Tags : Russia, Western Sahara, Serguei Lavrov, Russian Arab Forum, Morocco, Gaza, Palestine, Israel,
Boualem Ammar*
A Palestinian Islamic Jihad official stated this in a declaration to Al Jazeera. The Israeli aggression in Gaza is not aimed at Hamas; it targets the aspirations of the Palestinian people for freedom and independence within the framework of an Israeli-American plan that was thwarted by the events of October 7. In this plan, Israel would be the leading power surrounded by normalizing countries, led by Saudi Arabia, and Palestine would be relegated to a besieged province by the Israeli Defense Forces. This is Joe Biden’s plan to counter the loss of influence in developing countries, particularly in Africa.
This reality explains the statements of the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs during his recent tour in the Arab world.
In Rabat, his declaration made headlines. In the heart of Morocco, specifically in the city of Marrakech, the Russian Foreign Minister took advantage of his presence in the Alaouite kingdom to send a clear message to the Sahrawis and their Algerian allies. To do this, Lavrov did not hesitate to challenge his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, by mentioning the principle of self-determination and the organization of a referendum as a solution to the Western Sahara conflict.
« We support the United Nations Charter, and we work for all parties to respect the right to self-determination, » he said. « We have discussed Western Sahara, and Russia is interested in progress in this dispute, » continued the Russian diplomat. « Russia’s position is balanced, impartial, and consistent. We support a lasting solution based on Security Council resolutions and intend to preserve this principled position. We will act as a member of the Secretary-General’s Friends Group for Western Sahara and support the mediation efforts of Personal Envoy Staffan de Mistura, as well as the strengthening of the fundamental role played by MINURSO as a factor of stability in Western Sahara, » he added.
Clearly irritated, Nasser Bourita changed his stance to control his actions after the bomb Lavrov had just dropped on him. Bourita, who had led his king to believe that Morocco had nothing to fear from Russia through lobbying actions, not only crossed the red lines set by the Makhzen but also committed to work for a solution from Russia’s position as a « member of the Friends Group of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Western Sahara. »
The same commitment was proclaimed in Tunis after a meeting with President Kais Saied. After reminding that the West seeks to bypass the two-state solution in the Middle East, Sergei Lavrov announced his commitment to the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state. « We have the impression that our Western colleagues are not ready to make significant efforts for the creation of a Palestinian state. … They are trying to drown the issue of creating a Palestinian state in various dubious initiatives aimed at convening a conference, another one, based on principles that contradict the principles stated in Security Council resolutions, » he said at a press conference in Tunisia.
Lavrov indicated that Russia, Tunisia, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation remain firm and aim to continue the creation of a Palestinian state because, in the long term, it is the only way to eliminate the possibility of crises like the one currently witnessed in Gaza.
Lavrov’s commitment in the Maghreb and the Mashreq is not insignificant. In both Palestine and Western Sahara, the West has turned its back on its commitments to the Palestinian and Sahrawi peoples to maintain its hegemony over two regions of great geopolitical and economic importance. The ultimate goal is to block the economic and political expansion of China and Russia.
*Physician, Béchar (Algeria)
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