The Netherlands has expressed support for genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as a most feasible solution to the Moroccan Sahara dispute, Morocco’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr Tom Berendsen, speaking at a press briefing held Tuesday in Rabat following his meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, stated that “the Netherlands considers that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the most feasible solution” to the dispute over the Sahara.
“This position was also affirmed in a Joint Communiqué issued following talks between Mr. Bourita and Mr. Berendsen, who is on a working visit to Morocco on April 7 and 8.
“Mr. Berendsen further reaffirmed the Netherlands’ support for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797, as well as for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, to facilitate and conduct negotiations based on the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco, with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution.”
According to the Joint Communiqué, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that “the Netherlands will act in line with its position, including at the diplomatic and economic levels, in accordance with international law.”
The Netherland’s position is in alignment with several European countries, including The Czech Republic ,Belgium, Finland, that have shown strong support to the Moroccanness of the Sahara and the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco.
The European Union has also officially adopted a unified position supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara at the 15th EU-Morocco Association Council session recently held in Brussels.
The 27 EU-member states agreed that genuine autonomy could be among the most feasible solutions” for the final resolution of the regional dispute.
In addition, a number of countries have recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara and supported the country’s autonomy plan as a credible and realistic solution to the dispute.
To date, more than 20 countries have opened consulates in the southern cities of Laayoune and Dakhla, while over 110 UN member states have expressed support for the Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible basis for a lasting political settlement.
