Paris, 2 August 2024 (SPS) - The Association of Friends with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (AARASD) described Thursday Paris’ support to the alleged Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara as a “violation of the principles defended by France,” calling on President Macron to “return to the respect for the law.”
“Is this stance decided in this end of July an initiative of the President who, to reconnect with Morocco and satisfy the interests of the French companies established there, betrays the traditional French stance keen on balance in the Maghreb and respectful of the Security Council’s resolutions?” questioned the association in a communiqué, affirming that “it is also a violation of the principles defended by France.”
In this respect, the association underlined that on this 30 July, the French President, in a letter sent to Morocco’s King, “has completely changed the traditional French position by ensuring to the Moroccan sovereign that “the president and the future of Western Sahara are part of the Moroccan sovereignty” and that “the Moroccan autonomy plan is the only basis to reach a solution.”
The association denounced the position expressed by the French President and asked him to “return to the respect for the law rather than submitting to the interests of companies established in Morocco.”
For this association, “France, member of the Security Council, must make sure that the Peace Plan of 1991 is finally implemented with the execution of a self-determination referendum. Likewise, France, member of the European Union, must respect the decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union.”
It pointed out that “it firmly supports the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and independence, while respecting the international law and the people’s right to self-determination.