Rabat: The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Tom Berendsen, announced at a press briefing in Rabat that the Netherlands regards genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the most feasible solution to the ongoing Sahara dispute. This statement was made following his meeting with Nasser Bourita, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, this position was further confirmed in a Joint Communiqu© released after discussions between Bourita and Berendsen during the latter’s working visit to Morocco on April 7 and 8. Berendsen also expressed the Netherlands’ support for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797, highlighting the importance of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura’s, efforts to guide and conduct negotiations based on Morocco’s proposed autonomy plan. The aim of these negotiations is to establish a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution.

Additionally, the Joint Communiqu© revealed that the Dutch Foreign Minister stated the Netherlands’ intention to align its diplomatic and economic actions with its position on the dispute. Berendsen emphasized that these actions would be conducted in accordance with international law, underscoring the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting the resolution process at various levels.