Spain Reaffirms Support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for the Sahara

Madrid: Spain reaffirmed on Thursday that the autonomy initiative is “the most serious, realistic, and credible basis for the resolution of the” regional dispute surrounding the Moroccan Sahara.¹

In a press statement following a meeting in Madrid with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares Bueno, emphasized that Spain recognizes the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco, as well as the Kingdom’s serious and credible efforts within the framework of the United Nations to find a mutually acceptable solution.²³

In this regard, Spain considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative, presented by Morocco in 2007, as the most serious, realistic, and credible basis for resolving⁴ this dispute.⁵

This confirmation of the Spanish position comes within the context of the international dynamic created under the impetus of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, in support of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara and the autonomy initiative as the sole solution to this dispute.⁶

Thus, Spain steadfastly reaffirms its support for the Moroccan initiative and consolidates the established international momentum, which is “welcomed by the latest UN Security Council resolution 2756” and which “urgently calls for its exploitation.”⁷

Through its solid and clear position in favor of the autonomy plan, Spain sends a strong and important message of its commitment to participate in this international dynamic and to contribute to the political process aimed at achieving a definitive, realistic, compromise-based solution to the regional dispute surrounding the Moroccan Sahara.⁸