During his visit to Moscow, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita reaffirmed Morocco's unwavering position on the Sahara issue. «We agree that solutions must respect international law and its principles. However, it is essential that these principles not be manipulated or interpreted in a way that obstructs progress toward a solution», the Moroccan diplomat said during a lively press conference on Thursday alongside his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. Bourita stressed that this conflict, which has lasted for nearly half a century, requires «taking into account the new dynamics on the international stage, driven by His Majesty King Mohammed VI and by the evolving positions of several countries». He also underlined that «Russia is a key actor in this matter, as a member of the Group of Friends of Western Sahara, a permanent member of the Security Council, and the current president of the United Nations Security Council». The minister concluded by announcing that «Morocco and Russia will continue discussions on this issue in the coming days». For his part, Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed that Russia «supports the resolution of all disputes and conflicts, whether in Africa or elsewhere in the world, exclusively through political and diplomatic means, in full respect of the fundamental principles of international law as enshrined in the United Nations Charter». «We share the conviction that these principles must not be interpreted selectively or applied à la carte, but implemented in their entirety and coherence», Lavrov added. The UN Security Council's fifteen members are expected to adopt a new resolution on the Sahara issue on October 30 or 31.
