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Slovenia Echoes Growing International Support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan

Wednesday 12 June 2024 - 11:40

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RABAT, Morocco - Slovenia has become the 16th European Union country to endorse Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for Sahara, joining a growing chorus of international support that includes over 100 United Nations member countries.

In a joint statement issued after her meeting with Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat, Slovenia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon lauded the Autonomy Plan as a “good basis” for a final and consensual resolution to the long-standing Sahara conflict.

Slovenia reiterated its steadfast support for the UN-led political process aimed at finding a mutually acceptable political solution to this regional dispute. The statement also highlighted Morocco’s “serious and credible efforts” toward achieving a realistic, pragmatic, and sustainable resolution.

Both ministers underscored the exclusive role of the UN in the political process, reaffirming their backing for UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2703 adopted in October 2023. This resolution delineates the parties involved and urges them, particularly Algeria, to assume their political, legal, and moral responsibilities to resolve the Sahara issue.

The joint statement concluded with a call for continued support for the efforts of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Sahara (MINURSO) and the UN Personal Envoy for Sahara, emphasizing the importance of advancing the political process in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Slovenia Joins a Growing List of EU Support

Slovenia’s endorsement is part of an “international dynamic” that has seen more than a hundred UN member countries express their support for Morocco’s initiative. Earlier this year, Bulgaria became the 15th EU member state to back the autonomy plan during a delegation visit to Morocco.

Other EU countries supporting the Moroccan Autonomy Plan include the Netherlands, Spain, France, and Germany, all recognizing it as a serious and credible political solution.

During her discussions with Bourita, Fajon also praised Morocco’s comprehensive reforms and commended King Mohammed VI’s initiative to enhance Sahel countries' access to the Atlantic Ocean, aiming to transform the African region into a geostrategic hub for cooperation.

As Slovenia joins the growing list of supporters, the international community's momentum towards endorsing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan continues to build, reflecting a collective push for a sustainable and peaceful resolution to the Sahara conflict.