Prominent Italian Figures Hail Spain’s Position in Favor of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan

Prominent Italian personalities have welcomed the new Spanish position supporting the Moroccan initiative to settle the conflict over the Moroccan Sahara, stressing that it is the fruit of HM the King’s “wisdom” and “clear vision”. Spanish Government President’s decision represents a “diplomatic success” for the Kingdom, Massimiliano Boccolini, columnist of the Italian geopolitical magazine ‘Decode39’, told MAP. “It is necessary to support any diplomatic effort to ensure peace and stability in the region.” In this respect, the Italian columnist praised “the wise vision of tolerance, dialogue and peace constantly advocated by HM the King, which has earned him a special and remarkable place in the region.” In addition to the U.S. recognition of the Sahara’s Moroccanness, together with that of multiple Arab and African states, Madrid’s decision encourages other European countries to support Morocco’s autonomy plan; a “realistic and credible” solution, he commented. In the same sense, the geopolitical expert, Domenico Letizia, told MAP that Morocco represents “an emblem of the rule of law, whose Sovereign ensures compliance with international and UN legal rules, hence the strength of its initiative, proposed in 2007, to resolve the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.” Accordingly, HM the King “has allowed the Kingdom to impose itself on the international scene and in the major regional and international geostrategic balances,” said the Italian expert. The Sovereign “has played an important role in this positive outcome with Spain, which will serve the interests of both countries but also those of the Euro-Mediterranean region,” noted the Italian journalist at the daily “La Ragione”, noting that this new diplomatic success is extremely “important” and “significant”. Many Italian MPs and senators have also emphasized the importance of Spanish support for the Moroccan autonomy plan. For instance, MEP Marco Zanni welcomed Spain’s decision in a tweet, saying that the EU must place stability and progress in the Mediterranean at the heart of its priorities. On the other hand, the MP Paolo Grimoldi wrote on the same platform that the Moroccan autonomy plan guarantees peace, security and prosperity in the region. For her part, Senator Urania Giulia Papatheu welcomed this positive step, which aligns with the French and German positions, hoping to see other European countries adhere to the serious solution proposed by Morocco. On Thursday, His Majesty King Mohammed VI had a telephone conversation with the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez. During this exchange, HM the King reiterated His high appreciation for the content of the message sent to Him on March 14 by the President of the Spanish Government. In this message, the President of the Spanish Government had stressed that “Spain considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most serious, realistic and credible basis for the resolution of the dispute” over the Moroccan Sahara.