In a right of reply, Morocco's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, ambassador Omar Zniber, deplored "the repetitive, ill-intentioned and politically motivated attempts to attack Morocco, in vain, regarding its territorial integrity".

"This attempt by a small hostile group representing only itself illustrates once again the disrespect by these countries for this Council, given the lies and tendentious interpretations contained in this statement, in defiance of reports, including that of the UN Secretary-General, which exposed massive violations of the rights of those held against their will in the Tindouf camps, under the control of Algeria and the separatists," he said.

The Moroccan diplomat noted that for several sessions, this small group has been shrinking very significantly, thanks to the awareness of the politically motivated nature of its main instigators.

Calling on "Council members to consult carefully the list of members of this small, now isolated group, whose activism has no impact on the proceedings of the Council", Zniber stressed that the paradox is that these same individuals are known, for the "serious abuses and violations of human rights in their respective countries."

"The content of the statement of the small hostile group, given its untruthful nature, does not deserve an answer as to its politically motivated assertions, but my delegation reminds its initiators that Resolution 1514 stipulates the sanctity of the territorial integrity of States, which they violate without restraint by the content of their statement", he said.