The AFRICAN BULLETIN
Moroccan Sovereign King Mohammed VI received, on Monday at the Rabat royal palace, UNSG personal envoy for the Sahara Christopher Ross
The UN chief had assured that the United Nations mediation seeks to promote a mutually-acceptable political solution to this dispute, adding that his personal envoy will abide by the parameters set by the UNSC to fulfill his mandate related to ensuring the progress of the process of settlement and contributing to establishing the expected bilateral ties with Algeria.
The Moroccan Sovereign Mohammed VI expressed to Ross in Monday’s meeting the commitment of Rabat for a solution to the conflict along with the lines “of Morocco’s proposal for large autonomy,” the Moroccan
After the meeting, Ross told reporters that his visit aimed to produce ideas on how to conduct fruitful negotiations over the thorny issue. He added that the United Nations is keen to find a political and mutually acceptable solution on Western Sahara.
In last summer, Morocco had expressed reservations on some of the reports filed by Ross’s Mission considered biased and inconsistent with the principle of negotiation.
But it seems that guarantees provided by the Secretary-General of the United Nations – during his telephonic conversation with the Moroccan monarch last May – and its emphasis on good faith security body – was behind the flexibility and moderation of Morocco who has instantly accepted the resumption of UN envoy functions.
And the point of these developments is to look at foreign policy in the context of present challenges and options, but also historical lessons and experiences.
Since Baker Plan, Morocco has shown in his diplomacy craft a very flexible terms for resolving this old conflicts.
After the daring Initiative undertaken by Morocco, and submitted to the United Nations on April 11, 2007, which consists of proposing a larger autonomy to the Sahara provinces, Morocco has shown the depth of his philosophy of flexibility and moderation in foreign policy, particularly within a current regional environment characterized by fragility of political structures in a number of neighboring countries, and growing insecurity risks in the Sahel region.
Theoretically, what all parties should admit is that there are two diplomatic behaviors in Western Sahara issue. Moderate craft diplomacy – to which Morocco belongs- characterized by the peaceful character of diplomacy. A theory that regards diplomacy as the opposite to dogmatic judgment, violence and use of force. And spiky diplomacy – adopted by Polisario and Algeria- which failed to draw clear-cut line between dogmatic beliefs and the requirements of diplomatic work based on negotiation, persuasion , compromises, and potentiality.
Rabat has fulfilled its obligations when it has proposed in 2006 a credible autonomy proposal qualified by the main actors in the international community as a serious and credible.
The status quo works in favor of the Polisario leadership at the expense of those Sahrawi families forced to live in inhuman conditions in Tindouf.
