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Rabat – The Netherlands has reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, describing it as a genuine proposal and the most feasible to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
The country renewed its position in a joint statement adopted by Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita and his counterpart David Van Weel, following a meeting the two officials held on Friday in The Hague.
In the joint statement, the Netherlands also welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which endorses Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a genuine political solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
Adopted by the UN Security Council on October 31, the widely celebrated resolution identified the main political parties to the dispute, challenging Algeria’s regime claims that it is merely an observer and not a main party to the dispute.
In addition, the Netherlands also reaffirmed its full support for the efforts of the Secretary General and his Personal Envoy to facilitate and lead negotiations founded on the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution, as recommended by the relevant Security Council resolutions.
Meanwhile, the joint statement by Bourita and his Dutch counterpart also cited the Netherlands’ view on Morocco’s progress and reforms under King Mohammed VI’s leadership.
Read also: Bourita: Self-Determination is Not Synonymous with a Referendum
The Dutch government notably emphasized Rabat’s efforts towards political, economic, and social development, through the New Development Model, the Family Code reform, as well as Advanced Regionalization.
It further expressed great interest in Morocco’s initiatives, including the country’s ambition to provide Sahel states with access to the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project.
In an interview with EFE on Thursday, Bourita said that the autonomy plan was formerly seen as a diplomatic initiative. Now, however, it is a plan rather than just an initiative as confirmed by Resolution 2797.
“The plan was drafted in 2007; 18 years have passed, and much has changed in Morocco since then,” the minister said.
He recalled Morocco’s goal to update and expand the proposal, reiterating Morocco’s commitment towards the UN-led political process to help find a mutually acceptable and agreed upon political solution.
Asked about self-determination, Bourita said Morocco has no issue with this concept, but takes issue with restrictive, anachronistic interpretations for political purposes.
“No one has ever said that self-determination is synonymous with a referendum – this exists nowhere. Therefore, we believe that if we want to read the resolution clearly and lucidly, it is straightforward,” the top Moroccan diplomat explained.
“No one has ever said that self-determination is synonymous with a referendum,” he emphasized, clarifying that the concept instead refers to an expression of will that can take different forms within the framework of Morocco’s Autonomy proposal.
