Switzerland has stated that it “considers the autonomy initiative put forward by Morocco as the most serious, credible, and pragmatic basis” for resolving the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, Morocco’s foreign ministry announced in a statement on Friday.
The statement said this position was expressed in a Joint Communiqué adopted on Friday by Mr. Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor, Vice-President of the Swiss Confederation, and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, who is on a working visit to Bern.
In the same agreed-upon document, Switzerland “welcomes” the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2797, stating that “genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute a most feasible solution.”
Switzerland also recalled its “support for the central role played by the United Nations as well as the efforts deployed by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General.”
“Switzerland’s reiterated support for the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco is part of the growing international consensus generated by the momentum driven by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, in favor of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and in support of the autonomy Initiative, ” the statement added.
While many European countries, including the United Kingdom, Finland, Czech Republic, Bolivia and Belgium, have already shown strong support to the Moroccanness of the Sahara and the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco, this new position of Switzerland marks a fundamental step forward.
Other European countries that have provided explicit support to Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and the autonomy initiative include the Netherlands, Austria and Honduras, as well as Kenya, Mali and other African countries.
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.
