Speaking at a meeting dubbed "Towards a strengthened partnership in the Maghreb region (Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Morocco and Libya)", Douste-Blazy recalled Morocco's initiative to grant substantial autonomy to its Southern Provinces, the Sahara, in an attempt to put an end to the three-decade old Sahara dispute with the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario".  

    "This constructive initiative will be an opportunity to reach a political solution that is accepted by all the parties concerned, within the framework of the United Nations," he said, adding that it will also contribute to the edification, on solid bases, of the Maghreb Union (a regional grouping mustering the Maghreb countries).  

    The Sahara, a former Spanish colony, was ceded to Morocco in 1975 under the Tripartite Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania. However, the “Polisario” separatists, emboldened by Algeria, have been since then claiming the independence of this territory.

    Douste-Blazy also highlighted that "despite their specificities, own sensibilities, and even antagonism, such as the unraveled Sahara conflict, the Maghreb countries are closer to each other than anyone may think."

    Evoking the daring and major reforms undertaken in the region, the French official said his country would shoulder “Maghreban partners (in their efforts) to turn this area into a space of peace, stability and prosperity."

     Morocco has launched a worldwide diplomatic campaign to inform the permanent and non-permanent members of the UN Security Council as well as sister and friendly countries about the autonomy plan prior to its presentation, in its final version, to the UN Security Council next month.