The round-table meeting on the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, held on Wednesday and Thursday at the Palace of Nations in Geneva, is an important step towards a renewed political process for the future of the Sahara, said UNSG personal envoy for the Sahara Horst Kohler following the meeting.

Geneva Round-table Talks, Important Step Towards Renewed Political Process for Future of Sahara, Kohler 06 December 2018 "I cannot wait to invite the delegations to a second round-table meeting in the first quarter of 2019," Kohler told the press, saying he is convinced that a peaceful solution to the conflict is possible. The UNSG personal envoy for the Sahara had invited the delegations of Morocco, Algeria, polisario and Mauritania to take part in a round-table meeting on Dec. 5-6 in Geneva, pursuant to UNSC resolution 2440. Kohler lauded the fact that the delegations engaged "openly and in mutual respect" in this round-table discussion, recalling that the goal of the process is to find a just, durable and mutually-acceptable political solution to the Sahara issue. "After our discussions, it is clear to me that the status quo does not benefit anybody," he said, noting that solving this conflict serves the interests of all in order to create an environment propitious for strong growth, job creation and better security. The delegations agreed that the personal envoy will invite them to a second round-table meeting at the first quarter of 2019, he said earlier in a statement read out to the press after the meeting. The delegations, which noted the recent developments, discussed regional matters and tackled the future stages in the political process for the Sahara, have all recognized that cooperation and regional integration, instead of confrontation, are the best means to address many important challenges facing the region, said the statement, noting that all the discussions took place in an atmosphere of serious commitment, frankness and mutual respect. The Moroccan delegation was led by foreign minister Nasser Bourita. It included Omar Hilale, Morocco's permanent representative to the UN in New York, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, president of the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra region, Ynja Khattat, president of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region and Fatima Adli, community actor and member of Smara's municipal council.