The Prime Minister of Morocco, Aziz Akhannouch, has urged world leaders to find a peaceful solution to  conflicts in Africa and in the Middle East.

Mr Akhannouch made the call to the world leaders gathered in New York for the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.

“It is high time to turn the page on this conflict,” Mr Akhannouch said.

On the question of Western Sahara, he said that the autonomy initiative — which enjoyed growing international support — is the only realistic solution.

Morocco’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be fully respected, he added, calling the Sahara “a land full of opportunity”.

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, he called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a return to negotiations to end the war.

Humanitarian assistance must enter Gaza without conditions or restrictions, he said, emphasising also the vital role played by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The two-State solution cannot be delayed or marginalised, and he also underlined the need for a defined time frame leading to a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital and Gaza an integral part of its territory.

Adding that Morocco is committed to protecting the Aqsa Mosque compound and other holy sites, he stated that it also stands in solidarity with Qatar, Syria and Lebanon in the face of Israeli attacks.

“In the same vein, peaceful solutions must be adopted to overcome disputes in Libya, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia through dialogue and consensus, with full respect for national sovereignty and territorial unity, ” he said.

(NAN)