NEW YORK: Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN has stressed the need to resume talks over the situation in Western Sahara, Western media reported on Tuesday.
Speaking at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, Omar Hilale said Morocco is committed in finding a solution to the fabricated regional conflict to promote peace and stability in the region.
Morocco continues to back efforts UN
He added Morocco continues to back the efforts of the UN to restart discussions with Algeria, the main party to this conflict under the Security Council resolution 2654.
The diplomat said that the solution to the conflict can only be practical and realistic if based on consensus. He however said that that the solution should not undermine the sovereignty of Morocco.
The Western Sahara conflict started in 1975, after the withdrawal of colonial Spain, triggering a 15-year war between the Algeria-backed Polisario Front and Morocco for control over the territory.
In 1991 a ceasefire was reached between the parties to end the fighting. Currently Morocco controls 80 percent of the resource-rich desert region.
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Hilale during the speech also gave an update on efforts being undertaken by Moroccan authorities to respond to the devastating earthquake that struck at the start of the month.
He said that 3,000 people were killed while 5,700 injured in the devastating earthquake. The foreign minister said that an inter-ministerial committee to develop an urgent program for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of affected areas was established soon after the deadly earthquake.
He added the earthquake shows that climate change is the biggest challenge to humanity in the globe.
