Belgium reiterated its position on the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, considering the Moroccan autonomy plan presented in 2007 as a “serious and credible effort” and a “good basis for a solution” accepted by all parties, as mentioned in the Joint Declaration of October 20, 2022.
In a statement to the press, a spokesperson of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed this position, referring to the Joint Declaration of October 20, 2022, which was adopted following the meeting in Rabat of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and his Belgian counterpart, Hadja Lahbib.
On this occasion, the Belgian minister reiterated her country’s “long-standing support” for the United Nations (UN) process to achieve a “just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution” to the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
The two ministers also agreed, through this Declaration, on the exclusivity of the UN in the political process and reaffirmed their support for UN Security Council Resolution 2602, which sheds light on the role and responsibility of the parties in the search for a realistic, pragmatic, lasting political solution based on compromise.
In a similar context, Morocco and Belgium welcomed the appointment of the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, Staffan de Mistura, and reaffirmed their active support for the UN official’s efforts to advance the political process per the relevant Security Council and MINURSO resolutions.
According to the spokesperson, the Joint Declaration of October 20, 2022 “confirms the position that Belgium had already adopted on February 14, 2014, within the framework of the Joint High Commission between Morocco and Belgium,” a position that had been voiced out by then Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo”, who expressed Belgium’s appreciation Morocco’s serious and credible efforts, particularly through the presentation of its autonomy plan.
This position, according to the same spokesperson, aligns with the principles mentioned in the most recent resolution of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) relating to the Moroccan Sahara issue, namely resolution 2703 of October 30, 2023.
