Sahara: For Gabon, Autonomy Initiative is ‘Compromise Solution Par Excellence’

The Moroccan autonomy initiative is the “compromise solution par excellence” to the regional dispute over the Sahara, said, in New York, Permanent Representative of Gabon to the UN, ambassador Michel Biang. “This is undeniably the best approach and the compromise solution par excellence. This is undoubtedly one of the reasons why the Security Council resolutions describe this initiative as credible, pragmatic and consistent with international law,” Biang told the members of the 4th Committee of the UN General Assembly. The diplomat noted in this context that the Moroccan autonomy initiative “presents credible prospects for resolving this regional dispute permanently”. He also reaffirmed the support of his country to the political process conducted under the “exclusive” auspices of the UN Secretary General, noting that this process, based primarily on the recommendations contained in the relevant resolutions of the Security Council since 2007, “will, without doubt, achieve a realistic, pragmatic, sustainable and compromise political solution” to this conflict. Welcoming the appointment of the new personal envoy of the UN SG for the Moroccan Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, the ambassador called for the “continuity of the work done” by the former personal envoy of the Secretary General in the process of round table meetings in which Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the “polisario” participated.