The Andean Parliament Unanimously Reaffirms the Seriousness and Credibility of the Autonomy Plan Proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco
A Moroccan parliamentary delegation took part in the activities of the General Assembly and the 43rd anniversary of the founding of the Andean Parliament, held in the Republic of Colombia on October 26-29, 2022. The Moroccan delegation was composed, from the House of Representatives, of Rep. Fatine El Ghali and Rep. Mohamed Touimi Benjelloun, and from the House of Councilors, of Cllr. Abdelkader Salama.
The participation of the Moroccan parliamentary delegation is part of the defense of the just causes of the Kingdom of Morocco, foremost of which comes its territorial integrity, and the fight against the maneuvers of foes and the state sponsoring the phantom republic. The agenda of this General Assembly included the adoption of two items related to the national cause. The first item concerns a proposal to support the autonomy plan proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco as a realistic, serious, and credible solution to the artificial conflict over the Moroccan Sahara, while the second proposal concerns the attempt to involve the so-called "Sahrawi national council" as an observer member of the Andean Parliament.
During their talks with several members of the Andean Parliament, the members of the Moroccan delegation exposed, presented the factual background and reasons of the artificial conflict around the Moroccan Sahara, reviewing its most important developments and the achievements obtained by the Kingdom of Morocco, and this, in order to confirm the Moroccanity of the Sahara and to complete the territorial integrity, including the UN Security Council’s last resolution 2654. The members of the Moroccan parliamentary delegation also stressed the illegitimacy and illegality of an entity that is not recognized by the United Nations and exists only in the imagination of the sponsor state.
Subsequently, the first Standing Committee of the Andean Parliament, the Committee on Foreign Policy, International Relations, and Parliamentary Diplomacy, convened on Thursday, October 27. The report of the said Committee notes that the majority of the members adopted a proposal confirming the seriousness and credibility of the Moroccan autonomy plan, while the item concerning the attempt to involve the so-called Sahrawi National Council as an observer to the Andean Parliament was rejected.
In the meantime, the General Assembly of the Andean Parliament unanimously adopted on Friday, October 28, 2022, the report of the Committee on Foreign Policy, International Relations and Parliamentary Diplomacy, which confirmed the seriousness and credibility of the autonomy plan proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco.
In their interventions before the General Assembly after the vote, many members of the Andean Parliament expressed their great appreciation for the Kingdom of Morocco and their admiration for its great development in all areas, especially after their last visit last July. They also highlighted the great role played by the Kingdom in promoting cooperation between Africa and Latin America, expressing their great esteem for the valuable and continuous contribution of members of both Moroccan Parliament Houses to all sessions of this important regional parliamentary body.
For their part, the members of the Moroccan parliamentary delegation welcomed the fraternal and noble positions expressed by the members of the Andean Parliament, emphasizing the willingness of the Moroccan Parliament, chaired by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, and the Speaker of the House of Councilors, Hon. Naam Miyara, to continue to support the distinguished path of cooperation with the Andean Parliament and work to translate these solid relations into concrete action programs that meet the aspirations of the Andean and Moroccan peoples to economic, social and cultural development. In the same respect, the Moroccan parliamentarians stressed that this strong parliamentary commitment is part of the strategic choice of the Kingdom of Morocco to support South-South cooperation, an option sponsored and led by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist and glorify him.
In the same context, the Moroccan parliamentary delegation recalled the importance of the conclusions of the first Moroccan-Andean Community Parliamentary Economic Forum, organized on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the Andean Parliament in Laayoune last July. The Forum highlighted the enormous opportunities for trade between the Andean countries and the Kingdom of Morocco, especially since the Kingdom is a solid gateway to Africa and a reliable partner for the establishment of an exemplary partnership of South-South cooperation.
The Moroccan parliamentary delegation was accompanied during this visit by the Head of the International Organizations Unit within the Administration of the House of Representatives, Ms. Kotayfa El Karkri, and the Head of the External Relations Division within the Administration of the House of Councilors, Mr. Hassan Azerqane.
It should be noted that the Andean Parliament was created on October 25, 1979 and represents the peoples of the five Andean States: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. The Moroccan Parliament joined this regional parliamentary gathering in 1996 as an observer member and advanced partner.