Rabat – French Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Christophe Lemoine has renewed his country’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces.
Lemoine made his remarks during a press conference on Thursday, confirming that French Foreign Affairs Minister Barrot will soon hold a meeting with Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita.
According to Lemoine, this meeting will notably serve as a platform to address the full range of shared interests between France and Morocco.
“Now that France has recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, I am not sure it’s still a topic for discussion,” the spokesperson said when he was asked by a journalist whether the meeting agenda includes talks on the Sahara topic.
France announced its newfound position on the Western Sahara dispute in July last year, recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.
“The present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” Macron told the King in an official letter.
He pledged that France’s stance on the matter would remain “consistent and unwavering,” aligning with the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007.
The Moroccan autonomy initiative “constitutes the only basis for a political, fair, sustainable, and negotiated solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions,” Macron stressed.
Meanwhile, Lemoine announced today that the meeting between Bourita and his French counterpart will allow for a broad discussion of all matters of mutual interest, including bilateral issues as well as international topics of shared concern.
“In any case, a summary will be released at the end of the meeting along with a press release detailing the more specific topics discussed,” he concluded.
France’s reaffirmation of its support for Morocco’s territorial integrity comes mere days after the US also reiterated its unwavering support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces.
Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Bourita to convey his country’s unchanged position, declaring that the US still believes that the Autonomy Plan is the only feasible political solution to end the Sahara dispute.