U.S. Deputy Secretary of State: United States committed to developing Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty, ties with Rabat at their strongest
ALDAR /
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau reaffirmed on Friday in New York the United States’ commitment to developing the Sahara region under the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Speaking to the press following his talks with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Landau said: “We reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between our two countries, as well as our shared vision for the development of the Sahara region and enhanced cooperation under Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.”
The senior U.S. official stressed in this regard that the United States “looks forward to working with Morocco and the other stakeholders concerned in order to bring this dispute to a definitive resolution.”
Landau expressed regret that the regional dispute has continued for more than 50 years, stressing that “the status quo cannot continue.”
He also noted that, during the meeting, he reaffirmed that the “great and longstanding friendship” between Rabat and Washington “will continue into the future,” while highlighting the level reached by relations between the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco, which he described as being “at their strongest ever.”
