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Doha – Chilean Senator Francisco Chauan affirmed on Tuesday in Rabat that the Chilean Senate supports Morocco’s autonomy initiative for its southern provinces, marking another significant development in Chile’s position on the territorial issue.
During the opening of the Future Conference, Chauan announced that the Chilean Senate has presented a special resolution supporting Morocco’s autonomy initiative.
The event, running December 17-18, is organized by both chambers of the Moroccan Parliament in collaboration with the Future Meetings Foundation and Chile’s Chamber of Deputies and Senate.
The Chilean Senator, who also serves as a member of the “Future Challenges” committee, emphasized that the autonomy model has demonstrated its effectiveness in achieving development and addressing local populations’ concerns.
Following his visit to the city of Laayoune, Chauan noted that he witnessed firsthand “the unprecedented development achieved in this region and the quality of life enjoyed by its inhabitants.”
The parliamentary conference, which serves as a platform for exchange between parliamentarians, government officials, scientists, researchers, and stakeholders on issues concerning humanity’s future, addresses several crucial contemporary issues.
These include future world challenges, climate change, international migration, global peace and security enhancement, food security, and North-South cooperation.
This latest development builds upon growing Chilean support for Morocco’s position. Last month, in November, Chilean officials highlighted the “increasingly solid and fruitful” ties between Morocco and Chile.
During the opening of the Moroccan Week event in Chile at the La Moneda Cultural Center in Santiago, Chilean Under-Secretary of Foreign Relations, Gloria de la Fuente, emphasized the strong bonds of friendship between the two nations.
Chile’s stance on the Western Sahara dispute has evolved significantly over the years. While in 1999, Chile’s Foreign Minister had reported a decision to recognize the self-proclaimed “SADR,” this was never implemented.
Instead, Chile has increasingly shown support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, particularly in 2023 when Francisco Chauan, as Chairman of the Chilean Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee, expressed Chile’s “unwavering support” for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan.
During his June 2023 visit to Rabat, Chauan pledged Chile’s intention to work alongside Morocco to gather support for the Autonomy Plan, particularly in the Latin American region.
He also talked about the potential for strengthening bilateral cooperation through a free trade agreement and expressed interest in Morocco’s fertilizer sector and green hydrogen industry development.
The current conference also addresses various other critical topics, including global health challenges, energy transition and its prospects, and transformations in human relations and social bonds in the 21st century.
It also covers artificial intelligence’s impact on economy and society, the promotion of tolerance and gender equality, as well as Africa’s future potential.
Read also: Ecuador Says Morocco’s Autonomy Plan is Important for Western Sahara
