The United States State Department on Sunday reiterated Washington’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan, which is regarded as a possible solution to the Western Sahara conflict.
According to a statement published on the eve of the visit to Morocco, U.S. Assistant Secretary for North Africa Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Joshua Harris, said that there is “no change in the clear and consistent U.S. position” regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue.
He said that Washington’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan is viewed as “serious, credible, and realistic”.
This new reaffirmation of the consistency of Washington’s position provides a scathing denial of the allegations conveyed by some Algerian media outlets, which have insinuated, following the recent visit to Algiers made by the U.S. official, an alleged change in the U.S. position on the Sahara issue.
The statement pointed out: “The United States fully supports UN Personal Envoy de Mistura in facilitating the negotiations process to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution for the Sahara”.
After recalling that the U.S. “believes a negotiated political solution should be realised without further delay,” the same source underlines that “the outcome of UN-led negotiations – mutually agreed to by the parties and reflecting their commitment to UN efforts in a spirit of realism and compromise – would constitute the final resolution to this issue.
“In this regard, the United States continues to view Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal as serious, credible, and realistic”.
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Joshua Harris’ visit to Rabat will also focus on the means to further strengthen the U.S.-Morocco partnership in addition to a range of regional security priorities, the statement stresses.
