- Statement by Minister Nasser Bourita (October 31, 2019)
On 30 October 2019, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2494 on the question of the Moroccan Sahara. On this occasion, Mr. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Expatriates made the following statement:
“The United Nations Security Council yesterday, adopted Resolution 2494 on the question of the Moroccan Sahara.
Through this resolution, the Security Council, and through it the entire international community, highlights three important messages:
1. The first message concerns the round-table process as the only framework for reaching a political solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. I would like to remind you that the Geneva process is first and foremost a format involving all stakeholders, particularly Algeria, which will play a role commensurate with its responsibilities in this dispute. The round-table process is, then, a mandate to achieve a political, realistic, practical and sustainable solution based on compromise, as stated in operational paragraph 2 of the resolution. The round-table process is, finally, a state of mind that must move away from sterile rhetoric and discard all outdated approaches and all the chimerical options.
2. The second message of the resolution concerns the return to a 12-month extension of Minurso’s mandate. This is a strong signal of the Security Council’s commitment to the serenity of the political process. It is also a consideration of the particular regional context that deserves more clarity and visibility so that the various actors are able to participate fully and with full responsibility in the search for the political solution.
3. The third message of the resolution relates to the preservation and consolidation of Morocco’s achievements. Indeed the resolution reaffirms, especially the pre-eminence of the Initiative of autonomy, confirms the call for a census of the populations of the Tindouf camps and reiterates the injunctions to the address of the “polisario” to abstain from any act of provocation likely to destabilize the UN process.
4. In this way, the Security Council reaffirms the relevance of the Moroccan position and confirms the positive dynamic and the increasingly strong support for the fundamentals of this position.
On the occasion of the adoption of this resolution, which comes on the eve of the commemoration of the 44th anniversary of the Glorious Green March, the Kingdom of Morocco reiterates its commitment to the political process within the parameters defined by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God assist him, and especially:
– No solution outside the autonomy in the respect of the sovereignty of Morocco;
– No process without a full and responsible involvement of all actors;
– No framework outside the United Nations; and
– No discussions on peripheral or instrumental issues”.