Malian journalists, currently visiting the province of Laayoune, welcomed the "impressive" efforts carried out for the development of southern provinces and improvement of the quality of life of local populations, while welcoming the Moroccan autonomy initiative proposed by the Kingdom for the final settlement of the Sahara.  The delegation, who attended the launching and inauguration of several development projects in the province of Laayoune on the occasion of the Throne Feast, also visited  social institutions and held talks with several local officials.

 The Regional Assembly of Sicily (Parliament) expressed its support to Morocco's initiative to grant a substantial autonomy to Morocco's southern provinces, the Sahara.

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has made "a genuine update" (of its position on the Sahara issue), through adjusting its approach to the notable developments taking place in this issue on the international scene and in particular in the United Nations, said, here Wednesday, Moroccan Foreign minister, Taib Fassi Fihri. In a statement to MAP following the 15th Ministerial Conference of the NAM, Mr. Fassi Fihri said that "the Movement has, thus, brought up to date its frame of reference and clarified the framework of the envisaged political solution through negotiations that were made possible thanks to Morocco's autonomy initiative in full respect of the territorial integrity and the national unity of the kingdom ".

King Mohammed VI reaffirmed, on Wednesday,Morocco's commitment to pursue its "extended hand" policy in order to achieve full reconciliation between the parties concerned by the Sahara dispute.

A group of Mauritanian journalists announced the creation in Nouakchott of a platform called "initiative of Mauritanian journalists to support the Moroccan initiative of autonomy". This initiative is open to Mauritanian journalists who are convinced of the legitimacy of the Moroccan position over the Sahara issue and who enjoy credibility on the national media scene, provided they demonstrate "loyalty to Mauritania", said a release sent Monday to MAP. The initiators of this platform justify their support to the Moroccan proposal by the fact that it falls "under the interest of Mauritania" and strengthens "ties between the two brotherly countries and neighbors, united by strong relationship. "