King Mohammed VI has invited French President Emmanuel Macron to pay a State visit to Morocco following “the clear and strong position” adopted by France on the Moroccan Sahara.
In a message sent to Macron, the King told the French President: “It is with interest that I received the important Message you addressed to Me on the occasion of the 25th Throne Day anniversary.”
“I would like to thank you for your warm wishes and your personal commitment to strengthening partnership between our two countries”, added the Monarch, saying that he fully appreciate France’s clear support for Morocco’s sovereignty over this part of its territory, the resolute French support for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty to settle this regional dispute, thereby establishing the plan proposed by Morocco, since 2007, as the only basis for achieving it.
“By recognizing Morocco’s legal titles and immemorial rights, France contributes in strengthening the international momentum that many countries are already supporting and thus putting an end to a conflict inherited from another era”, underlined the King in his message.
“Thanks to the significant development of the French position and Your determination to act accordingly at internal and international levels, Our two countries will work together to reach a solution that, within the framework of the United Nations, fully respects Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara”, said the royal message.
“The Moroccan people and its vital forces are fully aware of the importance of this decision, adopted by a permanent member of the Security Council, an intimate connoisseur of the past and present of North Africa and a privileged witness to the development of this regional dispute”, underlined the King.
“Thanks to the positive momentum that our bilateral relations are experiencing, promising prospects are opening up for our two countries in many strategic sectors, making it possible to strengthen the exceptional partnership built over decades on friendship and trust”, underlined the Monarch.
On Tuesday, Morocco’s Royal Office issued a statement describing as a “significant development” France support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and the autonomy plan “as the only basis” for a solution to the Sahara conflict under the Kingdom’s sovereignty.
“This announcement by the French Republic, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is an important and significant development in support of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. It is part of the momentum launched by HM King Mohammed VI – may God preserve Him – and carried by many countries in different regions of the world, in favor of the territorial integrity of Morocco and the autonomy plan as the exclusive framework for the resolution of this regional dispute,” reads the Royal Office statement.
In his letter to the King, Macron affirms “that the present and future of Western Sahara are within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.”