By Manal Abdel Fattah
The US State Department spokesman said, in a statement issued following the talks held Tuesday in Washington between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and his American counterpart, Anthony Blinken, that the United States of America appreciates the vital role played by King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, in promoting peace and security in the Middle East region.
The statement explained that “this role is embodied by Morocco’s leadership in responding to humanitarian needs in Gaza, supporting the establishment of stability in the West Bank, and contributing to reviving the role of the Palestinian Authority.
The statement added that the US Secretary of State also praised “Morocco’s tireless efforts to end the political stalemate in Libya and address instability in the Sahel region.”
Regarding the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, the United States reiterated its support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative, considering it a “serious, credible and realistic” solution to the regional dispute over the Sahara.
The US State Department spokesman explained in the same statement that “the United States continues to consider the Moroccan autonomy plan serious, credible and realistic.”
On the other hand, the two sides expressed their “support” for the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Staffan de Mistura, in leading the political process related to the Sahara, which is taking place under the auspices of the United Nations, in order to reach, “without any delay”, a lasting political solution to the Sahara issue.
