The visit of the UN official is "of great importance because it is supported by the Security Council, which has recently examined Ban Ki-moon's report on the progress of the Manhasset negotiations," Mr Saint Prot highlighted, noting that this visit aims to conduct thorough consultations to prepare the 4th round of negotiations, March 11-13.

   "Given the fact that the UN Security Council deeemed Morocco's initiative to grant substantial autonomy to its southern provinces, the Sahara, constitutes a serious basis for achieving a political solution, it is clear that these negotiations should focus on the implementation of the only serious proposal that is currently on the table, which is Morocco's proposal," he noted.

    The dispute between Morocco and the Algerian-backed separatist movement, Polisario, over the Sahara dates back to 1976, when the latter started laying claims to the former Spanish colony, which was ceded to the north African country a year before.

    Morocco and the Polisario have, so far, held three rounds of talks in Manhasset (New York), in June (18-19), August (10-11) and January (7-9) in conformity with UN Security Council resolution 1754 that called for negotiations "without preconditions" and "in good faith."

    Besides Morocco and Polisario, the negotiations were attended by delegations from Morocco’s neighbors, Algeria and Mauritania in the presence of the U.N. facilitator, Peter Van Walsum.  

    According to the French expert, "all observers concede that the autonomy plan, presented by Morocco in 2007, is the only appropriate solution to the Sahara dispute.”

Source: Map

News and events concerning Western Sahara issue / Corcas