Vienna (OTS) – The long-standing issue of Western Sahara has seen a
significant
diplomatic breakthrough, as the United Kingdom has officially
recognised the Moroccan autonomy initiative, presented to the UN in
2007 as the “most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting
resolution to the regional dispute”. London’s position was formalised
today, following a joint declaration signed in the Moroccan capital
Rabat by the British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Affairs, David Lammy, and the Foreign Minister of the
North African Kingdom, Nasser Bourita.
By taking this position, the United Kingdom becomes part of the
growing group of states that officially support autonomy under
Rabat’s sovereignty as the only viable solution to the long-standing
dispute. Thus, there are currently three permanent member states of
the United Nations Security Council (including the United States of
America and France) that explicitly support the Plan, out of a total
of 124, of which 23 belong to the European Union. All are in favor of
Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara and its autonomy plan.
