2024-05-10 23:07:45
“Côte d’Ivoire would like to reaffirm its full support for this autonomy initiative, also supported by more than a hundred member states of the United Nations, which is also in accordance with international law as well as the resolutions of the Council of security and the General Assembly”, underlined the Ambassador Deputy Permanent Representative of Côte d’Ivoire to the UN, Gbolié Desiré Wulfran Ipo, during the C24 regional seminar for the Pacific which is being held in Bali from 24 to May 26.
He noted that the autonomy initiative is “largely given credibility by the numerous important prerogatives enjoyed by the populations of the Moroccan Sahara, particularly in political, economic, social and cultural matters”.
Noting that the issue of the Moroccan Sahara is the subject of an exclusively UN political process, the objective of which is to achieve a realistic, pragmatic and lasting political solution, based on a compromise between the parties, the Ivorian diplomat noted that this process has seen “notable” progress with the holding of two round tables, in December 2018 and March 2019 in Switzerland, in which Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the “Polisario” took part.
“This salutary impulse must be consolidated and continued through other meetings in the same format and with the same participants as recommended by Security Council resolution 2654, adopted on October 27, 2022,” he stressed.
In this context, Mr. Ipo renewed his country’s “full support” for the Secretary General of the United Nations and his Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, for their constant efforts aimed at facilitating the relaunch of this political process, welcoming in this regard the latter’s visits to the region in 2022, as well as the informal bilateral consultations he had with Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the “Polisario”, last March in New York.
“We urge all stakeholders to support his initiatives and to remain mobilized throughout the political process with a view to achieving a realistic, pragmatic, sustainable and compromise solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara,” he said. insisted, adding that this compromise solution accepted by all would be a “significant step forward” in the restoration of a climate of peace and security, conducive to further progress in the Sahara region and the Sahel.
“It is here that finds all its relevance, the initiative of broad autonomy of the Moroccan Sahara presented by Morocco in 2007 and whose purpose is to achieve a negotiated and mutually acceptable political solution, based on realism”, held to underline the Ivorian diplomat.
He also noted that the presence at this seminar of representatives of the Moroccan Sahara, democratically re-elected during the election of September 8, 2021, is a “tangible illustration of this visionary policy”, noting that these local elected officials have already participated in the the last four regional seminars, the annual sessions of the C24, as well as the two round tables in Geneva.
He also noted with satisfaction that the massive multi-sector investments made by Morocco, under the strong leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, within the framework of the new development model of the southern provinces launched in 2015, contribute to the empowerment and to the well-being of the populations of the Moroccan Sahara.
“My country welcomes in a similar vein Morocco’s substantial achievements in the area of human rights, which have been welcomed in several Security Council resolutions, notably that adopted on October 27, 2022,” continued the representative of the Ivory Coast.
He also urged all stakeholders to respect the ceasefire and military agreements in force in the Moroccan Sahara with a view to maintaining peace and security, essential to the success of the political process, welcoming in this regard the Morocco’s full respect of the ceasefire as well as its exemplary cooperation with MINURSO, whose role is necessary in maintaining peace and security in the region.
2024-05-10 23:07:45