The Union of the Comoros reaffirmed, at the UN Committee of 24 (C-24) Caribbean Seminar held in Caracas (14-16 May), Venezuela, from 14 to 16 May, its support for the autonomy plan presented by Morocco to definitively settle the regional dispute over the Sahara.
“The Union of the Comoros fully supports the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative,” underlined its permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Issimail Chanfi, noting that this initiative, deemed as serious and credible by the Security Council and consistent with UN resolutions, represents a compromise-based solution.
The diplomat, who commended the commitment and sustained efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Moroccan Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to resume the political process led under the exclusive aegis of the United Nations chief, stressed that his country calls for the resumption of round tables, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2703.
He underlined in this regard that the commitment of all parties is extremely crucial with a view to achieving a political, realistic, pragmatic and lasting resolution to this regional dispute.
The ambassador also welcomed the opening by his country of a consulate general in Laayoune, while hailing the growing number of consulates general inaugurated by several Arab, African, American and Asian countries as well as the significant number of international organizations settling in the Kingdom’s southern provinces.
“Within this space, which is at the same time Mediterranean, Atlantic and African, the growing interest in the region will certainly contribute to enhancing and strengthening economic and social opportunities,” he noted, adding that the Moroccan Sahara is a genuine development hub in the region.
The Comorian ambassador congratulated Morocco for its “very commendable” achievements in the area of human rights, as noted and praised by the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
These resolutions point to the strengthening of the role of the regional commissions of the National Human Rights Council in Laâyoune and Dakhla and highlight bilateral cooperation and the kingdom’s positive interaction with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the procedures of the Human Rights Council, he recalled.
The speaker also indicated that his country welcomes Morocco’s respect for the ceasefire and calls on the other parties to do the same.
Referring to the worrying situation in the Tindouf camps in south-west Algeria, Mr. Chanfi slammed the “frequent” and “unacceptable” violations of the rights of populations held against their will, in particular women and children.
“We underline the importance of an exhaustive census and registration of these populations, in accordance with international standards,” the diplomat said.
MAP: 18 mai 2024
