Western Sahara: Algeria Regrets UK’s Backing of Morocco’s so-Called Autonomy Plan
ALGIERS — Algeria has taken note of the United Kingdom’s new stance on the question of Western Sahara and regrets London’s choice to support Morocco’s so-called autonomy plan, according to a Sunday statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs.
Algeria regrets the UK’s decision to support the Moroccan autonomy plan. In its eighteen years of existence, this plan has never been presented to the Sahrawi people as a basis for negotiation, nor has it ever been taken seriously by successive UN envoys. All of them have noted the emptiness of the Moroccan autonomy initiative and its inability to offer a serious and credible solution to the Western Sahara conflict,” the statement said.
The ministry emphasized that “the Moroccan autonomy plan was never intended to serve as a political resolution to the conflict,” adding that “its purpose has always been to occupy the diplomatic space to block any serious settlement efforts, to allow Morocco to buy time, and to gradually accustom the international community to the fait accompli of the illegal occupation of Western Sahara.”
“Algeria notes, however, that the United Kingdom has neither mentioned nor supported the so-called Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and therefore does not endorse the illegal occupation of this non-self-governing territory under international law. It also notes that, during a press conference, the British Secretary of State publicly and solemnly reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to the principle of the right to self-determination,” the statement added.
“In light of this dual aspect of the UK’s new position on the Western Sahara question, Algeria expresses the hope that, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the United Kingdom will continue to hold Morocco accountable for its international responsibilities and to uphold international law, particularly the UN doctrine on decolonization,” the ministry concluded.
