Morocco defends its territorial integrity to the hilt
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, Margus Tsahkna, expressed his nation’s clear support for Morocco‘s autonomy plan for Western Sahara during his visit to the North African country to meet his counterpart Nasser Bourita.
The meeting between the two diplomatic representatives demonstrates the good understanding that exists between Morocco and Estonia, nations with more than 30 years of deep diplomatic relations.
Estonia has stated that the Moroccan autonomy initiative is ‘a good, serious and credible basis’ for a definitive solution to the Saharawi question, as reported by the official Moroccan news agency MAP.
‘Estonia considers the Autonomy Plan, presented in April 2007 by Morocco to the UN Secretary General, as a good, serious and credible basis for a solution’ to the Saharawi dispute, according to the joint public statement presented after the meeting between the two ministers in Rabat.
The new position of the Republic of Estonia, which follows in the footsteps of the vast majority of European countries, was expressed in the joint declaration published after the meeting between Nasser Bourita and his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna – PHOTO/@MarocDiplomatie
In this respect, the head of Estonian diplomacy reiterated his country’s support for the process led under the guidelines of the United Nations (UN) for ‘a just, pragmatic, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution’ to the question of Western Sahara.
This Estonian position follows in the wake of many other European countries that have supported Morocco’s proposal for the Sahara as the most serious, credible and realistic way to resolve the Sahrawi dispute that has lasted almost 50 years since Spain’s departure from the area as a colonial power.
Morocco proposes a formula of broad autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty, respecting UN resolutions with a view to developing the area to the maximum in all areas. All this with great capacity for self-government for the Sahrawi authorities, reserving foreign policy and defence for the Moroccan state.
More than 100 countries around the world have shown their support for the Moroccan proposal, among them powers such as the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Germany and Spain. This shows Morocco’s strong support.
Opposing this proposal is that of the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria (Morocco’s great regional rival), which proposes holding a referendum on independence for the Sahrawi people. This initiative has less support on the international stage.
Alongside the central issue of Western Sahara, the Estonian Foreign Minister also welcomed the Atlantic Africa Initiative promoted by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI. A proposal that seeks to facilitate access for Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean through Morocco’s Atlantic coast in order to improve the economy and trade of the most needy countries, such as those in the Sahel. Other beneficial proposals were also highlighted, such as the gas pipeline linking Morocco to Nigeria, from which other neighbouring countries will also benefit.
Morocco and Estonia also reaffirmed the importance of advancing the ‘Euro-Moroccan Shared Prosperity Partnership’, an innovative framework designed to foster a strategic and privileged relationship that serves the mutual interests of the two countries.
‘This commitment is aligned with the Morocco-EU joint declaration adopted at the 14th session of the Association Council, held on 27 June 2019 in Brussels,’ as noted in the joint statement following the meeting between the two ministerial representatives.
But the most remarkable aspect of the meeting between Margus Tsahkna and Nasser Bourita was that Estonia is clearly in tune with the defence of Morocco’s territorial unity, following in the footsteps of the Moroccan kingdom, which recognised Estonian independence from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1991 when the Soviet empire was dismembered.
Points saillants de la réponse de M. le Ministre à la question portant sur la proposition avancée par l’Envoyé Personnel du SG de l’ONU pour le Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, sur la “partition du Sahara” pic.twitter.com/bzWLuh3gfI
— Maroc Diplomatie 🇲🇦 (@MarocDiplomatie) October 21, 2024
Morocco defends its territorial integrity to the hilt
The Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, took the opportunity of the visit of his Estonian counterpart to dismiss once again the UN proposal for the division of the Saharawi territory.
Morocco does not negotiate with its territorial unity. This was the clear message sent by Nasser Bourita after a meeting with Margus Tsahkna, when asked again about the proposal of the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, who alluded to a possible division of the Saharawi territory into a northern zone which would remain under Moroccan sovereignty and an independent southern zone.
Morocco continues to defend its territorial integrity to the hilt, and this includes Western Sahara, which the Moroccan kingdom considers part of its southern provinces.
Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita – AFP/RALF HIRSCHBERGER
Nasser Bourita rejected all kinds of proposals that are ineffective and do not reflect the historical and political realities of the Saharawi conflict, referring to the proposal put forward by Staffan de Mistura.
The Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated that this initiative was presented at the time by the previous UN representative James Baker, with the backing of Algeria, and that the response at the time was clear on the part of the Moroccan kingdom, in line with the defence of its territorial integrity.
‘The Sahara, the unity of Morocco and its territorial integrity have never been on the negotiating table, nor have they been the subject of understandings and compromises’, said Nasser Bourita.
Both Estonia and Morocco reaffirmed the importance of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, in particular respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.