UK Recognizes Morocco's Serious Efforts to Resolve Moroccan Sahara Issue

The United Kingdom expressed its appreciation for Morocco's serious efforts to advance the process towards a resolution of the Sahara issue.

This position was expressed in the joint statement adopted at the end of the 4th session of the Strategic Dialogue between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Kingdom.

This session was co-chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita and Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the United Nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon.

The United Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to help the parties reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara issue based on compromise.

In this joint statement, the two ministers reaffirmed the full support of the United Kingdom and Morocco to the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to find a solution to this dispute.

The United Kingdom welcomed the constructive role played by Morocco in the region, including the promotion of stability, security and economic development, as well as in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

The UK also stressed the exclusive role of the UN in facilitating the political process to resolve this dispute and reaffirmed its support for UN Security Council Resolution 2654.

Security Council resolution 2654, like the consecutive resolutions of the UN body since 2007, welcomed Morocco's serious and credible efforts and recalled the pre-eminence of the Moroccan autonomy initiative.