In the presence of Blinken, Morocco calls on Europe to support the autonomy proposal for the Sahara region

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita called on European countries to support his country's proposal for autonomy in the Sahara region, according to a joint press conference in Rabat, with his American counterpart Anthony Blinken.

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Tuesday called on European countries to support his country's proposal for autonomy in the Sahara region.

This came during a joint press conference in Rabat, with his American counterpart Anthony Blinken, according to Anadolu Agency.

Bourita said that autonomy in the Sahara region is the only solution supported by the United States, France, Arab and African countries, and most recently Spain and Germany.

Several European countries say that they support the efforts of the United Nations for a peaceful solution to the conflict over the Sahara region between Rabat and the "Polisario" Front.

Bourita continued, "Washington's position on autonomy is consistent, and we also listened to it today," and called on European countries to engage in this approach to support autonomy.

He considered that it is time for European countries to break their silence and support autonomy, as the solution must be within Morocco's sovereignty, according to him.

Rabat proposes expanded autonomy in the Sahara under its sovereignty, while the "Polisario" calls for a referendum for self-determination, a proposal supported by Algeria, which hosts refugees from the region.

On Monday evening, Blinken arrived in Morocco on a two-day visit to hold talks, as part of a regional tour that also includes Palestine, Israel and Algeria.

Bourita considered that the tripartite agreement led to providing dynamism with both Israel and the United States that included multiple aspects.

On December 22, 2020, Morocco, Israel and the United States signed a "joint declaration" on relations, during the first visit of an official Israeli-US delegation to Rabat.

Bourita expressed his country's confidence that "relations with Washington are strong and are moving in the right direction."

And he added, "We have confidence that all aspects reached in this agreement will be achieved within the framework of understandings and within the framework of the timing that (Washington) deems appropriate."

While Blinken said, during the conference, that his country considers the autonomy scheme to be serious, credible and realistic, and it is a possible approach to meet the aspirations of the people of the region.

On December 10, 2020, Morocco and Israel announced the resumption of diplomatic relations between them, after their suspension in 2000.

On the same day, Washington announced its recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara region, and the opening of an American consulate in the city of Dakhla in the region.

Moroccan bodies and parties, through various protests and events, expressed their rejection of the kingdom's normalization of its relations with Israel.