The British government on Monday reiterated its support for the autonomy plan presented by Morocco as the framework for settling the regional conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.
The United Kingdom’s position was affirmed by Baroness Chapman of Darlington, British Development Minister, during a debate in the House of Lords.
“We believe this was the right pragmatic solution, given the duration of the conflict and the current situation. I believe it was the right decision to take,” Baroness Chapman stated, emphasizing that the UK remains “extremely close to our Moroccan friends” and hopes the approach will bring peace and stability to the region.
The Minister stressed that in backing the Autonomy Plan, the British government acted “pragmatically” and with “complete transparency,” while upholding its commitments to Morocco.
The UK’s renewed support follows a joint statement issued last June during a visit to Morocco by former British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. That statement explicitly described the autonomy plan as the “most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis” for achieving a definitive solution to the regional conflict.
The UK’s stance aligns with that of several other major European countries, including France, Spain, Belgium, and Poland, as well as the United States of America. This growing international consensus increasingly views the Moroccan autonomy plan as the only credible foundation for a lasting settlement of the conflict.
AK/Sf/fss/abj/APA