France Reaffirms Stance on Western Sahara, Won’t Open Consulate

In an interview with the Arab News website dated May 20, Hélène le Gal, French ambassador to Morocco, stated that her country will not go in the same direction as the United States. She ruled out the opening of a consulate of her country in the Sahara.

According to her, "consulates are extremely linked to the issue of the number of French people, and there are quite few French people living in the Sahara." Certainly there are "a few hundred working in the tourism sector, but that does not justify the creation of a consulate."

On the other hand, the diplomat addressed the issue of Morocco’s autonomy. She affirmed that this subject does not suffer from any concern. "The autonomy plan presented ten years ago by the kingdom as a lasting and viable solution offers guarantees to the Sahrawi populations."

Furthermore, on the issue of immigration, Hélène Le Gal stressed the need for the European Union to provide more support to the countries that are on the front line, particularly Morocco. The ambassador called on the EU to "increase its financial support" to the kingdom, considering in passing that "Morocco is a reliable country, which takes the fight against illegal migration very seriously, and which provides solutions that cost it dearly."