Bourita received at the Quai d’Orsay. Credit: DR
France judges « intangible » Its position of alignment with Morocco on Western Sahara, which practically excludes the possibility of an independence referendum, while hearing to support the efforts of the Alawite Kingdom to develop the old Spanish colony.
In a statement published Tuesday, the day after the meeting in Paris between the French minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated his support for “Autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007, which benefits from an increasingly wide international consensus”.
For France, this autonomy plan with Moroccan sovereignty “Constitutes the only basis for achieving a fair, sustainable and negotiated political solution in accordance with United Nations resolutions.”
In this sense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms “France’s support for efforts” of the UN secretary general and his special envoy for this crisis and calls “All parties to come together for a political settlement, which is at hand”.
Beyond this message which aims to put aside the initiatives also supported by the UN to organize a referendum on independence, the cabinet of Barrot explains that the minister reiterated to his Moroccan counterpart “France’s commitment to support Morocco’s efforts to promote the economic and social development of these regions for the benefit of local populations”.
France maintained a position close to that of Rabat on the future of Western Sahara for years, but last July, a complete alignment with Morocco was obtained, when President Emmanuel Macron insisted that Moroccan sovereignty was the only expectation.
During their meeting on Monday, the two ministers have “Reaffirmed their determination” has “Strengthen, preserve and defend the exceptional reinforced alliance” launched at the time.
An alliance that has resulted in numerous cross visits between ministers and other authorities of the two countries since October, with in particular visits to French officials in Western Sahara.
And it will also be followed by a “High level meeting” which will be held in Morocco next fall, announced the Quai d’Orsay
Beyond the bilateral dimension of their relations, French and Moroccan diplomatic leaders have reviewed some of the main international news files and stressed their desire to cooperate “To resolve regional crises and defend international legal order”.
They notably expressed their desire to act together in Africa with a “Common roadmap”.
This joint understanding will also be demonstrated at the United Nations Conference on the Oceans, which will be held in June in Nice, in France.
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