Head of government, Aziz Akhannouch, on Tuesday reaffirmed, in New York, Morocco's commitment to achieving a definitive political solution to the artificial regional dispute over the Sahara, based exclusively on the Moroccan autonomy initiative, within the framework of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom.
In his statement on behalf of Morocco at the UN General Assembly, Mr. Akhannouch recalled the fundamentals of the Kingdom's position as reaffirmed by King Mohammed VI to the UN Secretary-General: No political process is possible outside the framework of the round tables defined by the United Nations, with the full participation of Algeria, nor a solution outside the framework of the Moroccan autonomy initiative, nor a serious political process without the return of armed militias to the ceasefire, as called for by the members of the Security Council.
He also underlined the constant and increasing support of several countries for Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara and the autonomy plan, stressing that this international dynamic sends a clear message to the other parties and to the UN that it is time to move towards a political solution on this basis, through the round table process and in accordance with the resolutions of the Security Council.
Such a solution is the only one that can pave the way to new development prospects for the entire region, he pointed out.
The head of government also expressed Morocco's support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his personal envoy to relaunch the process of political round tables, with its four participants, in order to achieve a political, realistic, pragmatic, sustainable and compromise solution to this regional dispute, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2703.
Mr. Akhannouch highlighted the development dynamic experienced by the Moroccan Sahara, one of the highest at the national level, thanks to the large-scale projects carried out within the framework of the new development model for the southern provinces.
The Moroccan official underlined the active and effective participation of local populations, through their democratically elected representatives, in political and socio-economic life, thus reflecting their full commitment to the territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the Moroccanness of the Sahara.
