Rabat – The British government has made it clear that British companies in the southern provinces of the Morocco are free in Western Sahara and confirmed that companies can make their own decisions about trade and investments in the region.
This position was outlined by Douglas Alexander’s Foreign Minister for Commercial Policy in response to a parliamentary question in which he compared the status of Israeli settlements in Palestine with the economic activity in the southern provinces in the Morocco.
The MP of the Scottish National Party, Graham Leadbitter, asked whether the United Kingdom would prohibit trade and investments with what he described as “illegal settlements” in both Western Sahara And the occupied Palestinian territory on the most recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In AnswerAlexander confirmed the view of Great Britain that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian areas are illegal under international law. However, his attitude to the southern provinces of the Morocco in the Western Sahara was noticeably different.
“It is for companies to make their own decisions about whether they should do business in Western Sahara,” said the minister and mentioned no restrictions or legal concerns about trade in the region. He added that his country “continues to support the unfounded efforts to achieve a fair, permanent and acceptable political solution for both sides”.
Algeria and Polisario have repeatedly tried to draw a misleading comparison between those Western Sahara Dispute and the Palestinian conflict. Such attempts from the Algeria regime continue to be bothered in the domestic matters of Morocco as part of his politics to support and accommodate separatism in the southern provinces of the country.
The most recent reaction of the British government is another blow for the regime and Polisario in Algeria, since it marks a clear distinction between the position of the United Kingdom in Western Sahara and its attitude to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian areas. While the United Kingdom expressly condemns the Israeli settlements as illegally according to international law and preferred preferred trade agreements, it prevents similar restrictions on the economic activity in the southern provinces of the southern provinces of the Morocco in Western Sahara.
A positive direction, but lots of space for improvements
On the surface, the declaration of the United Kingdom seems to recognize the position of Morocco in the region by leaving business decisions in the hands of companies instead of incorrectly describing the area as “occupied” or referring to trade barriers. However, Great Britain continues to avoid a final attitude in favor of Morocco’s sovereignty and keeps complete recognition that many Moroccan, British, officials and international allies have requested.
In contrast to growing calls within Great Britain, this cautious approach is in order to obtain more commitment to the territorial integrity of Morocco.
Last year more than 30 MPs and colleagues signed A letter to the then Foreign Minister Lord Cameron, who asked Great Britain, to recognize the Morocco autonomy plan as the most sustainable solution for the western Sahara dispute. In the letter, Morocco emphasized strategic importance as a stable partner in North Africa, especially after increasing instability in the Sahel and in the Middle East.
“Morocco is of great importance among these partnerships. It is a top strategic ally in North Africa with common values and perspectives that are crucial for our two countries,” it says.
Similarly, British MP Andrew Murrison confirmed his call in October in Great Britain with important allies, including the USA, France, Spain and Germany, which expressly supported Morocco’s sovereignty over the western Sahara.
Murrison argumented That Great Britain in Laayoune and Dakhla has to create a stronger diplomatic presence in order to strengthen its support for the territorial integrity of Morocco. He added that Moroccos’s Autonomy plan represents “the only credible option”.
Despite its pragmatic attitude towards trade, the United Kingdom still remains to take the next logical step, namely the formal recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over western Sahara.
In view of its many years of diplomatic and trade relationships with Morocco, more than any other country has a historical responsibility for this. The Contract From March 13, 1895, the sovereignty of Morocco explicitly recognized the Sahara, a fact that should lead the Modern foreign policy of Great Britain.
