King Mohamed VI of Morocco has maintained that the paralysis of the renewal of the mandate of MINURSO --the UN peace mission deployed in Western Sahara-- "is an important advance and a significant step toward the definitive resolution of the Sahara issue" after the cross vetoes of Russia and the United States of their respective proposals in the Security Council.
In a statement released by his Cabinet, the monarch has underscored that "This Mission has long served as a tool to internationalize the regional dispute relating to the legitimate recovery by the Kingdom of Morocco of its Saharan provinces".
The Moroccan Government has expressed its "satisfaction" with this "advance" and has reiterated its commitment to "respect the ceasefire", while at the same time asking the United Nations that "the periodic meetings of the Council on the Sahara, the corresponding reports and the briefings" stop being held.
Likewise, Mohamed VI has emphasized that "The UN political process, which has unfortunately been characterized by the delay of other parties and their obstinacy in generating deadlock and perpetuating the status quo, is suspended. Similar measures will soon be adopted in other UN bodies".
The sovereign's words come after Russia blocked in the Security Council the resolution presented by the United States to extend the deployment of MINURSO in Western Sahara, whose mandate expires this very Saturday, and Moscow subsequently registered its own text.
The Russian proposal excludes any mention of the autonomy plan promoted by Rabat, backed by Washington and rejected by the Frente Polisario, although it also contemplated extending for one year the presence of the UN mission in the territory.
In response, the United States has opted to likewise exercise its right of veto over the alternative resolution, which has prevented the adoption of a firm decision regarding the future mandate of the peacekeeping operation in Western Sahara.