49th EUCOCO in Paris: An Opportunity to Urge France to Comply with International Law (Diplomat)
The 49th the European Conference of Support and Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO), scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Paris, represents an opportunity for participants to call on France to adopt a position consistent with international law, said the Polisario Front’s representative in France, Mohamed Ali Zerouali.
“The 49th edition of Eucoco, held this year in Paris, seeks to deliver a central message: it is time for France, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to adopt a position aligned with international law and to support efforts aimed at reaching a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in Western Sahara,” Mohamed Ali Zerouali told APS shortly before the opening of this conference in solidarity with the Sahrawi people.
The Sahrawi diplomat explained that “the choice of Paris as the host city is not random,” noting that “the international solidarity movement wanted to remind France that it has a particular responsibility and that it must play a constructive role rooted in respect for international legality, rather than encouraging the status quo or policies perceived as arbitrary.”
Regarding participation, Zerouali said that “more than 260 people are expected, including representatives of associations and trade-union organizations from various countries, national, local and European elected officials, as well as members of the Sahrawi diaspora in France.” This diversity “reflects the scale and consistency of international solidarity,” he said.
As for the objectives of this edition, he stressed that EUCOCO aims to “reaffirm international support for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and independence, strengthen coordination among solidarity organizations, political actors and civil society, further mobilize public opinion and European institutions, and support humanitarian efforts and human rights advocacy in the occupied territories and in the refugee camps.”
Throughout the two-day conference (28–29 November), several thematic panels will be held, addressing issues such as the plundering of natural resources and violations of rulings by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), the responsibility of the UN, France and Spain, and respect for the fundamental rights of the Sahrawi people.
The EUCOCO conference will also highlight upcoming actions.
In addition to the Algerian National Committee for Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (CNASPS), Algeria will be represented by a delegation composed of members of both chambers of Parliament and representatives of the national community living abroad.
