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DEBATE OF WESTERN SAHARA

Moderator: Welcome to this debate on the Western Sahara conflict. Representing the
European Union, we have Ms. Maria, for Morocco, Mr. Ahmed, and for Spain, Pedro Sanchez,
and we will begin with an introduction from each of you, explaining your position on the conflict.
Ms. Maria, would you like to begin?

Maria: Yes, thank you. The European Union supports a just, lasting and mutually acceptable
political solution allowing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara within the
framework of relevant UN resolutions. We have supported the UN-led negotiation process and
believe that it should continue. We also support MINURSO's efforts to maintain peace and
security in the region.

Ahmed: As a representative of Morocco, I must say that we consider Western Sahara as an

integral part of our territory. Morocco has proposed a solution of autonomy under its
sovereignty, which is the only realistic and viable solution to the conflict. We have made
important concessions in the negotiation process and we expect the other parties to make
concessions as well.

Pedro Sánchez: As a representative of Spain, a country that has played a historic role in the
conflict, I believe it is necessary to find a just and peaceful solution for Western Sahara. Spain
has supported the UN-led negotiation process and has urged all parties to show flexibility and
compromise in order to find a solution that respects the Sahrawi people's rights to self-
determination.

"We have agreed on a commitment to mutual respect, whereby we will avoid everything in
our discourse and in our political practice that we know offends the other party, especially
regarding our respective spheres of sovereignty," he said.

Moreover, we consider Morocco's autonomist proposal, i.e. Rabat's solution of turning the
Sahara into an autonomy within the country, as "the most serious, credible and realistic basis"
for resolving the future of the former Spanish colony.

Moderator: Thank you all for your introductions. Let's move on to the first question: what role
should the European Union play in the Western Sahara conflict?

Maria: The European Union should continue to support the UN-led negotiation process and to
promote a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that allows for the self-
determination of the people of Western Sahara. We should also continue to support
MINURSO's efforts to maintain peace and security in the region.

Ahmed: We believe that the EU should be a neutral mediator in the conflict, rather than taking
sides. It should also recognise Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara and support our
proposal for autonomy under our sovereignty.
Pedro Sánchez:

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The Spanish government is now focusing on the 'absolute centrality' of the UN in resolving the
Sahara conflict and Spain is 'at the side' of the UN in the search for a solution to the conflict
between Morocco and the Polisario Front. Let us not confuse Spain's role and that of the UN.
It is the United Nations that has to put the solution on the table. The European Union should
be a neutral mediator in the conflict and support the negotiation process led by the United
Nations and be more involved in monitoring the human rights situation in Western Sahara. In
addition, the UN has a specific mission to achieve a referendum on self-determination for the
Sahrawi people, Minurso. It has been unable to reach an agreement for decades, and one of
the fundamental problems is the elaboration of a voting census.

We also stressed the importance of greater cooperation between the EU and the Maghreb
countries, including Morocco, in the fight against terrorism and illegal immigration. At the same
time, Spain has maintained that the EU's economic and political interests should not take
precedence over respect for human rights and the self-determination of peoples.

Moderator: Thank you for your presentations. Now, I would like to raise some questions to
deepen the subject: How can the Saharawi people's right to self-determination be guaranteed
while respecting Morocco's territorial integrity?

Ms. Maria: We believe that the solution must be a compromise between the rights of the
Saharawi people and the territorial integrity of Morocco. One solution could be the proposed
autonomy within Morocco, provided that the Saharawi people have a voice and participation
in the autonomous government.

Mr. Ahmed: We believe that our autonomy plan is a just and lasting solution that would allow
the Saharawi people to maintain their identity and culture within Morocco.

Pedro Sánchez: For our part, Spain abandons the recognition of the right to self-determination
of Western Sahara, and we grant a green light to Morocco's current occupation, recognising
its sovereignty over the territory. Thus, we begin a "new stage" in the bilateral relationship
"based on mutual respect, compliance with agreements, the absence of unilateral actions and
transparency and permanent communication".

Moderator: What role should neighbouring countries play in resolving the conflict?

Mrs. Maria: As for the neighbouring countries, it is important that they are ready to support a
peaceful solution and to engage in dialogue with the parties involved in this conflict.
Mr. Ahmed: Morocco is ready to dialogue and negotiate with the Polisario Front in order to find
a peaceful solution. With regard to neighbouring countries, it is important that they do not
interfere in our internal affairs and allow the parties concerned to reach a peaceful solution.

Pedro Sánchez: Spain acknowledges support for the former colony of Western Sahara to
become an autonomous region within Morocco - the position advocated by the Alawite
kingdom against the call for a referendum on self-determination. Similarly, improved diplomatic
relations with Morocco have benefited the Canary Islands, Andalusia and Ceuta and Melilla.
Good relations with our neighbour Morocco, with which we share land borders and an
extensive maritime border, is a "state policy" in which the opposition should accompany the
government.

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"We, together with France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Hungary,
Romania, Cyprus, Austria, Greece are holding a very similar position when it comes to
Western Sahara.

Moderator: Given the above, what role should the international community play in this conflict?
Ms. Maria: The international community should support and encourage dialogue and
negotiation between the parties involved.
Mr Ahmed:

Pedro Sánchez: "We are talking about a recognised position in the United Nations Security
Council; that, at the end of the day, it will be the parties involved in the negotiation that accept
the agreement". The Spanish government has supported these negotiations since the new
UN special envoy for the region, Mr [Staffan] de Mistura, was finally appointed, but in any case
we are not alone: the main European countries are also precisely in the position that the
Spanish government is expressing and upholding. And as far as I know, that is positive".

Moderator: Thank you very much for your answers. One last question: How does this conflict
affect the region in terms of security and stability?

Mrs. Maria: The conflict has generated tensions in the region and has led to the presence of
terrorist groups. It is therefore important to find a peaceful and lasting solution that promotes
stability and security in the region.

Mr. Ahmed: The conflict has affected security in the region and has allowed terrorist groups to
be present. The solution proposed by Morocco is a solution that promotes stability and
security.

Pedro Sánchez: In this new geopolitical environment, Spain could become a key player in
European energy security and a guarantee of stability in the Maghreb, at the risk of losing
sovereignty over its decisions and thus compromising its territorial security and that of its
citizens. For Spanish foreign policy, Morocco is now a priority partner, not only unilaterally, but
also under the European umbrella, under which we can better defend our interests.

Moderator: Given the above, what do you see as the future of this conflict from your
perspective and what is our solution?

Ms. Maria: We believe that the solution must be a compromise between the rights of the
Saharawi people and the territorial integrity of Morocco. As for the future of the conflict, we
hope that the parties involved will continue to engage in dialogue and negotiations to find a
peaceful and lasting solution. As the European Union, we stand ready to support the UN's
efforts to find a just and lasting solution.

Mr. Ahmed: As a country, we believe that our autonomy plan is a just and lasting solution that
would allow the Saharawi people to maintain their identity and culture within Morocco.

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Regarding the future of the conflict, we hope that the parties involved will reach a peaceful
and lasting solution. Morocco is ready to dialogue and negotiate with the Polisario Front in
order to find a peaceful solution.

Pedro Sánchez: At present, Spain has two great advantages to play on the geopolitical
chessboard, since we are the European country with the greatest regasification capacity (to
receive gas by sea) and we are less dependent on Russian gas. Unfortunately, however,
Spain's security is affected regardless of the position it would have taken on the Sahara
conflict.

As for the future of the Western Sahara conflict, it is difficult to predict how events will unfold
and what the final outcome will be. However, Spain has a number of geopolitical advantages,
such as its regasification capacity and its lower dependence on Russian gas, which allow it to
have greater influence on the international chessboard.

In this context, Spain's solution must be to seek a position that promotes stability and security
in the Maghreb region, in line with respect for international law and the human rights of the
Sahrawi population, while at the same time being consistent with its national interests and role
in the region.

FINAL CONCLUSION:

Given that this conflict has been on the table for a long time and taking into account all the
political statements, the actors and the causes I believe that in order to favour the interests of
all parties we believe that a control by the United Nations and its commission is necessary to
provide a fixed population census of the Saharawi people including those exiled in Algeria and
those in both territories, the occupied and the free.

On the other hand, Spain's position is that it supports the efforts of the UN to find a solution to
the conflict. Spain called on the parties to respect international legality and expressed its wish
for a fair and transparent referendum to be held which would allow the Saharawi people to
decide freely on their future.
There is a possibility to negotiate. Since Western Sahara does not have the capacity to form
a state of its own at present, there is a possibility that Western Sahara could be declared an
autonomous Moroccan territory for a period of time, for example 10 years, which would allow
the Saharawi people to organise themselves and make use of aid from the UN and the
Moroccan government, which, he said, was willing to cooperate. After this time, during which
the Saharawi people will be organised, Morocco will have to guarantee a free referendum for
the free election of this autonomous community. So with the help of the UN and the support
of most countries, a real referendum should be held, controlling Morocco's actions and
imposing sanctions against the country if it refuses after this decade to guarantee the
referendum, as has been done against Russia.

Does this seem a feasible solution to the conflict for both parties?