Ashraf AboArafe
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterated the Palestinian people’s right of self-determination and to enjoy all their inalienable rights, calling to implement the United Nations relevant resolutions and to deal positively with the Arab Peace Initiative launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since more than 15 years ago in order to establish a Palestinian independent state with Al-Quds as its capital. At the same time, the Kingdom expressed its rejection of any harm to Morocco’s supreme interests or violation of its sovereignty.
This came in the Kingdom’s address before the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) on decolonization items, which was delivered by Political Coordinator at the Kingdom’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Manal Hassan Radwan.
“We reaffirm our full support for exercise of the peoples under colonial and foreign domination of the legitimate and inalienable rights to self-determination. We believe that failure to eliminate colonialism is unacceptable, because colonialism, in all its forms, is a flagrant and serious violation of the fundamental principles of the human rights and democracy values,” she said.
“In this context, we regret the failure of the United Nations and the relevant states to fulfill their responsibilities in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council and the provisions of the United Nations Charter to terminate all forms of colonialism,” she stressed.
Manal added that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reiterated the right of the Palestinian people of self-determination and to enjoy all their inalienable rights, calling to implement the United Nations relevant resolutions and to deal positively with the Arab Peace Initiative launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since more than 15 years ago in order to establish a Palestinian independent state with Al-Quds as its capital in addition to withdraw from all occupied Arab territories, including the occupied Syrian Arab Golan and the occupied Lebanese territories.
“We also welcome efforts to find a political solution to the Sahara issue under the auspices of the UN Secretary General and his Special Envoy due to the Security Council relevant resolutions. We welcome an appointment of the UN Secretary General’s new envoy, Mr. Horst Koehler. We underline the importance of all parties’ commitment in order to reach a success of this important political track,” Manal Radwan said.
“My country’s delegation also refers to Riyadh Declaration issued by the Gulf-Morocco Summit on 20, April, 2016, which reaffirmed the GCC position in supporting the Kingdom of Morocco and supporting its autonomy initiative leading to granting of autonomy to Sahara region, which is a constructive option aiming to reach an acceptable solution,” she confirmed.
“We affirm that the autonomy initiative is a consensual solution in line with the international law, the United Nations Charter and resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly, as well as the principle of the right to self-determination,” she added.
“In this context, the Saudi delegation appreciates cooperation with the UN human rights bodies, particularly the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, as well as the efforts made by the Moroccan Government for the economic and social development in the Sahara region. We urge all relevant parties to adopt the dialogue and openness in order to reach a negotiated political settlement. We express our rejection of any violation of the supreme interests of Morocco or its sovereignty. We affirm that reaching a final settlement of this conflict is essential for achieving stability and security in the region of the Coast region,” she concluded.
