Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, today hosted a delegation from the Italian parliamentary intergroup “Support for the Autonomy Initiative in the Sahara” in Rabat.
The delegation, currently on a working visit to Morocco until October 28, reiterated its commitment to strengthening the longstanding and strategic friendship between Rabat and Rome.
Following their meeting with Bourita, Ettore Rosato, Secretary-General of the Azione Party and coordinator of the delegation, emphasized that the visit was intended to reaffirm the group’s “support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara.” He described the plan as a “long-term peace proposal” and highlighted its growing acceptance within the international community as the most viable path to a lasting resolution of the Western Sahara conflict.
Rosato also expressed confidence that an international resolution, under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council, would contribute to establishing lasting peace in the region.
He commended the “development momentum” in Morocco’s southern provinces, praising their economic potential and the ongoing infrastructure projects that are transforming various sectors.
The visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Green March and the celebration of 200 years of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Italy. Rosato noted that this partnership continues to strengthen in political, economic, and cultural spheres.
During their visit, the Italian parliamentary group traveled to the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, where they met with local authorities, elected officials, and toured key development projects driving socio-economic growth in the southern provinces.
The delegation consists of seven members of the Italian Parliament, from both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, representing a range of political parties from both the governing coalition and opposition.
In recent years, Morocco has invested billions of dollars in transforming its southern provinces, developing ports, renewable energy infrastructure, and modern transportation systems that have significantly boosted the region’s economy.
International investment continues to build on these efforts, turning development into tangible expressions of sovereignty.
Morocco’s autonomy plan has gained widespread international recognition, with the United States’ landmark decision in December 2020 to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara shifting global perspectives on the issue. France also reinforced this stance in July 2024, when President Emmanuel Macron described the autonomy plan as “the only basis” for a lasting political solution to the decades-old dispute.