Polisario praises Portugal ahead of Lisbon conference, Morocco reaffirms strong ties

On the eve of the 48th «European Conference for Support and Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (Eucoco)», scheduled for November 29 and 30 in Lisbon, the Polisario is showering Portugal with praise.

«Portugal can do a lot of work in Europe to convince Europeans that the best solution for Western Sahara is to hold a referendum on self-determination», said Polisario’s «head of government» Bouchraya Hammoudi Bayoun in an interview with a Portuguese news agency. Excerpts of the interview were published by a Saharan media outlet.

«The best solution for Europeans and the peoples of the North is that which emanates from international law and provides for the holding of a referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara», he added.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the 10th edition of the World Alliance of Civilizations Forum, held Tuesday in Cascais, Portugal, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita met with his Portuguese counterpart, Paulo Rangel, who has been in office since April 2, 2024. The discussions focused «on the distinguished relations between Morocco and Portugal and the need to consolidate them further», according to Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Portugal supports the Moroccan autonomy initiative for the Sahara, presented in 2007, viewing it «as a realistic, serious, and credible proposal for a solution agreed within the framework of the United Nations». This position was reaffirmed on May 12, 2023, by the Portuguese government during the 14th Morocco-Portugal High-Level Meeting in Lisbon, under the Socialist government of former Prime Minister Antonio Costa.