The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, has affirmed that France’s position on Western Sahara is «unequivocal» and «clearly favorable» to Morocco, warning that the support given over the years to the autonomy plan for the former Spanish colony has not depended on the positions that other countries may have adopted.
Colonna began this Friday a symbolic visit to Morocco, with which Paris and Rabat hope to turn the page on a complicated year, with mutual tensions mainly as a result of the visa limitations imposed by the French authorities. As the first item on the agenda, the head of French diplomacy was received by her Moroccan counterpart, Naser Burita, in a meeting described as «warm» by the French side.
Before her arrival, the French Foreign Ministry had already advanced that Colonna wanted to address various aspects of a partnership that she considers «exceptional», pending a possible visit by President Emmanuel Macron, which the Moroccan media foresees for January 2023.
Regarding Western Sahara, both the Ministry and Colonna herself in an interview to the daily ‘Le Matin’ have made it clear that the Gallic position is known and will not change. The French government considers the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara as «a basis» for negotiations, one level below Spain, which sees it as the «most serious, realistic and credible» proposal.
«France’s position is unequivocal,» said Colonna, a supporter of a «fair and realistic» solution to the territorial dispute and of the mediation of the UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura. He also supports the work of the United Nations mission, MINURSO, to «avoid tensions», especially now that the two parties have broken the cease-fire.
«What is urgent now that tensions are resurfacing is to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that respects all the resolutions of the UN Security Council,» he added.
With regard to the 2007 autonomy plan, «we have not waited for the decision of one country or another to support it», but the position is «clear and known», said Colonna. The minister, who responded to a question on the turn of the United States during the presidency of Donald Trump, said that France has become «isolated» in international forums on this issue.
