Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita stated that Russia's use of its veto power against a US resolution on Western Sahara was not unexpected. He made these comments during a special program on the Second Channel. Bourita indicated that Morocco was aware of Russia's position beforehand. He believes this development, despite complicating matters at the UN Security Council, provided an opportunity to understand international rules better and change how Morocco manages the Western Sahara issue.

Bourita explained that Morocco was waiting for a decisive resolution on the national issue, which was achieved. The UN resolution gained support from 11 countries, including three permanent members of the Security Council. This support was not limited to a specific geographic region but came from various parts of the world. He emphasized that the events at the Security Council reflected the international community's rejection of the stagnation that had characterized the file.

The Moroccan Foreign Minister highlighted that the Russian veto allowed Morocco to reassess the rules for managing the conflict and shift from a time-consuming approach to seeking a realistic and final political solution. He noted that the situation inside the Security Council showed that many countries were not satisfied with the status quo. Some countries chose to abstain from voting on the Russian resolution, and the US also used its veto power.

Bourita pointed out that Morocco had been seeking a change in the way the Western Sahara issue was managed. He stressed that the current situation was not acceptable and that a new approach was needed. The minister emphasized that Morocco was committed to finding a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict.

The Western Sahara issue has been a longstanding dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front. The conflict has been ongoing for decades, with the international community trying to find a solution. The UN has been involved in the process, with various resolutions and initiatives aimed at resolving the issue.

Bourita's comments come after the UN Security Council voted on a resolution regarding Western Sahara. The Russian veto was seen as a significant development in the process. Morocco has been seeking international support for its position on Western Sahara, and the Russian veto has given the country an opportunity to reassess its strategy.

The Moroccan government has been working to strengthen its international partnerships and build support for its position on Western Sahara. The country has been engaging with various countries and international organizations to promote its vision for a peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict. The Russian veto has given Morocco a chance to re-engage with the international community and push for a new approach to managing the Western Sahara issue.

Key points

  • Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita says Russia's veto on a US resolution on Western Sahara gave Morocco a chance to change the rules on managing the file.

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SaharaWire

Reporting for SaharaWire from the Nairobi bureau.