«Russia is assisting Morocco in seeking a resolution to the Western Sahara conflict», announced Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. He emphasized that the issue «can only be resolved on the basis of mutual consent» during a press conference on Tuesday, January 14, which was dedicated to presenting the 2024 assessment of Russian diplomacy. Lavrov highlighted the strong ties between the two nations, stating, «Morocco is a friendly country. We have good projects. We know how important this issue is for Morocco. We will try to help in any way we can, but the problem can only be solved on the basis of mutual consent, not by imposing something on one of the parties». He further recalled historical context, noting that «the UN Security Council decided a long time ago, some 40 years ago, that the problem of the Western Sahara issue should be resolved through the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara». Lavrov also took the opportunity to criticize former U.S. President Donald Trump's decision on December 10, 2020, to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. «Resolving such problems unilaterally only sows a storm that will inevitably erupt at some point. Instead, we must seek a mutually acceptable agreement», argued Russia's head of diplomacy.
