C24: Togo renews its “clear and continuous” support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative

Hibapress

Togo reaffirmed, in New York, its “clear and continued” support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative, “the compromise solution” to the regional dispute around the Sahara.

“The Togolese delegation renews its clear and continued support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative which is, obviously, the compromise solution to this regional dispute, in accordance with international law,” underlined Koffi Akakpo, charge d’affaires at the Permanent Mission of the Togolese Republic to the UN, during the ordinary session of the Committee of 24 (June 10-21).

In this sense, he welcomed the strengthened international dynamic in support of this initiative presented by Morocco in 2007 and described as serious and credible in successive Security Council resolutions.

The diplomat also welcomed the opening of nearly 30 consulates general of Arab and African countries including Togo, America and Asia in Laâyoune and Dakhla with the aim of strengthening the economic and social opportunities offered by the Moroccan Sahara. as a hub of development, stability and influence in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and African regions.

He also praised the socio-economic development in the Moroccan Sahara thanks to the investments and projects implemented, within the framework of the new development model for the southern provinces.

Launched in 2015, this model has greatly contributed to the empowerment of populations and the improvement of human development indices in the Moroccan Sahara, he said.

He, at the same time, welcomed Morocco’s full respect of the ceasefire in the Moroccan Sahara, as well as its full and continued cooperation with MINURSO, calling on the other parties to do the same.

The diplomat also praised Morocco’s remarkable achievements in the area of ​​human rights, in particular the strengthening of the role of the regional commissions of the National Human Rights Council in Laâyoune and Dakhla, bilateral cooperation with the High -Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, treaty bodies and special procedures of the Human Rights Council.

The representative of Togo also expressed his country’s support for the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Moroccan Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, aimed at facilitating the relaunch of the political process under the exclusive auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, including bilateral consultations held with relevant stakeholders and his field visits.

As such, he called for the rapid resumption of the round table process, according to the same format and with the same participants, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2703, inviting all parties to remain engaged throughout this process. with a view to achieving a political, realistic, pragmatic and compromise solution to this regional dispute as requested by the Security Council.