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“The visit of a French Government member to Western Sahara is of serious gravity. It is condemnable on multiple counts. It mirrors a flagrant contempt for international legality from a permanent member of the Security Council,” said the press release.

“This action helps legitimize Morocco’s established presence in Western Sahara, a territory whose decolonization remains incomplete and whose people have yet to exercise their right to self-determination,” added the same source.

“The unwelcome visit of the French Government member conveys the detestable image of a former colonial power showing solidarity with a new one. In doing so, the French Government further disqualifies itself and isolates itself from the United Nations action aimed at hastening a settlement of the Western Sahara conflict on the basis of strict respect for international legality,” concluded the press release.

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