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Belgian Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Quintin has reiterated his country’s support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a “serious and credible” political solution for Western Sahara.
Quintin made the remarks during his first visit to Morocco in his capacity as a foreign minister.
The Belgian FM met with senior officials, including his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita — with whom he held a press conference in Rabat.
In the press briefing, Quintin stressed the importance of bilateral ties between the two countries and said Brussels considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative as an effort and “a good foundation for a solution accepted by all parties.”
The Belgian top diplomat also reiterated his country’s traditional support for the UN-led political process as the exclusive mechanism able to find a just, durable, and mutual solution for the dispute.
“Our country also reiterated the UN’s exclusive role in the political process and reaffirmed its support for UN Security Council resolution 2703, which highlights the role and responsibility of the parties in seeking a realistic, pragmatic, sustainable, and compromise-based political solution.
Read also: Belgium Views Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as ‘Good Basis’ To End Western Sahara Dispute
Quintin also recalled the importance of bilateral relations between the two countries strengthened not only by trade cooperation and diplomatic ties but also from a humanitarian perspective. He said that the Moroccan community in Belgium is estimated at around 800,000, with a significant presence in the capital.
“This community contributes to the diversity and multiculturalism of our Belgian society. Our political ties also reflect this reality, as our bilateral relationship with Morocco is the most extensive and diversified in this region and one of the most developed in the world,” he added.
Bourita welcomed the Belgian official, describing bilateral relations between the two countries as strong and enduring.
“Next year, we may celebrate more than 150 years of cooperation, agreements, and friendship that unite us,” Bourita said.
He also highlighted the growing number of the Belgian community in Morocco, which is estimated at nearly 5,000.
“This special relationship is further reinforced by the longstanding cooperation and coordination between our two countries, as well as the personal ties between the royal families of Morocco and Belgium,” Bourita said, noting that Brussels and Rabat share a commitment seeking to strengthen principles of bilateral relations and deepen and address areas that need improvement.
Bourita also called for enhancing economic partnership between the two countries, noting that Belgium ranks beyond 40th among Morocco’s trade partners. “Morocco is positioned beyond 50th for Belgium, it is clear that we are not fully capitalizing on the opportunities that our bilateral cooperation and trade could offer,” Bourita said.
