 Benin stressed, in New York, that the autonomy plan presented by Morocco is "a compromise solution" to the regional dispute over the Sahara.
Benin notes with satisfaction the efforts made by the Kingdom of Morocco in this context," said Benin's permanent representative to the UN, Hermanne Araba, at the annual meeting of the Committee of 24 (C24) of the UN, citing the autonomy plan "which is a compromise solution.
He also cited the investments mobilized for the socio-economic development of the southern provinces that "contribute usefully to the welfare of the local population", including in the health field, with access to vaccines in the fight against the pandemic of Covid-19.
The diplomat also said that his country supports the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to resume the roundtable process, under the same format and with the effective participation of the same four actors that are Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and the "polisario", in accordance with Security Council resolution 2602.
"In the opinion of Benin, the holding in Geneva, respectively in December 2018 and March 2019, of two round tables, with the participation of Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Polisario, is on the one hand a definite step forward in the efforts to reach the compromise so desired and on the other hand an achievement that deserves to be capitalized and consolidated," said Araba.
He noted that Benin "deeply believes" in the possibility and the need for a consensual and lasting settlement of the Sahara issue, expressing in this regard the support of his country to the efforts of the UN Secretary General and the relevant decisions of the Security Council, which have all, as their goal, to achieve a realistic, pragmatic and lasting political solution, based on a compromise.
"The achievement of a viable consensus for the settlement of this issue will be, Benin is convinced, a great contribution to the lasting stability of the Maghreb region and the integration of this region and Africa," he continued.
The diplomat also said that "the successful outcome of efforts undertaken" to resolve this regional dispute remains largely dependent on the full commitment of all stakeholders.
He also called on "all protagonists to continue to demonstrate an active and unwavering commitment to peace," urging them to show a spirit of realism and compromise and remain resolutely committed to the consensual and successful completion of the political process as soon as possible.
-News on Western Sahara/Corcas-
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