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Rabat – Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin reconfirmed Russia’s visibly evolving position on the Sahara dispute during a phone call with UN Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura earlier this week.
The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry reported on Wednesday that the focus of the phone conversation was “on international efforts to advance the Western Sahara settlement in light of the adoption by the UN Security Council on October 31 of Resolution 2797.”
The resolution officially endorses Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the only genuine political framework to end the dispute, identifying and urging all parties to the dispute – including Algeria – to engage in the UN-led political process and roundtable discussions to contribute to the process without delay.
Moscow’s delicate balancing act
Russia supports the UN’s leading role in achieving a mutually acceptable solution to the dispute, expressing support for UN Security Council resolutions, the Russian ministry insisted in its statement.
It further reiterated what it described as Moscow’s traditional position in support of the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including the “right to self-determination.”
Prior to the adoption of the latest UN resolution, Algeria’s regime made several attempts to convince Russia to amend the resolution text, requesting many closed-door meetings to protest the language used in drafting the resolution.
A traditional ally of the Algerian regime, Russia has continued to reiterate its natural position to appear consistent in the Western Sahara dispute.
Significantly, however, Russia did not seek to oppose the resolution or work toward radically amending it in line with Algeria’s narrative. Instead, the Russian delegation abstained from the vote and explained that the “process to coordinate the resolution lacked transparency and was needlessly fast-tracked, which made it impossible for all amendments to be taken into consideration.”
In choosing to abstain from the vote despite holding the veto power, Moscow visibly sought to subtly embrace the UN’s pro-Morocco momentum while avoiding to further and openly hurt its already frustrated ally, Algeria, which backs, finances, arms, and hosts the Polisario Front.
Self-determination now means large autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty
Notably, de Mistura responded to remarks similar to those made by Russia regarding the alleged lack of transparency in the latest UN Security Council resolution on Western Sahara.
In a briefing on Wednesday, the UN envoy said that Resolution 2797 was the result of proactive engagement by all stakeholders, including those who abstained or did not vote.
Algeria boycotted the vote, while Pakistan and China joined Russia in abstaining from voting.
De Mistura also conveyed the UN’s satisfaction with the new resolution, emphasizing that it is significant as it showcases a renewed international energy and determination to resolve the 50-year-old dispute over Western Sahara.
The UN envoy also described the resolution as “very detailed.”, stating that every word in the text was “carefully chosen and negotiated.
“There are several key points: The parties are clearly identified as Morocco, the Polisario, Algeria, and Mauritania,” de Mistura said, sending another setback to Algeria’s regime, which for decades has constantly attempted to distance itself from its responsibility in the dispute.
De Mistura also put an end to the rhetoric adopted by Polisario and its supporter, Algeria, which for years had exploited self-determination claims.
In his briefing, the UN envoy emphasized that this term explicitly references and upholds Morocco’s sovereignty over the region.
