Lammy says UK considers Morocco’s Sahara autonomy plan as most credible basis for lasting resolution to conflict

RABAT - The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, David Lammy, called for seizing "a vital window of opportunity" to reach a final and lasting resolution to the artificial dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

"This year presents a vital window of opportunity to reach a solution" to this dispute, Lammy stated during a joint press conference following his talks with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita.

"The United Kingdom considers the autonomy plan presented by Morocco in 2007 as the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution to the conflict,” emphasized Lammy, stressing the need for the parties to engage "urgently and positively in the political process under the auspices of the United Nations."

"It is the time to find a solution" to this regional dispute, Lammy said, underlining the "urgency" of reaching a "final and lasting" solution that provides a better future for the region’s inhabitants.

"We are committed to achieving this goal, convinced that with the goodwill of all parties, a solution could be reached very quickly," he affirmed, adding that the United Kingdom will continue its efforts—bilaterally, including on the economic front, as well as regionally and internationally—in accordance with this position, to support the resolution of the dispute.

At the end of their talks, Lammy and Bourita signed a joint communiqué in which the United Kingdom, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, affirms that "it is the time for a resolution and to move this issue forwards is long-overdue, which would strengthen the stability of North Africa and the relaunch of the bilateral dynamic and regional integration”.