"The autonomy initiative presented by Morocco on 11 April 2007 represents the only positive initiative that offers the best possibilities for achieving the political solution", as called for by the Security Council, which "has constantly called for negotiated and mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict "around the Moroccan Sahara, said Ms McGuire, speaking at a Special meeting of C 24 of the UN General Assembly.

The diplomat of Granada affirmed that "Morocco's autonomy status for the Sahara region guarantees all Sahrawis, inside and outside this territory, their full roles within the institutions of the region , Without discrimination or exclusion ".

She said that the people of the Sahara should, within the framework of the autonomy initiative, manage their own affairs in a democratic way through legislative, executive and judicial bodies with exclusive powers and with necessary financial resources for development of the region in all fields, just as they will participate actively in the economic, social and cultural life of the Kingdom.

The Autonomy Initiative, as a "serious proposal", is "in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations, international legal practice and the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council". Diplomat added.

Ms McGuire said the UN executive body reiterated call on the States of the region to continue to cooperate fully with the United Nations to end the stalemate and move towards a political solution, while reaffirming her country's "firm support" for the political process led by the Security Council since 2007 under the exclusive auspices of the United Nations, aimed at achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to this regional dispute.

She welcomed in this context that Security Council Resolution 2351, adopted on 28 April, highlighted Morocco's efforts to resolve the Sahara conflict, highlighted the pre-eminence and relevance of the initiative Moroccan autonomy "as a unique solution to the Sahara issue" and called on the other parties to assume their responsibility and make important and substantial contributions to the political process.

On the other hand, the diplomat praised the regional and legislative elections held in Morocco, including in the southern provinces of the Kingdom, on 5 September 2015 and 7 November 2016 respectively, "in calm atmosphere" and with "strong participation of the population of the Sahara"which "testifies to full contribution to the economic, social and political life of the Kingdom of Morocco ".

She welcomed, in this context, the measures and initiatives "welcomed by the Security Council" that Morocco has undertaken to promote and protect human rights, in particular its interaction with the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, as well as the role played by the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) and its regional commissions operating in the Sahara, notably in Dakhla and Laayoune.

Conversely, the Grenadian diplomat said that she was "deeply concerned" by the human rights situation in the Tindouf camps, "the only camps in the world where a census was not carried out", recalling that the Security Council reiterated, with greater insistence, its call for a registration of the populations of these camps southern Algeria.

-News Western Sahara issue/ Corcas-