The broad autonomy initiative in favor of the Moroccan Sahara is in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, international law as well as the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly adopted since 2007, underlined the ambassador permanent representative of Côte d’Ivoire at the UN, Tiemoko Moriko during the ordinary session of the UN Committee of 24 (June 10-21).
Welcoming Morocco’s attachment to the UN process and its constant commitment to work tirelessly in favor of a political, realistic, sustainable and compromise outcome to this long-standing regional dispute, the diplomat noted that the credibility, relevance and the particularity of this compromise solution lies in the transfer of important and multiple prerogatives to the populations of the Moroccan Sahara.
He highlighted the strong support that the autonomy initiative generates within the international community, with the strong support of more than 107 United Nations member states.
On the socio-economic level, the Ivorian ambassador indicated that local populations benefit from the benefits of massive investments and projects implemented by Morocco as part of the new economic development model in favor of the Moroccan Sahara launched in 2015 .
“These significant investments have contributed to the empowerment of residents as well as the improvement of the Human Development Index in this region,” he said.
He also welcomed Morocco’s substantial achievements in human rights, welcomed by Security Council resolutions, notably 2703, citing in this regard the strengthening of the role of the regional commissions of the National Human Rights Council. Man in Laâyoune and Dakhla, Morocco’s full cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the treaty bodies and the special procedures of the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Welcoming the adoption of several Security Council resolutions which confirm the exclusive role of the United Nations in the search for a political solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, the speaker reiterated his country’s full support for the political process carried out under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the aim of which is to achieve a peaceful, lasting and mutually acceptable solution, based on compromise.
He also welcomed the positive momentum given to this UN process by the two round tables held in 2018 and 2019 in Switzerland which recorded the participation of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the “Polisario”, noting that the hope aroused by these important meetings deserves to be maintained by all stakeholders.
The diplomat, in this sense, urged the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Moroccan Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to continue his efforts in favor of the rapid resumption of the round tables, specifying that they must be held in the same format and with the same participants with a view to relaunching the political process carried out under the exclusive aegis of the United Nations, under Security Council resolution 2703.
At the same time, Mr. Moriko welcomed the regular participation of representatives of the Moroccan Sahara, democratically re-elected during the ballot of September 8, 2021, in the work of the C24, in particular the substantive sessions and regional seminars, the most recent of which is held in Caracas from May 14 to 16, 2024.
He also welcomed Morocco’s respect for the ceasefire in the Moroccan Sahara as well as its continued cooperation with MINURSO, urging other stakeholders to comply with existing military agreements and to work in close cooperation with this UN mission in the interest of peace and stability throughout the region.
He also indicated that his country remains concerned about the human rights situation in the Tindouf camps, in the southwest of Algeria, calling for the registration and census of populations who are find there, as recommended by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law and Security Council resolutions including resolution 2703.
And to conclude by calling on all stakeholders to demonstrate realism, a spirit of compromise and good faith, with a view to reaching a political solution to this dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, as recommended by the Security Council.
2024-10-07 00:32:42