Portuguese ambassador stresses Moroccan identity of southern provinces inhabitants

Portuguese ambassador to Morocco, Rui Goncalo Chaves de Brito Cunho, has stressed that the inhabitants of the southern provinces have historical, religious and natural belonging to Morocco.

This belonging was affirmed by the consultative opinion of the Hague-based International Court of Justice, the diplomat told the Oujda-based Ashark daily, adding that the Court recognized the existence of allegiance bonds between the inhabitants of the Sahara and the Moroccan kings.

Brito Cunho also stressed that his country does not recognize the so-called "Sahrawi Republic" and that Lisbon had refused the participation of the mirage republic in the Africa-Europe summit, held last April in Cairo, Egypt. He noted that Portugal's position was backed by all European countries.