France Welcomes Morocco’s Withdrawal from Guerguerat Region

France welcomed Morocco’s announcement of a unilateral withdrawal from the Guerguerat region, stressing that this is an important step that eases the situation while taking into account the stability and interest of the region.

“France calls on all parties to show responsibility and to unconditionally and immediately withdraw all armed elements from the region, in accordance with the ceasefire agreements,” spokesman of the French Foreign ministry, Romain Nadal, said.

The French official underlined that his country supports a just and negotiated solution under the aegis of the United Nations and in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council, noting that France considers the autonomy plan submitted by Morocco in 2007 as “a serious and credible basis” for a negotiated solution.

On Saturday night, the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, issued a communique in which he expressed his concern about the situation in the region and called on the parties to practice restraint and “take all necessary steps to avoid escalating tensions.”

In a tacit reference to Polisario elements’ obstruction of Moroccan trucks crossing to Mauritania, the UN chief stressed that “regular commercial traffic should not be obstructed and that no action should be taken, which may constitute a change to the status quo of the Buffer Strip.”

The UN chief urged “the parties to unconditionally withdraw all armed elements from the Buffer Strip as soon as possible, to create an environment conducive to a resumption of the dialogue in the context of the political process led by the United Nations.”

Source :Morocco World News