NEW YORK: Mauritius and Jamaica have announced developments in their positions on the Western Sahara dispute, with both countries expressing support for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as a possible basis for resolving the decades-old issue.
The announcements came during separate meetings with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Mauritius’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Dhananjay Ramful, said his country now considers autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty to be “the most credible solution” to the dispute.
Ramful said Mauritius had recently reviewed its position on Western Sahara during a Cabinet meeting following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797.
According to the Mauritian foreign minister, his government considers the resolution to be based on pragmatism and believes that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty offers “the most realistic, fairest and most sustainable solution” to the dispute.
In a separate development, Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, welcomed Resolution 2797 during talks with Bourita.
A joint communiqué issued following their meeting said Jamaica welcomed the resolution’s support for the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy in facilitating negotiations, taking Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a basis.
According to the communiqué, Jamaica considers that “genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute a most feasible solution.”
The communiqué also congratulated Morocco on what it described as its diplomatic efforts to build international support for the Autonomy Plan under King Mohammed VI.
Bourita and Johnson Smith also agreed to continue political consultations between Morocco and Jamaica and coordinate their positions on issues of common interest.
The statements by Mauritius and Jamaica represent developments in the two countries’ respective positions on Western Sahara and add to diplomatic support expressed by a number of states for Morocco’s autonomy proposal.
The Western Sahara dispute remains subject to a UN-led political process, with the United Nations continuing efforts toward a negotiated political settlement.
