Statement
Statement summary
AHMED ATTAF, Minister for Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad of Algeria, expressed deep concern over increasing polarization in the international community and the accompanying absence of the role of the Security Council on the global stage. The ongoing genocide in Gaza and the recent spillover of the war into the wider region could not have happened if the international community had taken a firm stand on the Israeli settlement occupation. “The full membership of the State of Palestine in this Organization remains a crucial step towards the preservation of the two-State solution,” he stressed.
Algeria looks forward to ending colonization “which we see on the territory of the Western Sahara”, he said. Furthermore, he pledged to support the Secretary-General in his efforts to enable the two parties, Morocco and Frente POLISARIO, to resume the path of direct negotiations to reach a political solution. This will help guarantee the Saharawi people can exercise their inalienable right to self-determination. As for Libya, he called on the international community to address the scourge of foreign interference, which is sowing discord in that country.
Africa looks forward to the activation of African-led solutions to address the different crises and conflicts on the continent, he went on to say. It is important to correct historic injustices and have the continent assume its rightful place in the Security Council. Algeria reiterated its solidarity with the peoples and countries of the Sahel region. “We stress our firm belief that our security, stability and prosperity is part of the security, prosperity and stability of the neighbouring African region,” he said. He also noted that a representative of a certain country “attacked my country” with “language that should not be dignified with a reply”.
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Right of reply
The representative of Algeria recalled that, since his country’s independence in 1962, it has proclaimed — at every UN General Assembly — “the inalienable right of self-determination of peoples still under colonial rule”. Noting that many States have referred to the issue of the Western Sahara in that forum, he asked why the representative of Morocco “mentioned the name of Algeria more than 20 times in 10 minutes”. He underscored that “colonialism — sooner or later — will end” and that the “legitimate rights of the Sahrawi people will undeniably be recognized”. The UN has begun this process of decolonization through the creation of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). However, “that work is currently being choked by Morocco — the occupying Power — which uses all kinds of manoeuvres to postpone this referendum”, he said.
The representative of Algeria asked — “if this territory of the Western Sahara is so unchangeably the property of Morocco” — why the International Court of Justice did not recognize this and why Morocco is willing to share it with neighbouring Mauritania. He also asked: “Why are you afraid of freely and frankly asking the population of Western Sahara what they feel?” He added that MINURSO is “waiting for authorization to organize this referendum for the good of the entire region”.