The U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, reiterated that the autonomy plan presented by Morocco for Western Sahara is a «serious, credible and realistic» proposal to solve the conflict, although the Polisario Front has rejected this path outright and insisted on the need to materialize the right to self-determination of the Saharawis.
Blinken conveyed to the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Naser Burita, that »the United States continues to view Morocco’s autonomy plan as a serious, credible and realistic position that has the potential to meet the aspirations of the people of Western Sahara», while showing its »full support» to the UN envoy, Staffan de Mistura, in his efforts to achieve »a lasting and dignified political solution» to the conflict.
US State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel also indicated that Blinken and Burita »discussed efforts to advance peace and security in the region» and pointed to »Morocco’s stabilizing role in the face of a range of challenges in the Middle East and Africa». In this regard, Blinken praised the »leadership» of Mohammed VI and his contribution to »promoting stability and peace in the region, including his efforts to achieve a secure and prosperous future for Israelis and Palestinians».
Blinken himself stressed before his meeting with Burita that the two countries have a »historic» partnership that has been »a major force for stability, peace, progress and moderation». Morocco has shown leadership in working on normalization (of ties) with Israel and in areas of profound importance to the world, including climate change and renewable energy, where Morocco has been a true leader,» he said.
For his part, Burita highlighted the »solid and historic friendship» between the two countries and asserted that bilateral ties »have never been stronger than now». His Majesty King Mohammed VI values this partnership, based on our shared commitments to peace, stability and prosperity,» he said, according to a transcript of his remarks provided by the U.S. State Department.
Burita himself recently assured that the solution to the conflict over Western Sahara »can only be conceived within the framework of the United Nations and on the basis of the Moroccan autonomy plan», while stressing the »positive» position recently expressed with regard to the plan by several Western countries, among them Spain. Madrid’s endorsement of Rabat’s plan triggered harsh criticism from the Polisario Front, which maintains that this path »does not benefit peace and stability» in the region.
The former Spanish colony was occupied despite the resistance of the Polisario Front, with whom it was at war until 1991, when both parties signed a cease-fire with a view to holding a referendum on self-determination, but differences over the elaboration of the census and the inclusion or not of Moroccan settlers has so far prevented its convocation.
On November 14, 2020, the Polisario Front declared the cease-fire with Morocco broken in response to a Moroccan military action against Saharawi activists in Guerguerat, in the agreed zone of détente, which was for the Saharawis a violation of the terms of the cease-fire.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
