The Colombian Senate Foreign Relations Commission has reaffirmed the house’s full support for Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Plan in Western Sahara, reports the Moroccan state press agency.
The commission adopted the position during an ordinary session on Tuesday’s resolution, reiterating its support for Morocco’s efforts since 2007 to achieve a just and mutually-acceptable solution to the Western Sahara dispute.
Presided over by Senator Jaime Duran Barrera, the commission welcomed the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2351 on Western Sahara unanimously adopted on April 30.
At the meeting Colombian MPs expressed their concern over the humanitarian situation in Tindouf camps, noting the “prevailing serious human rights violations by Polisario, especially in regard to restriction of movement, freedom of expression and right to protest.”
The Colombian Senate Foreign Relations Commission further expressed concern over “existing inhuman practices” in the camps, including “torture and repression” against the refugees, the victims of which “are mostly women and children.”
The commission stressed the urgent need for joint efforts to preserve security and stability in the Maghreb and Sahel region to counter terrorist threats and the proliferation of smuggling networks.
“Only a negotiated political solution that preserves the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco can bring peace and stability to the region,” read the resolution text.
As the commission pointed out, the Republic of Colombia and Morocco have enjoyed a friendly diplomatic relations since 1979.
The kingdom is the only Spanish-speaking country in the Arab world, and the only Arab and African country acting as an observer in the Pacific Alliance.
A call was issued to strengthen cooperation between legislative bodies of both countries.
