Mr. Hilale: Sahara case is settled and folded once and for all

During the Committee of 24 Caribbean Symposium, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, commented on the “incomplete and selective reading of the history of the Moroccan Sahara” presented by the Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations, Soufian Mimouni, which, unfortunately, only aims to mislead the audience.

“For Morocco, the regional conflict over Moroccan Sahara has been resolved once and for all,” said Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Mr. Hilale stated, “Algeria cherished or despised.” Moroccan Sahara had been restored owing to international law, deliberations, and the Madrid Convention, which the United Nations General Assembly had recognized in its 1975 decision.

“Let’s be honest, the Sahara case has been folded,” he added. According to Ms. Ghala Bahia, Vice-President of the Dakhla – Oued Dahab, who attended the symposium at the invitation of the Chairman of the Committee of 24 as the democratically elected representative of the Moroccan Sahara region, “the Saharan population lives peacefully in these Moroccan territories and enjoys full rights.”

The Moroccan diplomat went on to say “Ms. Ghala was elected in the Moroccan Sahara region’s regional elections in 2015. Within ten days, the Kingdom will have regional elections, including in its southern regions.

There will be a re-election of authorities. It’s the Sahara, and it’s participatory democracy for all generations. Above all, everyone has the right to participate in the Sahara everyday existence.”

“The presentation to the Committee of 24 by Ms. Ghala, the elected representative of the Sahara, provided a very comprehensive and concrete picture of the occupant’s daily life, her participation in the electoral process, in economic development, and in the prosperity of culture in general, and of Hassani culture in particular.”

“Today, we have heard the vast majority of the members of the Committee of 24 express wide support for the political process and the initiative of autonomous governance,” Mr. Hilale said.

That is why, despite Algeria’s hostility and the continuation of Algeria’s hostile policy toward Morocco, the intervention and arming of an armed separatist group 45 years ago, Morocco remains firmly committed to the UN’s exclusive political process, “adding that” Morocco remains engaged with the UN and awaits the appointment of a new Secretary-General.

In this context, the Moroccan diplomat noted that Algeria and “POLISARIO” were delaying the appointment of a new Secretary-Personal General’s Envoy after opposing, on false grounds, several proposals by Mr. Antonio Guterres, including former Romanian Prime Minister Petre Roman and former Portuguese Foreign Minister Luis Amado, while Morocco accepted them in record time. We really hope that Algeria would agree to the next candidate without delay or evasion this time.

“There is a political process in which Morocco is involved,” he said. Algeria is a concerned party, even if its Permanent Representative, who intervened previously before me.

Mr. Hilale addressed the Algerian Ambassador, saying, “Why did Algerian Minister Ramtane Lamamra come to the last round table in Geneva with us and the Personal Envoy? Why has Algeria been mentioned five times in Security Council resolutions? Not because his nation is just a spectator, as the Algerian ambassador tries to persuade us, but because his country is a key player in this territorial conflict.”

Mr. Hilale, on the other hand, disputed the Algerian Ambassador’s misleading and inaccurate claims regarding the referendum.

In this regard, he stated that the referendum had become outdated, as the Kingdom had stated throughout the two round tables and as it had constantly emphasized for far too long. Following the collapse of the peace proposal 21 years ago, the Security Council resolutions made no mention of the referendum. “Noting that even General Assembly resolutions 1514 and 1541 provided for numerous choices, including any solution accepted and negotiated by the parties,” both resolutions established the exclusive character of a political solution, which meant a negotiated settlement.

The Ambassador, emphasized that “Morocco has done this throughout the years, notably during the two Geneva round tables. With the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy, and, of course, Algeria’s presence, contribution, and involvement in this political process, this will continue to be done with hope and dedication.”

Mr. Hilale, on the other hand, emphasized that “Morocco’s political process entails negotiating self-government within the context of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is a presentation and initiative made by Morocco at the table, which was debated at the round tables in Geneva in the presence of Algerian Foreign Ministers Abdelkader Messahel at round table 1 and Ramtane Lamamra at round table 2.”

The Moroccan diplomat came to the conclusion that “According to Resolution 2548, addressed by the Algerian representative, the autonomy plan is the only feasible, viable, and long-term political option based on a consensual settlement to the Moroccan Sahara territorial issue. This resolution also mentions self-government as a genuine and realistic solution to this interesting dispute.”

Mr. Hilale wrapped off by adding, “Outside of the framework of self-government, there is no answer. A solution is achievable with everyone if autonomy is granted within Moroccan sovereignty. To that purpose, my nation, as it always has, offers its hand to all parties.”