Stockholm, December 6, 2020 (SPS) - Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ann Linde, confirmed that the Swedish government never recognized Morocco's claims of sovereignty over Western Sahara, like the United Nations, and continued to work for a just solution to the question of Western Sahara, respecting the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.
In response to a question by MP Sarah Gil on the efforts that the Swedish government intends to take to ensure respect for international law in Western Sahara, the head of Swedish diplomacy said that Stockholm continued to work for a just solution to the issue of Western Sahara, which must respect the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination, in accordance with relevant the UN Security Council resolutions.
She emphasized the need to appoint a personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General as soon as possible, in order to activate the political process, noting that she had raised this issue with the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.
With regard to the new situation on the ground following the Moroccan aggression in Guerguerat, the Minister indicated that it is necessary to make great efforts to maintain the ceasefire and the self-determination referendum on the long-standing future of Western Sahara, which the United Nations has been mandated to organize.
The Swedish government had expressed its deep concern about the recent developments in Guerguerat in Western Sahara since November 13, and stressed the need to organize the referendum as the only means to ensure the free expression of the Sahrawi people, as stipulated by international resolutions, it should be recalled. (SPS)
062/SPS