch in all political and economic domains. He also reaffirmed the importance of the existing strategic partnership between the two sides, as emphasized in the recent Doha meeting.
Meanwhile, the Qatari prime minister congratulated Morocco on winning the bid to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
He also expressed the readiness of the council countries to provide the necessary support to Morocco and participate in implementing the initiatives underway to host this global event. Morocco’s joint bid with Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup was selected in October of 2023.
Morocco’s co-hosting of the event is expected to further boost the country’s international profile, and increase tourism, paving the way for economic prosperity in the country.
