Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prévot, confirmed on Tuesday in Brussels Belgium’s commitment to act diplomatically and economically in line with its new position on the Moroccan Sahara.
Speaking during a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Belgian Chamber of Representatives, Prévot emphasized that the Belgian Consulate General in Rabat is responsible for the entire Kingdom of Morocco without any regional distinction, including the Sahara region, with regard to consular services and assistance. He noted that Belgian nationals residing in the southern provinces of the Kingdom are registered there and benefit from consular services just like their compatriots in other regions of Morocco, and that consular assistance is also provided to Belgians visiting the region.
The Belgian Deputy Prime Minister stressed that in the coming weeks, he will work to fully implement the commitments made by Belgium under the political agreement signed between the two Kingdoms on October 23, with the aim of further strengthening bilateral cooperation in various fields.
He pointed out, in this regard, that he will invite the Belgian ambassador in Rabat to carry out a visit to the Sahara region in the near future in order to prepare or support several economic initiatives, including visits by Belgian companies, the holding of economic forums in Belgium or Morocco, or even an economic mission by the three Belgian regional agencies to the region.
He also announced the preparation of a government visit to Morocco next spring, focused on the implementation of this agreement, noting that to celebrate Belgian-Moroccan relations, “we are even working on organizing, during the course of this legislature, a state and high-level visit with a Royal presence in Morocco.”
Prévot recalled that the political agreement signed with Morocco in October represents an important step in the framework of a strategic partnership based on strong economic, human, and cultural ties. He said that it allows for further exploration of the many economic opportunities available to Belgian companies in Morocco and vice versa, as well as the establishment of enhanced dialogue on security issues, the modernization of judicial cooperation, and the strengthening of collaboration on migration, the fight against organized crime, and money laundering.
He also reaffirmed Belgium’s support for the Moroccan autonomy plan, describing it as “the most appropriate basis” for reaching a solution to the conflict over the Sahara.
“The Moroccan initiative for negotiating an autonomy status for the Sahara region, presented in 2007 and providing for the region to be part of Morocco’s sovereignty and national unity, now constitutes for Belgium the most appropriate, serious, credible, and realistic basis for achieving a political solution that is just, lasting, and mutually acceptable to the parties, in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions,” he stressed.