The government of Maldives is confident that the Moroccan initiative of autonomy plan will be the “most promising” path to resolve the Western Sahara dispute peacefully, says Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid.
Praising the Moroccan Kingdom’s initiative of autonomy plan, the foreign minister, in a video message at the “Virtual Ministerial Conference in Support of the Autonomy Initiative Under Morocco Sovereignty” co-chaired by Morocco and the Unites States of America, stated that Maldives has always supported the position of the Kingdom of Morocco on the Western Sahara.
Further noting that Maldives and Morocco share a “traditionally close” bond of friendship and understanding that dates back for over eight centuries despite the geographic distance between both countries, FM Shahid highlighted that the bond is “multifaceted”.
I was fortunate to visit the beautiful kingdom in 2019 in which the traditional bonds of friendship and fraternal connection between our forefathers were derived and fortified. The cooperation between the Maldives and morocco is multifaceted, this includes cooperation in the areas of culture and heritage, education, climate change, economic cooperation and counter-terrorism, and deradicalization.”Abdulla Shahid, Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs.
FM Shahid also stated that Maldives and Morocco have been collaborating closely at multilateral levels, especially in the United Nations on important international issues including the question of Western Sahara.
In this regard, FM Shahid noted that Maldives has constantly advocated for a peaceful resolution of the dispute through negotiations.
In addition, Shahid expressed the Maldivian government’s appreciation of the recent decision of the United States of America to recognize the sovereignty of the kingdom of Morocco, over the entire region of the Western Sahara.
I assure you my brother, that the Maldives will always stand by morocco in your efforts to achieve a just lasting and mutually acceptable resolution to this issue in line with the principals and objectives of the united nations charter. I thank you.”Abdulla Shahid, Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs.
