French President delivers historic speech to Moroccan Parliament- asserts “the present and future” of Western Sahara is under Moroccan sovereignty.

In an historic speech before the Moroccan Parliament, French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his country’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, stating that “for France, the present and future of this region can only be under Moroccan sovereignty.” Macron went on to say that “this is the position that France will implement to support Morocco in international forums.” Macron also noted that this stance “is not hostile to anyone, but a call for cooperation in the region.” His speech was met with warm applause from the assembled law makers, diplomats and dignitaries. Macron noted that Morocco is one of the oldest monarchies in the world. He also highlighted the unique bond and relationship between the two countries: “when France looks back at the past eighty years of French Moroccan relations, it primarily feels gratitude. For all those men who came from Morocco to liberate our homeland from the grip of the occupier, in Provence, in the Rhône Valley, but also in all the other places where the Free French Forces engaged.”