Belgium reaffirmed its position on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, considering Morocco’s autonomy plan as a serious and credible effort by Morocco and as a good basis for a solution accepted by the parties, as expressed in the Joint Declaration of October 20, 2022.
A Spokesperson at the Belgian Foreign Affairs Ministry reaffirmed its country’s stance to news agency MAP, referring to the Joint Declaration which was adopted following the meeting in Rabat between Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita and Belgium’s Foreign Affairs Minister of European Affairs, External Trade, and Federal Cultural Institutions, Hadja Lahbib.
The Belgian Minister reiterated Belgium’s long-standing support for the process led by the United Nations for a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution for the parties.
In the Declaration, the two ministers agreed on the exclusivity of the UN in the political process and reaffirmed their support for UN Security Council Resolution 2602, which noted the role and responsibility of the parties in seeking a realistic, pragmatic, lasting, and compromise-based political solution.
The two countries also welcomed the appointment of the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General, Staffan de Mistura, and reaffirmed their active support for his efforts to advance the political process based on the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, as well as the UN Mission in Sahara (MINURSO).
According to the spokesperson, the Joint Declaration confirms the position that Belgium had already adopted on February 14, 2014, within the framework of the High Joint Commission between Morocco and Belgium, and which had been expressed by the then-Prime Minister, Elio Di Rupo, who emphasized that Belgium appreciates the serious and credible efforts made by Morocco in this regard, notably through the presentation of its autonomy plan.
This position is also in line with the principles outlined in the most recent resolution of the UN Security Council on the issue of the Sahara, namely Resolution 2703 of October 30, 2023.