Moroccan Sahara: Saint Lucia Reiterates Support for Morocco's Territorial Integrity, Sovereignty over Entire Territory, Including Sahara Region, and Reaffirms Backing of Autonomy Plan as Only Solution to Dispute (Joint Statement)

08 November 2024 Printable Version

Rabat - Saint Lucia reaffirmed, on Friday in Rabat, its “support for Morocco's territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire territory, including the Sahara region,” and “reiterated its support for the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the only credible, serious and realistic solution” for the definitive resolution of the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

This position was expressed in a joint statement signed at the end of talks between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and the Minister of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora of Saint Lucia, Alva Romanus Baptiste.

Saint Lucia also welcomed the growing international consensus and the impetus provided by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in favor of the Autonomy Plan and Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara, which form part of its position.

In the joint statement, Alva Romanus Baptiste also praised the efforts of the United Nations as the exclusive framework for achieving a realistic, practical and lasting solution to this regional dispute.

Saint Lucia, as a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), welcomed the opening of an OECS Embassy in Rabat (October 18, 2018) and a Consulate General in Dakhla (March 31, 2022), which offer a significant opportunity to further strengthen exchanges between the Kingdom of Morocco and the six Eastern Caribbean states.