The recognition by the United States of the full sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara is a “natural development” of the stances of the US administrations since the beginning of the 2000s, said US ambassador to the Kingdom David Fischer on Monday.
Speaking at a press briefing organized on the eve of the end of his mission in Morocco, the diplomat recalled that the Clinton administration had initiated debate on a solution, while the Obama administration had started to include the Sahara in the assistance program for Morocco.
The US decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara is thus “a completely natural development”.
Asked about the possible stance of the administration of President-elect Joe Biden regarding the Sahara, Fischer said he was “convinced that we will all be satisfied”.
Fischer, moreover, said he was “very honored” to be the first US ambassador to visit the Sahara, “after my government redrew our official map to recognize Morocco’s true borders.”
“We strongly support the autonomy plan, and we will work with the United Nations and all stakeholders to achieve the desired result,” said the diplomat, adding that “several countries in Europe strongly believe that the United States and the UN will eventually find a solution” to the Sahara issue.
There is, however, a process to follow in moving forward, he noted.
Regarding Moroccan-Israeli relations, Fischer noted that the latest developments in this direction “are the result of long-term work”, adding that the teams of the two countries are working hard for the opening of the respective embassies once the administrative and legislative formalities have been completed.
The outgoing US ambassador concluded his speech on a warm note, saying he and other embassy staff will miss Morocco, their Moroccan friends, and the lives they made in the Kingdom, but they can leave happily “knowing that the future of the US-Moroccan partnership has been made unbreakable, and can only grow stronger.”
