Finland has deemed the Moroccan autonomy plan “a good basis for resolving” the regional conflict over Western Sahara. This stance was articulated in a joint statement issued on Tuesday in Helsinki, following a meeting between the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Elina Valtonen. The statement continued, “Finland considers the autonomy plan presented in 2007 a serious and credible contribution to the political process led by the United Nations and a good basis for a mutually agreed-upon settlement by the parties,” reiterating Finland’s support for “the political process aimed at reaching a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution.”
In the statement, both ministers expressed their shared position regarding the exclusive role of the United Nations in the political process, reaffirming their support for the UN Security Council’s resolutions and their countries’ endorsement of the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy to advance this process. Finland’s new stance aligns with the international trend of support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara and the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty, endorsed by numerous countries under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in recent years.
Finland’s new position strengthens the momentum within the European Union regarding the Western Sahara issue, marking Finland as the 17th EU member state to support autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.
Finland’s stance comes just one week after France’s significant shift in its position on the Western Sahara issue.
Finland’s new position is part of the international momentum generated by the initiatives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI over the past few years, with many countries from various regions of the world expressing their support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara and the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty.
