Rabat – Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Mr Nasser Bourita, welcomed, on Friday October 29, 2021, the resolution 2602 of the UN Security Council, saying it reinforces the achievements made by the Kingdom in the Sahara issue, made possible thanks to the personal commitment and constant monitoring of HM King Mohammed VI.
“Morocco welcomes this important resolution in view of its context, its content and the positions expressed during its adoption (…), and which reinforced the achievements of the Kingdom in this question,” said Mr Bourita at a press briefing held following the adoption of resolution 2602 which extended for one year the mandate of MINURSO, while enshrining, once again, the pre-eminence of the Moroccan autonomy initiative to resolve the artificial conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.
This resolution, adopted with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions, is important because it comes at a time when Morocco has made many achievements since the resolution of October 2020, he added.
Among these achievements, the UN SG cited in his last report the securing of the border post of El Guergarat and the restoration of free movement at its level, the recognition by the United States of the Moroccan Sahara and the opening of several consulates in the southern provinces of the Kingdom, said Bourita, stressing that these achievements are part of the major developments that have experienced this issue.
Resolution 2602 provides five “important” responses to the maneuvers and agitations of opponents of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, said the Minister, citing in this context, the round table meetings, with the participation of all parties, as the only mechanism for managing the political process, the finality of the process which should lead to a realistic, lasting solution based on compromise, the responsibility of Algeria in this process, the “deep concern” of the Security Council regarding the breakdown of the ceasefire, and “we know the party that has officially declared its withdrawal from these agreements”, and, finally, the autonomy plan as the only prospect for a solution to the Moroccan Sahara issue.
The Security Council “decides to extend the mandate of MINURSO until 31 October 2022,” reads the text of the resolution presented by the United States.
In this text, the executive body of the United Nations has enshrined, once again, the pre-eminence of the autonomy initiative, presented by Morocco on April 11, 2007, welcoming the “serious and credible” efforts of the Kingdom, reflected in the Moroccan proposal.