In a joint statement in Granada following the 1st Morocco-EU summit, the Union expressed its "support for the efforts of the UN Security Council, the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy for the Sahara to reach a final, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution" to the Sahara issue.
The Union also supports the negotiations process underway, within the framework of the UNSC resolutions, mainly resolution 1871 (2009), and underlines "the role and responsibility of all parties concerned in this respect."
The EU takes note with interest of the Moroccan initiatives in terms of decentralization, regionalization and reform of local authorities.
European Council President Van Rompuy reaffirmed, Sunday at a joint press conference following the Morocco-EU summit, the EU support for a "just, lasting and acceptable" solution for all the parties to the Sahara issue
He said the Union closely follows the developments of the Sahara issue and shores up the efforts of the United Nations and the UNSG Personal Envoy, Christopher Ross, to find a political solution to the conflict.
"We encourage the continuation of negotiations" between the parties concerned under the UN aegis, he said, stressing the need to carry on these efforts to reach an acceptable solution.
Echoing him, Spanish president José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero hoped that the conflict will be resolved as soon as possible.
Zapatero, whose country assumes the EU rotating presidency, expressed his support for the efforts made by the UN, saying that Spain believes negotiations are the best means to find a settlement to the Sahara issue.
The Sahara issue was on the summit's agenda, he recalled, stressing the candid, positive and constructive dialogue between his country and the Kingdom.
The 1st Morocco-EU summit ended, on Sunday in Granada (south of Spain), with the adoption of a joint declaration underlining the event's unprecedented aspect and setting an operational agenda to consolidate the Advanced Status granted to Morocco in October.
Source: MAP
News and events concerning Western Sahara issue/ Corcas