Saudi Arabia Renews its Support for Moroccan Autonomy Initiative

10/9/2019

Saudi Arabia reaffirmed, on Monday before the 4th UN Committee, its "position of principle" supporting the Moroccan autonomy initiative as a compromise solution to the Sahara issue, while rejecting "any attack on the higher interests of the Kingdom of Morocco and its sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Addressing the Committee, Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi stressed that the autonomy initiative is "a constructive alternative aimed at achieving a just, realistic and compromise solution, in accordance with international law, the United Nations Charter and Security Council and General Assembly resolutions." This initiative, he went on, is the result of a series of broad consultations at all levels. It guarantees the populations of the southern Provinces of the Kingdom their place and role, without any discrimination, as well as their full participation in the country's economic, social and cultural development. The Moroccan autonomy initiative also takes into account the particularities of the Moroccan Sahara region and meets international standards for granting broad prerogatives to local populations, the Saudi ambassador said. The diplomat also commended Morocco's significant achievements in the field of human rights and its interaction with international human rights mechanisms, as well as the role of the regional commissions of the National Human Rights Council (INDH) in Laayoune and Dakhla. In addition, Al-Mouallimi welcomed the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to resume political negotiations in accordance with the parameters established by the Security Council since 2007, in particular resolution 2468 of 30 April 2019, which calls for a realistic and lasting political solution to the Sahara issue based on the compromise. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia praised the holding of the two Geneva round-table discussions with the participation of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the polisario, while welcoming the commitment of the parties to meet again in a third round-table meeting, as highlighted in resolution 2468, in order to reach a political solution to this regional dispute